Sale of used cars and light motor vehicles: UK companies
37,983 live UK companies list sale of used cars and light motor vehicles as their main trade, or 0.7% of the register. It ranks 23rd among the 60 trades we cover. 6,308 of those companies were formed in 2025, against 917 still live from 2015. 4,847 (12.8%) have a proposal to strike off on file, above the UK figure of 7.3%.
Where they're registered
Where this trade is unusually common
The town's share of this trade, compared with its share of all UK companies.
By year formed
Only companies still live are counted, so older years look smaller. 2026 stops on 1 November 2026.
20122026
See every year as a table
| Year | Live companies |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 534 |
| 2013 | 624 |
| 2014 | 780 |
| 2015 | 917 |
| 2016 | 1,032 |
| 2017 | 1,321 |
| 2018 | 1,669 |
| 2019 | 2,319 |
| 2020 | 1,967 |
| 2021 | 1,794 |
| 2022 | 2,054 |
| 2023 | 3,033 |
| 2024 | 3,848 |
| 2025 | 6,308 |
| 2026 | 6,043 |
Oldest active companies in this trade
- A.a. ClarkFormed 1911
- Chevron MotorsFormed 1912
- Quay Garage CompanyFormed 1914
- Watson's Motor WorksFormed 1919
- Castle GarageFormed 1925
Related by size
- Accounting and auditing activities
- Other building completion and finishing
- Construction of commercial buildings
- Retail sale in non-specialised stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating
- Non-specialised wholesale trade
- Other retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets
Trade means the first Standard Industrial Classification code (SIC 45112) a company declares. Companies choose their own codes. Figures come from Companies House on 1 November 2026.