New study reveals the most fickle car brand owners

• Porsche owners are the most fickle car owners, followed by Land Rover owners.
• BMWs are most common on the second hand car market.
• Vauxhall owners are the least likely to sell their car, followed by Ford owners.
• Connor Campbell, expert at Independent Advisor Car Insurance, offers his top tips for buying and selling a second hand car.

Porsche owners are the most likely to re-sell their cars, according to a new study of the second hand car market by Independent Advisor Car Insurance.

The Car Insurance experts at Independent Advisor studied second hand car marketplace, Auto Trader, to discover which of 12 top car brands were most commonly listed, and compared this to the number of registered cars for each brand in the UK.

The number of listings was then calculated as a percentage of the number of registered cars, indicating which car owners were most likely to be selling, and therefore, identifying which brand owners are the most fickle.

Most Fickle Car Owners by Brand

*on Auto Trader as of 26/03/24

**as of Q3 2023, most recent available data

Porsche owners are the most fickle car owners in the UK, according to the study.

With 3.81% of the number of Porsches registered in the UK being listed on the second hand marketplace (7,124), Porsche owners topped the rankings as the most likely to be selling their car.

The most common Porsche listing was a 911 model with 2,277 listings, at an average price of £87,667.

Next up in the rankings is Land Rover owners, with 21,082 cars listed for sale. This is 2.51% of the total number registered in the UK, making Land Rover owners the second most fickle car owners in the study.

The most common Land Rover listing was a Range Rover Evoque: 4,517 listings with an average price of £22,292. This was closely followed by 4,467 listings of the Range Rover Sport, with a price tag of £44,258 on average.

BMW owners ranked third. Whilst they had the highest total number of listings of any brand at 41,353, this equates to 2.28% of the total 1,810,949 BMWs registered in the UK. The most common BMW listing was a 3 series with an average price of £12,676.

Comparatively, the least likely owners to be selling, and therefore the least fickle according to the study, are Vauxhall owners. With 25,591 cars listed, compared to the 2,790,873 registered in the UK, just 0.92% of Vauxhalls are up on the second hand market.

For Vauxhalls, the most common listing by far was a Corsa, with 7,721 total listings and an average price of £5,985.

Connor Campbell, expert at Independent Advisor Car Insurance, provides his insight for those purchasing a second hand car, and top tips for those thinking of selling.

“Second hand cars can offer huge savings on the initial purchase as well as on insurance, but there are some key points to keep in mind throughout the process to ensure it all goes smoothly.

• Choosing where to buy from: There are many options for purchasing a second hand car, including dealerships, auctions, and online marketplaces. Opting to go for a private seller can often offer the best price, but if you are looking for safer legal protection on your purchase then a dealer is the way to go.

• Money saving factors: When looking for the best deal on a used car, small cars with smaller engines are often the cheapest choice: as well as often having a lower initial price tag, small cars are usually cheaper to insure. Opting for a petrol car over diesel is often another money saving choice. Checking the insurance group rating ahead of purchasing any second hand car is key to ensure you are choosing within your budget.

• Used car checklist: Before purchasing any second hand vehicle, you should go through a checklist inspecting the car so that you don’t get any surprises once the car is yours. This includes: inspecting tyres, looking for dents/scratches, looking at fluid levels, checking the electrics, looking for a spare tyre, and assessing wear and tear.

• Checking documents and MOT: As well as examining the car itself, you should always look at the car’s documents and MOT history. Registration documents should be checked to ensure all details are correct, and the MOT history (which can be checked easily online) should match up to what you have been told.

• Test drive: A critical part of the process before purchasing a second hand car is going for a test drive. This is an opportunity to check all the things that aren’t apparent when just looking at a stationary car. For instance: Does the clutch operate normally? Are the brakes effective? Are there any concerning engine noises? It is also an opportunity to assess factors more related to comfort and practicality, such as the amount of space when driving, the effectiveness of the air con/heating, condition of the sound system etc.

• Tax and insurance: It is a legal requirement to get your car taxed and insured before you drive it home. Neither are transferable from the previous owner. It is wise to get this sorted with plenty of time before you are handed the keys to ensure that you are covered.

For those who are selling their used vehicle, there are some equally important points to keep in mind to ensure the process goes smoothly for both parties.

• The car’s working condition: Ensuring that your car is in good working order not only ensures everyone’s safety, but also prevents any delays in the process if faults present themselves.

• Cleanliness of the vehicle: When selling your car, it is worth considering a thorough clean, inside and out. Presenting your car in the best condition possible increases the chance of  you getting the maximum value back.

• Part-exchange or selling: It can be tempting to opt for part-exchange when getting rid of your car in favour of a newer one, and this may be the way to go if you would prefer the easier, less-hassle option. However, selling privately is much more likely to see you get more money for your vehicle.

Visit Independent Advisor Car Insurance for more insights from our expert editorial team.

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