September new car sales reach highest level since 2017

2 Oct. 2026 · Steven Jackson OBE, Founder, New Reg Limited

New car registrations in the UK climbed 12.1% in September, reaching 350,518 units and marking the strongest September performance since 2017, according to a trade report citing the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

September is always the biggest single month in the UK car calendar, because it brings a new plate identifier that many buyers wait for. A busy plate-change month matters to anyone who holds a personalised registration, because it signals a large pool of newly registered vehicles onto which a cherished mark might be transferred.

Fleet buyers led the way, with registrations in that segment rising 9.6% to 190,988 units, which represented 54.5% of all new cars registered during the month. The report also noted that September was the tenth consecutive month of growth for the new car market as a whole.

For the owner of a private plate, a September like this one is a reminder to check that any planned transfer is properly arranged before a new vehicle is put on the road. A personalised registration must be formally assigned to a vehicle through the DVLA before the standard mark on that vehicle is surrendered, and that process takes time. Leaving it until after collection can complicate matters considerably.

September new car sales reach highest level since 2017

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