Australia’s used car market has finally shown signs of life after a slow start to 2025, with sales of used vehicles growing for the third consecutive month. According to data compiled by AutoGrab and published by the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA), 200,566 used vehicles were sold in March, a 14.8% increase on the previous month and a significant rise on the 184,054 used cars sold in March last year. The growth in used car sales is a welcome relief for the industry, which had been struggling after a decline in new car sales. The result also marks a notable shift in buyer behavior, with the average days to sell vehicles climbing to 51.3 days – the highest figure since November 2023.
“This month’s results show the resilience of the used car market. Sales rose for the third consecutive month and there was a noticeable drop in listings this month, suggesting dealers and private sellers moved vehicles more quickly and efficiently,”
said AADA CEO James Voortman. “It’s a modest increase, but in the context of falling listings, it suggests buyers are having to search longer or be more selective, particularly in tighter segments.”
The AADA and AutoGrab offer the following definitions for the monthly Automotive Insights Report:
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- For Sale:
The level of available used and demo cars listed online by dealers and private sellers nationally at the time of reporting. AutoGrab processes and de-duplicates listings to identify and eliminate repetitions, ensuring that vehicles listed across multiple platforms are counted only once.
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- Sales:
The total number of vehicles delisted from online marketplaces, serving as a close proxy to actual sales and recorded monthly. The delisting count also reflects unique vehicles, as AutoGrab processes and deduplicates listings to identify and eliminate repetitions, ensuring that vehicles listed across multiple platforms are counted only once.
Despite the growth in used car sales, the total number of used cars for sale in March decreased by 4.7% to just under 312,000. This suggests that dealers and private sellers moved vehicles more quickly and efficiently, which is a positive sign for the market. The Ford Ranger continues to dominate the sales chart, with the top 10 best-sellers remaining the same as in February, albeit in a slightly different order. The Toyota HiLux experienced one of the largest month-on-month sales increases and continues to be trailed by its Corolla and RAV4 stablemates. Used car sales by state and territory:
| State/Territory | Used Vehicle Sales (March) | Change in Sales (Year-on-Year) |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory (ACT) | 34,441 | 24.1% increase |
| New South Wales | 61,431 | 30.4% increase |
| Victoria | 44,819 | 14.2% increase |
| Queensland | 38,181 | 27.1% increase |
| Tasmania | 5,319 | 25.1% increase |
| South Australia | 14,401 | 17.1% increase |
| Western Australia | 21,111 | 21.9% increase |
| Northern Territory | 1,611 | 33.3% increase |
Sales by vehicle type:
- SUVs: After surpassing traditional passenger cars in October, SUVs continued to be the best-selling vehicle type, with over 10,000 sales a month.
- Traditional Passenger Cars: The sales of traditional passenger cars have decreased, with over 8,000 sales a month.
Sales by fuel type:
- Hybrid Vehicles: Hybrid vehicles continue to be one of the fastest-growing propulsion types, reflecting a desire for more economical vehicles.
- Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles: After a big rise of 35% in February, plug-in hybrid sales growth slowed down in March.
The AADA and AutoGrab’s report is a valuable resource for anyone looking to buy or sell a used car in Australia. By providing detailed insights into the used car market, they help buyers make informed decisions and sellers achieve the best possible price for their vehicle.