European car buyers searching for more used cars in UK in Brexit run-up

European car buyers are looking to the UK for used car bargains in the run-up to Brexit, according to new data.

Used car classified advertising site Motors.co.uk says searches on its website from the two other right-hand-drive EU markets - Cyprus and Ireland rose dramatically between November 1, 2018, and January 14, 2019.

For the former, searches increased 125% year-onyear, while the latter had a 58% rise.

The site also says yearon-year searches from Spain rose by 77%, 48% from France and for Germany, 32%.

After Prime Minister Theresa May's proposed EU Withdrawal Agreement was overwhelmingly rejected by MPs in the House of Commons, European buyers may see this and the increasing uncertainty surrounding the UK's exit from the EU, as well as a weakening pound, as a chance to grab an affordable car.

Dermot Kelleher, director of marketing and business intelligence for Motors.co.uk, said: "With the government losing (this week's) crunch vote on Brexit and the continued weakening of the pound against the Euro, some European buyers are taking advantage of the uncertainty caused by Brexit by searching the UK's dealer stock for possible bargains."

British ex-pats looking to purchase a car from the UK ahead of Brexit may also need to retake their test in order to drive it after March 29 - with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency issuing a warning that a failure to exchange a British licence for one in their country of residence could void it.