Used-Car Demand Surges 3% YoY: How To Scale Finance Ops For Growth

👉 What the data shows

👉 Why brokers and dealers need to scale finance operations now

👉 A quick real-world example

👉 Related reads from Marsh Finance

👉 Final thoughts

If you’re watching car retail market trends, you’ve probably noticed: used-car demand is booming, in July, sales rose 3% year-on-year, and site visits jumped 6% compared to last year. That's not just a bump; it’s a clear signal that buyer activity is running hot. Now’s the moment to sharpen your finance game and scale operations to match that pace.

What The Data Shows (Straight From Autotrader)

Autotrader’s July report reveals that:

• Used car transactions climbed 3% YoY… marking the sixth straight month of growth.
• The site had its busiest July ever, with 85 million visits, up 6% from last year.
• Market health improved, demand finally outpaced supply, and used cars are flying off the forecourt in just 29 days on average.

The takeaway? Buyer confidence is up, their intent is serious, and your finance operations need to move just as fast.

Why Brokers And Dealers Need To Scale Finance Operations Now

When interest surges, the finance process becomes a bottleneck faster than you’d like. Here’s what gets in the way, and what smart operators are doing:

1. Add More Lender Capacity (Without Sacrificing Flexibility)

More buyer interest means more deals—but not all lenders can keep up.

• Expand lender partnerships so you can access broader credit underwriting and speed.
• Choose lenders, like Marsh, that are tech-forward and can scale decisions fast, especially for non-prime PCP lending.

2. Staff Up Smartly, and Strategically

It’s not about bigger teams, it’s about smarter ones.

• Stack your team with digital-first skillsets, people who can process applications accurately at speed.
• Use pop-up or satellite teams during peak periods to handle quote flow spikes without overstaffing.
  

3. Digitise Credit Checks & Application Workflows

If your process still relies on PDF payslips, phone calls, or slow underwriting, you’re losing customers.

• Deploy soft credit-search engines that allow fast pre-qualification without harming credit scores.
• Use automated decisioning wherever possible, especially for straightforward credit profiles.

These tweaks help turn interest into approvals, and interest isn’t going away any time soon.

A Quick Real-World Example

An independent dealer in the Midlands noticed a 4-day dip in stock turnaround after July’s demand jump. By adding a second lender integration and shifting one support hire to digital processing (rather than customer calls), they recouped 70% more deals in that week without lowering prices.

Related Reads From Marsh Finance

• Is Your Website Consumer Duty Compliant?
• Why Flat Retail Prices Spell Opportunity: Skip Discounting, Lean Into Finance Value

Final Thoughts

Strong demand isn’t a gamble; it’s the green light to scale smarter. By expanding lender access, optimising staffing, and streamlining workflows, you can harness that momentum while offering excellent service. That’s how you turn market strength into operational strength.

At Marsh Finance, we’re not just observers, we’re partners in scalable finance. If you’re ready for fast decisions, flexible lending options, and tech that keeps up, let’s talk.