AS the used vehicle market continues to rocket post-pandemic, John Pye Auctions, the UK’s leading auction house for seized vehicles, has added a new location to its portfolio.

According to the AA, the price of the UK used cars have risen 57% in the last two years*, in what has been described as “unprecedented”. The motoring group analysed prices of the top ten most popular cars in a three-to-five-year age bracket, with Ford Fiestas - the most popular on its AA Cars website - now valued at £9,770 compared to £7,448 in 2019.

Audi A3s saw the biggest jump in prices since 2019 (46.09%) followed by Ford Focuses (43.11%), which were the second most popular car on the AA's website. The price hikes have pushed buyers into the used car market.

At John Pye, around 300 used cars are sold each week across more than 20 vehicle auction sites, according to national seized vehicles manager, Lincoln Hughes. And now, with the addition of the new auction site in Ardwick in Manchester, business continues to go from strength to strength.

Working on behalf of local authorities, seized cars are brought in from across the country through various avenues from unpaid fines to repossessions. It means for bidding customers, there is the opportunity to find cars of all shapes and sizes, from classics to ‘21 plates.

Lincoln said:

“With a shortage of new vehicles and car parts as a result of the pandemic, the surge in second-hand vehicles continues. Where there was a slowing down last year in sales and trade ins, there is now a backlog of customers looking to find a great deal.

“From a business perspective, prices of used vehicles are going through the roof due to the demand, dealerships are increasingly reaching out to us to stock their forecourts. Our auctions offer a great opportunity for the end user to cut out the middleman, people who may have missed out on holidays or who put off buying a vehicle last year are now in a better position to purchase and potentially could save thousands.”

Adding a new location allows even more choice and opportunity for customers, whether they are looking for a motor to transport the family on adventures, or a project to restore on the driveway.

“We are seeing a rise in popularity for vans presumably for delivery purposes, as many of us now shop online,”

“And the delivery market is also a key market for us. We have such a wide range of vehicles and often people will travel great distances for a purchase.”

The first sale is expected to go live between 29 November and 1 December at the Rondin Road site in Ardwick. Photos and lots will be available to view on the website for online bidding.

Adam Pye, managing director at John Pye Auctions, said:

“The new Manchester site operates on behalf of Manchester City Council, which we are pleased to be working with, and marks a promising growth in this department of John Pye Auctions.

“What we have seen over the last few years has been a steady rise in the seized vehicle market, but the pandemic has pushed this even further. With presentations each week online and a nationwide team of trained vehicle auction porters on hand to answer any questions or assist with condition checks, our customers know they are in good hands.”