THE used car market is still flat as fleets continue to postpone buying or selling cars, according to online car retailing specialists availablecar.com.

General manager Malcolm Moore says many fleets are holding on to stock or changing their replacement cycles having never experienced a marketplace as it currently stands.

He said: 'We are still selling cars through the web but do suffer from lack of volume because car buyers are holding off in the hope of lower prices. Although people are still buying cars, it is the disposals that are being hit very hard, particularly with people trying to market their vehicles at the best possible prices.'

Manufacturers were reluctant to quote on new business until any implications were announced following the Competition Commission's New Cars Inquiry report. Moore said small fleets in particular were questioning their current three-year/60,000-mile replacement cycles in favour of cycles of up to two years.