A sticker price of £17,720 is the new magic number in the world of used car sales.

Against the backdrop of a reported return to upward trends in values, it's calculated to be the average transaction price issued by online used car market place Auto Trader from thousands of latest sales of secondhand wheels.

According to Auto Trader, a combination of high demand and low stock is seeing the average value of begin to rise again with figures edging 2.3% up on this time last year, the data marking an acceleration for the first time in ten months.

Back in March 2020, amid lockdown, Auto Trader reported the average sales price at £13,601, meaning £4,119 has now been loaded onto used values overall.

In the top ten of biggest risers, Hyundai's i10 is the champion with an average value of £8,410; Mercedes-Benz's S Class, perhaps surprisingly, follows at number two (£36,149) and Fiat's Panda takes third spot (£6,033). Following behind them come Renault's Twingo, Peugeot's Partner Teepee, Kia's Picanto and Renault's Scenic jointly in sixth place, with Smart's Fourtwo, Volkswagen's Coupé Cabriolet and Citroen's Berlingo bringing up the rear.

Richard Walker, director of data insights, said: "As soon as we came out of the quiet festive period, Auto Trader saw signs of a used car market in very robust health. The acceleration in the rate of price growth after 10 months of softening could not be a clearer barometer of the current market, which despite the wider economic and political backdrop, is going from strength to strength this year.

Meanwhile a price drop in electric cars continues, says Walker, with used EV prices down 13% on this time last year. In contrast, the average price of a used petrol (£16,102) and diesel (£16,236) car is up 4.3% and 2.4% respectively.

Working off data which is "the broadest single view of electric vehicles in the market", Walker says the drop comes from a huge overbalance of supply.

But what of the electric car used market?

Whereas traditionally fuelled vehicles are following the same trend in dynamics as the wider market, with the current supply of both used petrol and diesel cars down around 20% YoY, the rate of stock growth of used EVs has rocketed, says Walker, with supply up a massive 261%.

And contrary to reports of consumer interest in EVs collapsing, he says demand is currently up 47% on the same time last year.

"The huge surge in supply is also evident at a more granular level. Since August, the iconic Nissan Leaf has seen stock levels increase a massive 313%, whilst supply of the Renault Zoe was up 235% and the Tesla Model 3 up 148%.

"This dramatic uptick is resulting in a significant softening in values - since September, year-old Tesla Model 3 prices have fallen around £8,000 and show no sign of slowing.

Walker added: "Despite some of the recent reports, it's clear that consumer demand for EVs remains very robust, so it's important that we correct the myth that consumers don't want them and that they don't work. With the sub-5-year-old EV parc expected to grow 62% this year, we'll need to work together as an industry to change the narrative and we need to change it fast to avoid more than just a pothole on the road to 2030.

"Encouraging car buyers into used EVs through incentives, marketing and information to demystify them will be critical."

In November 2022, Auto Trader revealed an operating profit of £149.1m for the first year's half, generated revenues of £249.8m – a rise of 16 per cent – in the six month period as it revealed the impact of its acquisition of Autorama.