THE latest sales figures released by the Automotive Insights Report show there has been an increase in used cars for sale and while the number being sold has fallen, the average days to sell has reached its lowest point in a year.

The time-to-sale in February was 44 days in February compared to 52 days last November. The Australian Automotive Dealers Association (AADA) and data researcher AutoGrab reported that the new-car market had a strong start to 2024 and this was flowing over to the used-car sector, giving consumers greater selection of used vehicles.

AADA CEO James Voortman said: “A strong start to 2024 new car deliveries is flowing down into the used car market, with a slight rise of 1.3 per cent in the number of vehicles listed for sale in the month.

“While listings increased, sales of used cars dropped by 1.2 per cent from the previous month.

“Amid all the discussion on fuel efficiency standards, the number of EVs listed for sale is almost four times the number which sold in February, indicating a mismatch between demand and supply of used EVs. 

“Petrol and diesel cars accounted for 95 per cent of used cars sold, with hybrid sales increasing by 4.6 per cent this month.”

The AIR data of used vehicles also shows that the Top-10 makes and models sold also closely reflects preferences from the new car market, with the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux the top-selling vehicles for the month.“Although February saw a drop in average retained values, for vehicles aged two to four years, there are some cars that continue to secure good retained values for consumers with 18 of the top 20 models listed reclaiming their positions from January,” Mr Voortman said.

AutoGrab’s chief commercial officer Saxon Odgers said: “This month’s findings reflect the current strength in the automotive industry, showcasing yet another strong month for car sales across the board.”

“One notable statistic is the average days to sell, which has reached its lowest point since March of last year. This shows a swift turnaround in the market, reflecting growing consumer demand and efficient inventory management strategies.”The Automotive Insights Report shows that in February:

• Nationally, 286,329 vehicles were listed for sale and in that period 179,448 were sold

• The data shows that the overwhelming majority of used cars being bought and sold have petrol or diesel engines, occupying a 95 per cent market share  

• The time it takes to sell a used car has gradually come down to 44 days in February after peaking in November at 52 days

• On average, retained values saw a month on month decrease

• Some popular used car models aged 2-4 years old continue to report a strong return for consumers in terms of their retained values with 18 of the top 20 models listed making a repeat appearance from January

• The top 10 selling cars in the used market remained very similar to the previous month with 9 of the Top-10 makes and models retaining their spot in the list. It closely reflects preferences in the new car market, with the Ford Ranger taking out top spot ahead of the Toyota Hilux.