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Used car buyers warned over brands with highest number of owners

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Used car buyers looking to get behind the wheel of a clean preowned model have been warned of five brands that typically have the most previous owners. The average driver in the UK keeps their car for between four to six years before finding a new model. However, according to the vehicle history checking service , this can change dramatically depending on the car's manufacturer.

Matas Buzelis, motoring expert at carVertical, noted that whilst a with many previous owners may still be a good purchase, it could become . He explained: "The number of owners a vehicle has had is an important fact to check for anyone . While mileage and provide insight into a car's condition and value, the number of past owners can reveal additional important details. A vehicle that has changed hands frequently might be costly to maintain or could have persistent ."

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According to carVertical's study, the car brand that changes hands the most often in the UK is Tesla, with the average owner keeping their example for just 2.43 years.

The Elon Musk-owned electric car company has faced some negative publicity during the first months of 2025, with protestors damaging models and some owners changing the logos on their vehicles.

However, one reason why owners may wish to replace their car so frequently is due to the rapidly improving technology that goes into electric cars, with Tesla recently launching a new version of their best-selling Model Y that features more range and a lower price.

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Another company that has owners who sell their car more frequently is Dacia, with carVertical finding that the average owner keeps their vehicle for 3.86 years.

The Romanian brand has rapidly found its feet across the continent, with the sub-£14,000 Sandero hatchback being crowned Europe's best-selling new car in 2024 and the Spring becoming the UK's cheapest electric car at £14,995.

The low cost of the Dacia range could be one of the key reasons why so many drivers sell them more often than others, taking less time to save up for a new example.

Top five car brands which change hands most often (average number of years per owner):
  • Tesla - 2.43
  • Dacia - 3.86
  • Kia - 4.26
  • SEAT - 4.4
  • Hyundai - 4.66
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