The Artemis II spacecraft Orion recently clocked a new record for human travel, reaching 252,756 miles from Earth and exceeding a milestone that had stood since 1970. The mission was swift and successful and opened the door to future achievements.
Q1 2026 at Dealer Auction had a similar feel, albeit on a very different level.
Stock was selling swiftly and dealers who trusted the data and acted early were the ones finding success. And on our platform, that translated into a record-breaking quarter.
Pace and precision
Talking of launches, we sent 12 million intelligent stock alerts across the UK in Q1 2026, helping connect the right vehicles with the right buyers.
223,376 bids landed with clear intent, and that confidence pushed performance to new heights. Average sold price climbed to £7,684, the highest quarterly amount we’ve recorded – this was as a result of the diversification of stock mix on the platform, particularly the addition of the new retail-ready stock we introduced last summer, which are younger and command higher price points.
Our average CAP Clean performance landed at 105%, matching our strongest benchmark to date in Q1 of last year. What’s more, vehicles were selling in just 2.74 days on average when sold via natural auction, the quickest quarterly pace we’ve seen.1 Speedy sales help shorten remarketing cycles and enable cash flow back into the bank quicker.
Value climbs
When pace and demand align, the results are impressive. The momentum continued from our 2025 roundup, which showed a 20% year-on-year rise in estimated trade profit generated for sellers. In Q1, we saw the second-highest quarterly figure we’ve delivered at £4.1 million.
Total retail value reached £156 million across Q1 – a record-breaking figure, once again showing the sheer volume of stock we have available for dealers on our platform.
A shifting stock profile
The healthy mix of stock profiles moving through the platform in Q1 shows that savvy dealers were using all the data to make informed choices.
An increase in retail-ready vehicles, that fit neatly onto forecourts and into buyer demand, shifted the profile of the average vehicle on the platform. Age settled at seven years, the lowest point we’ve seen, while mileage dropped to 54,595. The increased presence of younger vehicles is encouraging, especially in a competitive market where stock is being spread across multiple channels, from digital to physical auctions. Despite that, we are still hitting record levels of stock on our platform, and it’s moving faster than ever.
Fuel type is edging forward as well. EVs accounted for 2.56% of vehicles sold, while hybrids reached 9.81%, both at their highest quarterly levels on our platform. This shows a steady shift that’s beginning to shape buying strategies – especially in light of the rising fuel prices linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Take a look at the latest EV performance review here for more on this.
A giant leap for a little car
The CAP Clean top performers made for encouraging reading for sellers. The popular pocket-rocket Ford KA led the pack with 123.9%, followed by the Mazda CX-5 and BMW 3 Series, with 118.3% and 108.5% respectively. Healthy buyer appetite is clearly driving strong pricing and value retention.
For keen followers of the Retail Margin Monitor, there was a UFO (unexpected four-wheeled object) at the top of the model profit charts for Q1 2026, with the Vauxhall Insignia flying into the buyer’s view with an average margin of £6,904.
Our Best Buys across Q1 included the Jaguar F-Pace, MG ZS and Peugeot 5008. Check out our Retail Margin Monitor to see which models appear in the charts each month!
Eyes on Q2 – and a shot at silverware
Q1 truly felt like a spring forward and it’ll be interesting to see what movement Q2 brings. While teams chase the World Cup trophy on the pitch, there will be hot competition in the motor trade too.
The market is moving with purpose, and hesitation means missing out. With the Middle East conflict impacting fuel prices, plus the shortage in 3-5 year old vehicles, it will be interesting to see how dealers pivot to keep their forecourt stocked.
It’ll be more crucial than ever to make every percentage count and stay ahead of the competition to find the stock you know will sell. Our advice is to keep an eye on the data to make quick, informed decisions. How the market evolves from here will depend on how quickly dealers adapt to the shifting landscape.
1Dealer Auction’s speed to sell metric looks at vehicles that have sold naturally via digital auction without any human intervention (e.g. negotiation).
The UK’s smartest digital wholesale marketplace
Like what you see? Why not take us for a 30-day test drive…
