THE used car market increased in both volume and value last year, the BCA report reveals.

During 2002, 6.6 million used cars were sold in the UK, worth £28.1 billion, a rise of 192,000 units, which equates to a £2.7 billion growth year-on-year.

Much of the growth has been seen in the three to five-year-old sector, a vital market for ex-fleet cars. Volumes in that sector increased by 237,000 units to 1.899 million, accounting for 29% of the marketplace.

Sales of six to eight-year-old cars increased by 31,000 to 1.38 million while sales of cars aged nine years or over jumped 54,000 units to 2.49 million. The only volume sector to fall back was the under two-year-old market, falling 209,000 units to 808,000, giving a market share of 12.3%, the lowest percentage for three years.

Copies of The Used Car Market – A 2003 Report by BCA Europe, produced in association with Sewells Information and Research and costing £125 each, are available by calling 01733 468255