India's Used Car Market Sees Digital Growth, More Women Buyers in 2025

India's leading full-stack used car platform Spinny reported significant shifts in the pre-owned car market in Q1 2025, with 77% of sales coming through digital transactions and women buyers increasing to 28%. The company's latest report highlights changing consumer preferences, including a rise in automatic cars to 29% of sales and first-time buyers accounting for 74% of purchases.

According to the report released on April 8, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi emerged as the top car-buying cities, while Pune showed strong interest in electric vehicles with a 40% share in that segment. The data reflects broader transformations in how Indians approach car ownership as urban expansion continues.

The report shows Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, and Honda as the most preferred car brands, with the Hyundai Grand i10, Swift, and Renault Kwid being the top models. White, grey, and red remain the favorite colors among buyers, whose average age is 32 years.

Digital transactions have become increasingly popular, rising from 70% in 2023 to 75% in 2024 and now 77% in Q1 2025. Financing plays a key role in this growth, with 57% of buyers opting for loans, particularly among younger consumers aged 25-30.

Women buyers have continued to gain market share, increasing from 26% in 2024 to 28% in Q1 2025, reaching 30% in March. Data indicates that 60% of women prefer automatic hatchbacks, while 18% favor compact SUVs. Kochi recorded the highest share of women buyers, while Coimbatore led in women's loan uptake at 27%.

Consumer preferences for vehicle types showed hatchbacks remaining popular, with the Renault Kwid, Hyundai Grand i10, and Maruti Suzuki Swift as favorites. Compact SUVs continued their 20% year-over-year growth, led by the Ford EcoSport, Tata Nexon, and Hyundai Venue.

Regarding fuel preferences, petrol vehicles dominated at 84%, followed by diesel (10%), CNG (4%), and electric vehicles (2%). The Tata Nexon EV led the electric segment, with Pune reporting the highest EV sales.

Spinny's hub-based delivery model grew from 74% in 2024 to 78% in Q1 2025, while home deliveries declined from 26% to 22%, indicating consumers' preference for in-person vehicle inspections.

Niraj Singh, Founder & CEO of Spinny, commented on these trends: "Consumers are increasingly choosing cars that align with their evolving lifestyles—whether it's upgrading for a growing family or embracing new cities. With the rise of electric and hybrid options, the choices are endless. At Spinny, we're committed to making the car-buying experience both aspirational and valuable. We're redefining used cars, making them the smarter choice to fulfill aspirations and deliver maximum value, with complete trust and transparency in every car-buying decision."