European car buyers searching for more used cars in UK in Brexit run-up

European car buyers are looking to the UK for used car bargains in the run-up to Brexit, according to new data.

Used car classified advertising site Motors.co.uk says searches on its website from the two other right-hand-drive EU markets — Cyprus and Ireland — rose dramatically between November 1, 2018 and January 14, 2019. For the former, searches increased 125 per cent year-on-year while that latter had a 58 per cent rise.

The site also says year-on-year searches from Spain rose by 77 per cent, 48 per cent from France and for Germany, 32 per cent.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Theresa May’s proposed EU Withdrawal Agreement was overwhelmingly rejected by MPs in the House of Commons. European buyers may see this and the increasing uncertainty surrounding the United Kingdom’s exit from the EU, as well as a weakening pound, as a chance to grab an affordable car.

Dermot Kelleher, director of marketing and business intelligence for Motors.co.uk, said: “With the government losing yesterday’s crunch vote on Brexit and the continued weakening of the pound against the euro, some European buyers are taking advantage of the uncertainty caused by Brexit by searching the UK’s dealer stock for possible bargains.”

British ex-pats looking to purchase a car from the UK ahead of Brexit may also need to retake their test in order to drive it after March 29 — with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency issuing a warning that a failure to exchange a British licence for one in their country of residence could void it.