Used car sales booming

• Buyers spend more on used cars than ever
• Dealer sales up, private sales down
• 70% of buyers prefer used car to new

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A new report has shown that used car sales are booming, with UK buyers spending more than ever before on new cars.

Motorists spent £33.9 billion on used cars last year - that's up £6.6 billion since the start of the decade, according to the report by British Car Auctions.

The report also revealed that car buyers are increasingly happy to buy from a dealer, but less content to buy privately.

Dealers increased their share of used car sales to 54.8%, while private sales fell to 38.8% - the lowest for 15 years.

The report also showed that:

• Sales of cars aged 0-2 years grew to an all-time high, reaching 14% of the market;

• Sales of cars aged three to five years also grew, reaching 30% of the market. Former company cars and leasing cars make up the largest part of this group;

• Six- to eight-year-old car sales grew slightly and make up 20% of all used cars sold;

• The number of people buying cars over nine years old fell;

• Used diesel car sales are up 26%, and diesels appeal more to men than to women - 30% of men bought a diesel, compared with 20% of women.

According to the report, 70% of buyers prefer buying used. The main reasons given for this were price, value for money and avoiding depreciation.