Independent used car dealers are confident following strong late summer sales performance, according to research from CAP Automotive.
In the latest CAP Dealer Insight Panel survey of 98 UK dealers, 67% of respondents reported an increase in used car retail sales between July and August, down from the 85% reporting an increase between June and July but still up from the same period last year, while 5% reported a decrease, compared to 1% in the previous survey.
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Regarding future sales, 2% of those questioned expected a "slight decline" over the next quarter, while all others expected trade to remain steady or to grow.
The report also showed 28% of dealers found it difficult to find the right cars for retail, with 69% describing their stock levels as "too low", leading to favourable part-exchange offers for motorists.
Mike Hind, communications manager at CAP Automotive, said: "It is clear that the UK car market in general is leading the way when it comes to the recovery of consumer confidence.
"This is, of course, helped by the fact that so many consumers are contrasting the returns they will get from a typical savings account with the benefits they’ll get from replacing their car and consistently opting for a better vehicle."
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By GlobalDataCAP Automotive, which described used car values as "unusually robust" in its September report, said 2013 was one of the best years used car dealers can remember, with retail sales slowing for some retailers but exceptionally good year-on-year results for independents.
