Sale of used cars and light motor vehicles Companies in the UK

SIC 45112Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles|238.9% formed since 2020|Data updated 4 Jun 2026
32,757
Active

32,757 active companies in the UK are classified under sale of used cars and light motor vehicles (SIC code 45112). This sector falls under Section G — Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles — of the UK Standard Industrial Classification. The sector has a relatively low 0.3% dissolution rate — 32,757 of 39,250 registrations remain active. The sector is experiencing rapid growth, with 238.9% of active businesses incorporated since 2020 — indicating strong recent demand. 110% of companies were formed after 2010, marking this as a sector with predominantly recent entrants. The average company age in this sector is 6.0 years. 98 large companies, 36 medium-sized firms operate in this sector. London leads with 11% of companies in this sector. Companies in this sector hold 284 government contracts valued at £205.5M. The sector's longest-standing company was incorporated in 1911.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, June 2026

32,757
Active Companies
G
SIC Section
1911
Oldest Company
238.9%
Growth (2020s)
6 yr
Avg Company Age

A rapidly growing sector with 238.9% of active companies formed since 2020.

Incorporation by Decade
27%
65%
Pre-1990: 557
1990s: 475
2000s: 2,096
2010s: 10,658
2020s: 25,464

Data Signals

Governance
102,2036 src
Financial
52,09311 src
Compliance
24,61212 src
Risk
8,31110 src
Trade
2,6471 src
operational
3291 src
growth
3212 src
quality
1823 src
ESG
1205 src
innovation
72 src
regulatory
11 src
corporate_structure
11 src

Sector Overview

The sale of used cars and light motor vehicles sector has a <Link href="/glossary/company-dissolution">0.3% dissolution rate</Link>. The average active company in this sector is 6 years old. Geographic concentration: 11% in LONDON.

0.3%
Dissolution rate
6 yrs
Avg company age

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 43 (24%)Medium: 36 (20%)Large: 98 (55%)

Government Activity

Companies in the sale of used cars and light motor vehicles sector have been awarded 284 government contracts worth £205.5M in total.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many sale of used cars and light motor vehicles companies are there in the UK?

There are 32,757 active companies classified under SIC code 45112 (Sale of used cars and light motor vehicles) in the UK, out of 39,250 total registered.

What is SIC code 45112?

SIC code 45112 stands for "Sale of used cars and light motor vehicles". It belongs to Section G — Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles of the UK Standard Industrial Classification.

Where are most sale of used cars and light motor vehicles companies located?

The largest concentrations are in LONDON (3,525), BIRMINGHAM (1,030), MANCHESTER (779).

What is the average age of sale of used cars and light motor vehicles companies?

The average active sale of used cars and light motor vehicles company in the UK is 6 years old, with the oldest registration dating back to 1911.

What government data is available for sale of used cars and light motor vehicles companies?

Our database contains 190,827 data signals across 12 categories for active sale of used cars and light motor vehicles companies. The largest category is Governance with 102,203 signals from 6 government sources.

Research UK Companies with AI

5.9M companies, 50M+ signals from 53 government sources. Risk scores, director networks, entity analysis.

Data is updated daily from official UK government sources including Companies House. Information is provided for reference only.