SA's used car market shows positive momentum in March
The SA used car market continued its positive trajectory in March, reflecting a healthy demand and increasing retailer confidence, according to the latest data from AutoTrader. The average price of a used car saw a slight increase to R417 688, marking the second consecutive month of price growth and bucking the historical seasonal trend of price contraction in March.
While overall used car demand in the SA grew by 1.0% year-on-year, the supply increased at a faster rate of 5.7%, which tempered more significant price rises. Nevertheless, used cars continued to sell quickly, with an average selling time of 25 days, down two days from February, indicating strong consumer engagement. Petrol cars were the fastest selling fuel type, averaging just 24 days on forecourts.
The used electric vehicle (EV) market in SA is experiencing significant shifts, with supply surging by 54.7% year-on-year, outpacing the demand growth of 35.9%. This imbalance is putting downward pressure on used EV prices, making them a more attractive option for buyers. In contrast, prices for petrol and diesel vehicles saw modest increases.
AutoTrader analysis suggests that despite improving pricing confidence among retailers, there are still opportunities to capitalise further on the current demand. The data indicates a resilient SA used car market adapting to evolving supply and demand dynamics.
Top 10 sold used models in March 2025
Ranked by the most sold Model Sold
Count Price (R) Average Mileage (km) Average Registration year
Average 1 Ford Ranger 1,753 R492,129 78,856 km 5 years old 2 Toyota Hilux 1,493 R464,244 107,683 km 6 years-old 3 Volkswagen Polo Vivo 1,248 R202,428 55,115 km 4 years-old 4 Volkswagen Polo 1,222 R267,514 72,390 km 6 years-old 5 Toyota Fortuner 688 R481,459 105,041 km 6 years-old 6 Suzuki Swift 506 R201,812 36,976 km 3 years-old 7 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 478 R381,532 105,534 km 9 years-old 8 Isuzu D-Max 473 R447,403 69,427 km 3 years-old 9 Toyota Starlet 467 R238,141 33,466 km 2 years-old 10 Nissan NP200 434 R177,817 86,044 km 5 years-old
Source: Michelle Muir / AutoTrader Used Car Sales Data: 1 – 31 March 2025
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