Car finance firm reports 20% rise in used car prices as supply lines stall
CarFinance 247, the Manchester-based online car finance marketplace, says the average purchase price of vehicles sold has risen more than 20% on pre-pandemic prices.
New figures show the average purchase price was £9,820 in July 2021, 20.31% up from £8,162 in July 2019.
This mirrors reports of rising used car inflation and is being blamed on reduced stock levels.
The number of vehicles listed on the platform by CarFinance 247’s network of around 4,000 independent dealers dropped from 130,000 to 105,000 in the first six months of the year, as the number of used cars rolling onto forecourts dipped.
New car manufacturers are coming under pressure from the global semiconductor shortage, an increasingly important component in modern vehicles, leading some manufacturers to temporally stop production.
Demand for vehicles is also on the rise, as the UK economy recovers, with CarFinance 247 financing 38% more cars in July 2021 than July 2020. Reduced supply combined with increased demand for vehicles has created a perfect storm for used car price inflation.
As prices continue to rise, CarFinance 247 has also seen an increase in the part exchange value its consumers are receiving from dealers. This has been reflected in the deposits put down on vehicles by buyers, which have doubled since 2019.
With car prices growing rapidly, the firm is seeing a surge demand for its services, with applications for finance soaring to 95,000 a month, leading it to increase its workforce by 20%.
Reg Rix, co-CEO of the 247 Group, said: “The UK’s used car market is booming. At the same time as consumers are keen to get back on the road, the global supply of new cars has nosedived.
“New cars are equipped with more technology than ever and this, alongside increased demand for new consoles and phones, has pushed worldwide stocks of computer chips to breaking point. New car manufacturers can’t get the parts, and this is causing the squeeze in the used car market.”
He added: “Dealers in our network have found it tough sourcing vehicles during the pandemic and have reported a decrease in units sold but a rise in margins over the past few months.
“Now that CAP and Glass’s valuations have adjusted in line with demand, loan to values have normalised but purchasing will still be a challenge.”
