2021 Recap: most searched used vehicles in the UK, by region
Last year was a whirlwind for the auto industry, sparking new selling challenges for dealers to overcome. Most notably, it brought never-before-seen supply chain issues that caused stock shortages, record pricing, and more. Despite it all, consumer demand remained resilient, and buyers continued to search for popular vehicles on CarGurus.
To see how demand differed from region to region across the UK, we kept a pulse on used vehicle searches on CarGurus throughout the year. Our interactive map here breaks down the top 10 most-searched cars in each region for 2021.
Partner focus with Fords of Winsford
We meet with John Ford, Director of Fords of Winsford, who speaks of their journey from a small business on his grandfather’s farm to a state-of-the-art dealership stocking 1800+ cars.
Watch the video below to hear how Fords of Winsford remain competitive in today’s turbulent market, and how John ensures a return on investment is achieved from their CarGurus partnership.
CarGurus UK Vehicle Availability Index & Insights report – December 2021
2021 ended as expected, with used inventory levels rising – however, prices and days-on-market didn’t see any relief. The CarGurus UK Used Vehicle Availability Index increased by 6.5% compared to November and is now up 7.1% year-over-year – overall, this is effectively as great a recovery as we’ve seen in inventory volumes. However, this increase in inventory is expected, as December is historically the lowest month for used vehicle sales, which is the likely source of the inventory increase. Supporting indicators, too, show more volatility underneath the surface.
Drive more leads with these inventory photo best practices
If you’ve purchased pretty much anything online, you’re well aware of the importance of photos. The quality and quantity of photographs on a listing play a significant role in engaging buyers and, ultimately, converting them. And for a process where over half of buyers start undecided about make (53%) and model (57%), it’s crucial that you (or the photographer you hire!) take numerous high-quality photos for every vehicle on your forecourt. Excellent photographs will capture the attention of more low-funnel buyers, ensuring you don’t miss out on online leads.
So what can you do to improve your existing photos? Take a look at what you currently have displayed on your VDPs and ensure you’ve followed these three best practices.
2021 in review: customer commitment, product enhancements, consumer data and trends, and more
The auto industry has endured tremendous changes over the past two years as the world continues to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, for many dealers, 2021 was a year of recovery, profitability, and hope. And at CarGurus, we also accomplished a lot in 2021, and we’re excited about the future of our industry and our continued commitment to supporting you and your business.
We took a moment to reflect on the year—here are some of the defining highlights.
Partner focus with Chorley Group
We spoke with CarGurus’ partner, Chorley Group, about their humble beginnings selling used cars from their home village in Lancashire to employing more than 300 team members with 1,000 cars in stock.
In this video Group Managing Director, Adam Turner, explains how CarGurus’ digital-first approach and strong customer service – along with the recent addition of the PistonHeads platform – has helped Chorley Group drive more inquiries.
CarGurus UK Vehicle Availability Index & Insights report – November 2021
With used vehicle sales down 6.3% in the third quarter and a likely seasonal slowdown in demand in November/December, it’s not surprising to see used inventory levels increasing. In November, the CarGurus Used Vehicle Availability Index reading came in at just over 96, an increase of 6.9% from October – yet, compared to last year, things are relatively flat with inventory up just 0.6% from last year. However, it is surprising to see that even with demand slightly down, we saw no relief on pricing.
4 things you can start doing today to get more dealership reviews
Wouldn’t it be great if every vehicle sale automatically resulted in a five-star review for your dealership? Well, with a little effort, it’s possible!
As demand remains strong going into the end of the year, now is the perfect time to focus on collecting more reviews on your CarGurus listings. Below, you’ll find a checklist of four things you can start doing today to help your dealership get more reviews.
CarGurus UK Vehicle Availability Index & Insights report – October 2021
The ongoing everything shortage continues to disrupt the auto industry – in particular, new vehicle production – although we’re beginning to see some recovery for used inventory. Once again, inventory levels rose in October with the Vehicle Availability Index coming in at 90, an increase of 9.4% from September. What caused this increase? It looks like consumers, while showing a high demand for private mobility, are still price-conscious.
Most searched used vehicles of Q3 2021, according to CarGurus data
With a resolution to the ongoing global chip shortage unlikely in 2021, average listing prices have continued to increase as supply remains limited. Despite the steeper price tags, consumer demand for vehicles remains high. We decided to dig into our search data from last quarter to understand what impact high prices and limited vehicle availability have had on buyers’ searches.