Used diesel prices have remained stable for a second quarter in a row on Autorola UK’s online portal as demand returns following Q1’s “knee-jerk” reaction to negative headlines.

Total average prices rose £175 during Q3 to £9,412, the third successive quarter they have been above £9,000, as used petrol prices rose to an all-time high of £8,658 despite an increase in average age and mileage to 30 months and 21,166 miles.

Autorola reported that diesel prices had “defied the negative press they have received in recent months”, meanwhile, by remaining static at £10,829 on the back of a fall in age and mileage to 29 months and 17,961 miles.

This represents a price fall of just £64 from Q2 2017 compared with the larger fall of £550 experienced from Q1 to Q2 this year.

Jon Mitchell, Autorola UK’s group sales director, said: “Looking across the year used diesels seem to have experienced their biggest price drop from Q1 to Q2 as a knee jerk reaction to their sudden fall from grace.

“Diesel prices showed their resilience in the used market in Q3 and talking to used car traders we believe this will continue. They are still buying used diesels in high volumes in response to overall consumer demand.”

Autorola’s Q3 overall average market price of £9,412 means prices have remained above £9,000 all year.

Q3 age and mileage fell to 30 months and 21,166 miles respectively from the Q2 average of 33 months and 21,551 miles.

Mitchell added: “The used market continued its strong performance in Q3 and we believe this will continue through to the end of the year and into Q1 2018.”