New registrations and demand structure
On September 4, the SMMT published its August 2026 figures. 94,236 new cars were registered in the UK, up 13.7% on the previous year, marking the ninth consecutive month of growth.
Fully electric vehicles took 29.8% of the market, plug-in hybrids 14.5%, and conventional hybrids 12.7%. BEV registrations grew by 27.7% year-on-year. Private demand increased by 19.0%.
Why you shouldn't carry over the August share for the whole year
Ahead of the September license plate change, some buyers are delaying registration. August is traditionally a low-volume month, so changes in the number of cars have a greater impact on interest rates. SMMT specifically highlights the seasonality and importance of the following month.
How to use statistics when choosing
The report shows the direction of the UK new car market, not the condition of a specific used car or demand in your country. For imports, consider regional specifications, including steering wheel position, documents and suitability for local use. Compare actual offers and full quotes, don't expect automatic discounts just because registrations are up.
