At a glance:
- Used diesel Volvo XC60 re-enters Dealer Auction’s profit top 10 and hits the highest retail margin of the year.
- The retail margin chart showcased a healthy blend of hatchbacks and SUVs, underlining broad consumer demand across the used car market.
- BMW knock Land Rover off the top spot for profit-making brands.
- The Nissan Qashqai was among the fastest-selling models, averaging just 25 days to retail.
June 2026 – Dealer Auction’s Retail Margin Monitor for May has revealed the highest retail margin of the year so far with the diesel Volvo XC60, which topped the chart for the models retailing at less than £10,000 – its first appearance in the chart since February 2026.
The platform has also seen a broader mix of vehicle types among those generating the highest profit margins, from hatchbacks like the MINI Hatch to SUVs like the Peugeot 2008. It suggests that demand in the used car market is becoming more diverse across different vehicle segments.
Additionally, the platform recorded an increase in the amount of auctions, showing stock availability continues to rise. Meanwhile, the average age and mileage of vehicles on the platform remained stable at around seven years and 60,000 miles.
Dealer Auction’s Marketplace Director, Kieran TeeBoon, commented:
“It’s fantastic to see such a wide variety of vehicles delivering strong returns in today’s used car market. With a record single-vehicle profit margin being achieved, it will be interesting to see whether demand remains at these levels. With the increase in auctions ending, we could be starting to see more dealers making the most out of our platform as part of their remarketing process – to move stock more efficiently and focus on sourcing the right trade stock for their forecourts.”
Elsewhere in May’s sub-£10,000 chart, several familiar models secured top-10 positions, including the MINI Hatch, Peugeot 2008, Ford Kuga and Nissan Qashqai. The latter also posted an impressive average days-to-sell figure of just 25, coming close to the top 10’s record low of 23 days. Meanwhile, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class made a welcome return to the chart, securing a top-three position and appearing in the rankings for the first time since September 2025.
At brand level, BMW surged forward to take the top spot in the top 10 makes for models with a sub-£10,000 retail value, followed by Mercedes-Benz and Volvo.
Volkswagen and Nissan also stood out for their strong gains in the chart for models retailing at above £10,000. Among their best-performing models were the diesel Volkswagen Tiguan, which achieved a retail margin of £4,025, and the petrol Golf £2,975. Meanwhile, the petrol Nissan Juke delivered a margin of £2,525, while the hybrid Qashqai returned £2,050. Notably, the Qashqai’s performance could indicate a growing variety of engine types represented among the market’s strongest-performing used vehicles.
Britain’s new car sales rose 7.1% in May, the strongest for the month since 2019,1 which could also have a positive knock-on effect on the used market, as higher volumes of new vehicle purchases typically generate additional part-exchange stock and increase the supply of used vehicles entering the market.
TeeBoon concluded: “May has demonstrated the continued strength and resilience of the used car market, with record retail margins, strong dealer engagement and a healthy mix of vehicles performing well across multiple segments. The rise in new car registrations is also encouraging, as it should support a steady flow of part-exchange stock into the market in the months ahead. As supply increases, dealers will need to remain focused on sourcing the right vehicles and making the most of remarketing opportunities to maximise profitability.”
ENDS
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Source:
1SMMT (2026). New car market grows as consumers respond to choice and incentives. Available at: New car market grows as consumers respond to choice and incentives – SMMT (Accessed: 9 June 2026).
About Dealer Auction
Dealer Auction is the UK’s leading digital remarketing platform. We give buyers and sellers more choice, better insight and greater margins. Dealer Auction is an independent company, created through a joint venture between Cox Automotive and Autotrader. For more information, visit www.dealerauction.co.uk.
Launched in January 2022, Dealer Auction’s Retail Margin Monitor tracks the potential retail margin that can be achieved on vehicles bought via Dealer Auction’s open network. We track models meeting two key criteria: more than 20 units sold with a retail price of less than £10,000 (we also track any standout models that retail at more than £10,000). We then compare the sold price for each model with the Autotrader market average to reveal the potential margin. For the brand table, we compare models with more than 50 units sold of models retailing at less than £10,000. We crunch the numbers at the start of every new month.
This edition analyses data from 1 to 31 May 2026.
