Cars24 has reported a 44% year-on-year growth in pre-owned/old car sales during the 2026 festive season, selling a total of 19,039 vehicles between Navratri and Diwali. The company also disbursed over Rs 300 crore in car loans and recorded 5.2 crore unique users across its digital platforms, reflecting growing consumer engagement with online automotive services.
According to the company’s festive performance data, daily sales averaged around 630 vehicles, approximately 15% higher than on regular business days. Interestingly, first-time buyers accounted for 72% of total customers, while women contributed 36% of purchases, up from 31% during the previous festive season. Rural buyers also made up a significant 40% share, indicating the growing reach of the pre-owned car market beyond major urban centres.
Hatchbacks Retain the Lead, SUVs Record Fastest Growth
In terms of brand preferences, Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Tata emerged as the three most purchased carmakers on the platform. Among individual models, the Tata Nexon, Hyundai i10 and Maruti Baleno featured among the leading choices.
Hatchbacks continued to account for over 50% of pre-owned cars sold during the festive period. However, SUVs recorded the fastest growth among vehicle categories, indicating increasing consumer interest in larger and more feature-rich vehicles.
Demand for CNG and EVs Exceeds Available Supply
The festive data also highlighted changing fuel preferences among used-car buyers. Petrol vehicles accounted for 65% of demand, compared to 58% of available supply leads. Meanwhile, CNG and electric vehicles (EVs) together contributed over 15% of bookings, despite accounting for just 10% of supply leads.
In North India, Cars24 also recorded an 18% increase in the share of BS6 vehicles sold, alongside a 22% rise in sell leads for non-BS6 vehicles.
Digital Vehicle Services and Inspections Gain Traction
Beyond buying and selling, Cars24 processed over 7 lakh ownership-related transactions during the festive period, with peak activity reaching approximately one microtransaction every second during the day, around a week before Diwali.
The platform also recorded 40,000 bookings for vehicle health reports and 6.6 lakh searches related to pre-delivery inspections (PDI) and vehicle health checks. Additionally, around 10,000 customers opted for vehicle inspections, covering both new and pre-owned cars, while 30,000 used its vehicle history check service.
The company also reported over 100% year-on-year growth in digital traffic, with 5.2 crore unique users accessing its platforms during the festive period.
