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Inexperienced-coloured automobile gross sales within the UK reached a 21-year excessive in 2025, new figures reveal.
The transfer has been propelled by the growing demand for electrical fashions and the obvious wish to showcase their credentials.
The Society of Motor Producers and Merchants (SMMT) reported 99,793 new inexperienced automobiles registered final 12 months, the best quantity since 2004’s 118,633 items.
This made inexperienced the seventh hottest alternative, capturing 4.9% of the market.
Many consumers choosing a inexperienced electrical automobile intention to focus on their buy’s environmental credentials.
Total, battery electrical new automobile uptake hit a document 473,348 items in 2025, a 23.9% rise from 2024, boosting their market share to 23.4% from 19.6%.
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The general new automobile market grew by 3.5% final 12 months.
Gray was the UK’s hottest new automobile color for the eighth consecutive 12 months, accounting for 27.6% of all new automobiles registered in 2025.
Black took second place with a market share of 23.0%, adopted by blue (15.2%), white (13.1%) and silver (6.3%).
SMMT chief govt Mike Hawes stated: “UK automobile consumers’ preferences stay fairly constant, with monochrome persevering with to steer in recognition.
“The surge in inexperienced, nevertheless, matches the rising recognition of electrified automobiles as the brand new automobile market decarbonises.
“As ever, producers are responding by increasing mannequin ranges, colors and finishes, giving UK drivers extra alternatives to personalise their automobiles – even when gray issues most.”
Getting your first automobile is at all times thrilling. The prospect of getting out below your personal steam for the primary time is one thing that almost all individuals sit up for, however really buying your new automobile can pose a few challenges.
Whether or not it’s upkeep, repairs or basic operating prices, there are quite a lot of issues to consider earlier than you make a purchase order. Let’s undergo a few of the key issues to recollect earlier than shopping for your first automobile.
Set a funds
Among the best issues you are able to do at first of any car-buying journey is to set a funds. Guaranteeing that you simply’ve obtained a set sum of money that you simply’re joyful to spend will keep away from any points additional down the road and can just be sure you’re ready for what’s to come back.
At all times bundle prices collectively, too, moderately than simply the headline value of the automobile. So take into account insurance coverage, upkeep and changing key parts resembling tyres.
Computerized or guide?
Not so way back the first alternative for first-time drivers could be automobiles with a guide gearbox. Nonetheless, a rising demand for automatics has occurred in the previous few years, with extra just-passed drivers choosing an automated automobile as an alternative of a guide.
It’s value fascinated by, too. Manuals are typically cheaper to keep up and fewer prefer to go fallacious, however automatics are simpler to make use of and are extra comfy for those who’re typically in stop-start visitors.
Key options
Automobiles have by no means been as feature-packed as they’re proper now, and even for those who’re not procuring brand-new, used automobiles nonetheless include quite a lot of tools. You may wish to take into consideration what kinds of options could be greatest, so whether or not it’s heated seats or cruise management, it’s value establishing a ‘want record’ to assist your car-buying alternative.
The excellent news is that many car-buying websites provide filters for numerous options, so you possibly can tailor a search in order that all the automobiles you see have these key options fitted as normal.
Repairs/upkeep
We’d advocate testing any automobile that you simply’re taking a look at for injury or areas of challenge. Whereas this gained’t be an issue – hopefully – for consumers of recent automobiles, on used automobiles it’s important to offer them examine over. Have a look at key areas resembling bumpers and wheels for injury, and be sure that key parts resembling brakes and gears function easily and simply as they need to.
There are third-party firms that supply inspection companies for automobiles, too, so for those who’re not comfy doing these features your self then you will get a educated skilled concerned to offer you assist.
Test historical past
It’s not simply the situation of a automobile that you’ll want to examine, however its historical past too. Among the best instruments is the federal government’s on-line MOT checker, which is free to make use of and might spotlight the automobile’s MOT historical past together with if it has beforehand failed and any advisories that it might need had.
An HPI examine can be value doing. These value a small quantity, however will flag whether or not the automobile has beforehand been written-off, or whether or not it nonetheless has any excellent finance on it. If you buy a automobile which remains to be coated by a finance settlement, you can be responsible for any funds – so it’s effectively value operating a examine beforehand.
Take a take a look at drive
Lastly, there’s the take a look at drive. In case you’ve nonetheless but to get your licence then you have to to get another person to take this for you – maybe a trusted pal or a member of the household – who can then relay their findings again to you.
A take a look at drive is an important a part of the expertise and can assist flag any points. It’s additionally an awesome alternative to see for those who ‘gel’ with a automobile and whether or not or not it’ll match into your life simply.
