September is always one of the most important months in the UK car market because of the registration plate change, but 2026 has delivered a particularly strong result. Preliminary figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show 350,518 new cars were registered during September, up 12.1% year on year and the strongest September total since 2017.
The headline within the headline is electric. Battery-electric vehicle registrations reached a record 99,199 units during the month, up 36.3% compared with September 2025. That gave pure electric cars a 28.3% share of September registrations.
Why September matters
The September plate change traditionally brings a surge of registrations as manufacturers, fleets and private buyers time purchases around the new number plate. A stronger-than-normal month can therefore feed through into the used market relatively quickly, especially when nearly-new cars, part-exchanges and ex-fleet vehicles begin returning to retailers.
For used-car buyers, that can mean more choice over the months ahead. A busy new-car market often creates a larger pipeline of three- to twelve-month-old vehicles, as well as more part-exchanges from owners moving into new cars.
Electric cars are becoming a bigger part of the mix
SMMT's preliminary data shows battery-electric cars accounted for more than one in four new registrations in September. Year to date, BEVs represented 26.2% of the new-car market. That remains below the 33% headline target set for manufacturers in 2026, but it shows how quickly the composition of the market is changing.
For used buyers, the important point is not simply that more new EVs are being sold. It is that today's new cars become tomorrow's used stock. Greater new-car volumes can eventually increase the choice of used electric cars at different price points.
What should used-car buyers watch?
- Nearly-new supply: more registrations can mean more demonstrators, pre-registered cars and short-cycle stock entering the used market.
- Electric choice: rising EV registrations should gradually broaden the number of used electric models available.
- Pricing: increased supply does not automatically mean lower prices, because demand is also rising. Compare like-for-like age, mileage and specification rather than relying on headline averages.
- Part-exchanges: a strong plate-change month can bring more petrol, diesel and hybrid cars into dealer stock as owners change vehicle.
What does it mean for sellers?
A more active market means buyers have more choice, so presentation matters. Clear photos, accurate mileage, service history, useful specification details and realistic pricing all help a listing stand out.
For electric cars, sellers should also include battery warranty information, charging capability and any useful real-world range context. Buyers are becoming more familiar with EVs and increasingly expect those details to be easy to find.
The SMMT figures cited here were published as preliminary September data. You can read the original market update on the SMMT website.
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