Market Outlook: Quality stock holds firm as fleets reshape the used vehicle market

July 29, 2026

The used vehicle market continues to outperform seasonal expectations, but fleet buyers are becoming increasingly selective as supply grows and purchasing priorities evolve.

According to Solera Cap HPI, used car values fell by just 0.7% heading into August, outperforming the long-term seasonal average for the fourth consecutive month. However, the headline masks a more fragmented market, with strong demand for clean, retail-ready vehicles contrasting with weaker performance for older, higher-mileage stock.

Fuel type is also influencing values. Hybrids were the strongest performers, rising 0.3%, while used EVs slipped just 0.2%, continuing to outperform petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrids. In contrast, diesel values fell 1.1%, making them the weakest-performing fuel for a third successive month.

Meanwhile, the commercial vehicle market is seeing a structural shift. Research from Arval suggests the proportion of fleets operating used vans will increase from 15% today to 39% within the next three years, driven by rising new vehicle prices and growing confidence in the used market, particularly for electric vans.

Residual values are increasingly being determined by quality rather than age alone. Fleets looking to maximise remarketing performance should prioritise vehicle preparation, realistic pricing and accurate grading, while procurement teams may find growing opportunities to introduce carefully selected used vans for relief vehicles, specialist roles and cost-sensitive operations.