John Peters, Head of Consulting and AMO at Arval UK, explores how attitudes towards used vehicles are changing among UK fleets and what that could mean for the growing used EV market. Drawing on the latest Arval Mobility Observatory Barometer, he considers changing acquisition habits, affordability and the importance of giving buyers confidence as more EVs enter their second and third lives.
Used vehicles have traditionally occupied a fairly specific place in the fleet world. Businesses have generally preferred to acquire new cars and vans, with pre-owned vehicles often brought in to solve a particular short-term requirement or fill a gap.
That is changing.
Our latest Arval Mobility Observatory Barometer shows that 58% of UK fleets now operate cars or vans that were not new when they acquired them, up from 52% last year. A further 31% are considering adding used vehicles over the next three years.
It is a shift with particular relevance as the industry looks to build a stronger market for used electric cars.
Some of the change can be traced back to the pandemic. When shortages made new cars and vans difficult to source, businesses looked at alternatives. Used vehicles became a practical way of keeping employees mobile and filling gaps in fleet provision.
The practice has remained even as new vehicle supply has recovered.
Fleets have seen that a modern, well-maintained used vehicle can continue to deliver the safety, reliability and cost-effectiveness they need. Cars and vans remain capable and useful for longer than they once did.
Our research also found that larger organisations are more likely to operate used vehicles. Almost two-thirds (63%) of businesses with more than 1,000 employees do so, compared with 59% of medium-sized organisations and 56% of smaller businesses.
This probably reflects how used vehicles are being deployed. Finding 20 identical used cars for a large fleet requirement might be difficult, but sourcing one or two suitable vehicles for a pool fleet or an immediate need is much easier.
Used vehicles don't need to replace established fleet acquisition models. They can add flexibility to them.
Increasing numbers of electric cars are reaching the used market after their first life on company and leasing fleets. Those vehicles now need to find second and third owners.
There can still be a perception that buying new is the safer or more desirable option, particularly when moving to an unfamiliar technology such as an EV. The experience of fleets suggests that view is changing.
Businesses are increasingly looking beyond whether a vehicle is new and considering whether it is right for the job. Consumers can do much the same.
For someone considering an electric car, the used market provides access to an expanding range of more affordable vehicles, including models that might have been outside their budget when new.
Buying any used vehicle means making an informed decision. With an EV there are some different considerations, including battery condition, charging requirements and whether its range suits the journeys it will make.
These are questions that buyers need good answers to.
Dealers, leasing companies, manufacturers and others across the automotive sector all have a role in giving motorists clear information about the technology and helping them choose a vehicle based on how they will actually use it.
UK fleets have become much more comfortable incorporating used vehicles into their operations. As more electric cars reach the second-hand market, building the same confidence among consumers will be an important part of making EVs accessible to a much wider group of drivers.
The 2026 Arval Mobility Observatory Barometer surveyed 10,157 company decision-makers across 33 countries, including 305 in the UK. Participants were interviewed by independent research company Ipsos and represented businesses operating at least one vehicle.
