United Kingdom car registrations saw a sharp pickup in February 2026, with year‑on‑year growth rising to 7.2%, more than double the 3.4% annual increase recorded in January 2026. The latest data, updated on 05 March 2026, indicate a significant strengthening in demand compared with the same month a year earlier.
The figures are calculated on a year‑over‑year basis, meaning February’s 7.2% reading reflects how registrations changed versus February of the previous year, while January’s 3.4% compares registrations to January a year earlier. The acceleration suggests that momentum in the UK automotive market improved notably as 2026 progressed into its second month, pointing to firmer consumer and business appetite for new vehicles.
