Wholesale funding software experts at Sword Apak expect that the UK used car market will "remain resilient” in the face of both economic and political changes during 2017.

James Powell, executive vice-president, of the funding business which gains insight into dealer stocking activities, said that he expects the emergence of used car PCPs will be one element that sees sales swing away from new cars, however.  

Acknowledging the slowing of the new car market, Powell said: “While the new car market is expected to slow in the months ahead, we expect the used sector to remain resilient overall.

“Modelling on historic consumer car buying behaviour during terms of economic challenges, there is typically a shift of interest towards greater affordability which is associated with a used car.

“A similar pattern, albeit on a shorter-term basis, is reflected during major political events such as an election.”

Powell added: “Over recent years, the growth of new car PCP finance has offset affordability advantages of used cars, but the emergence of used car PCPs has once again changed this dynamic swinging the affordability balance back to used vehicles.

“We also believe the post General Election Brexit dialogue will provide an unusually long ‘tail’ to the political influence on car buying; this uncertainty will, we expect, benefit the used car sector.”

In the short-term, falling disposable income, rising inflation and the general election have seen auction businesses reporting a softening of used car activity by dealers.

Nevertheless, Powell expects both conversions and values to stabilise in light of consumer demand.

Sword Apak claimed to have seen evidence of this, with one business reporting a 29% increase in enquiries during May.

Powell said: “There are many disruptive and evolutionary influences on the car buying market place, including the (as yet uncertain) Clean Air approach, along with the previously identified political and economic influences.

“However, for car buyers, a used car has historically been seen as the safe haven option. We expect to see this scenario to play out again as the year unfolds.”