SIC code 45112 covers sale of used cars and light motor vehicles activities in the UK, with 32,757 active companies currently registered. This represents a significant segment of UK business activity. It falls under Section G (Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles) of the UK SIC 2007 classification system, which is used by Companies House to categorise all registered businesses.
See the full industry analysis on the Sale of used cars and light motor vehicles industry page.
With a 83% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 118 of 39,250 companies registered under this code have dissolved, well below the UK average. The average company age of 5.9 years suggests a relatively young and dynamic sector, with many businesses having been established in recent years. Growth has been exceptional recently: 68% of all active companies were formed since 2020, marking this as one of the fastest-expanding classifications. The 2010s contributed another 23%, meaning the vast majority of businesses are relatively new. Companies are geographically dispersed across the UK, with no single location dominating. The top three locations — LONDON, BIRMINGHAM, MANCHESTER — together account for just 16% of the sector.
SIC code 45112 stands for "Sale of used cars and light motor vehicles" under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section G — Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles. Companies use this code when registering with Companies House to indicate their primary business activity. The code is required for annual confirmation statements and is used by HMRC, ONS, and other government bodies for statistical and regulatory purposes.
There are currently 32,757 active companies registered under SIC code 45112 in the UK, out of 39,250 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 83%, meaning 17% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.
The top locations for sale of used cars and light motor vehicles companies (SIC 45112) are: LONDON (3,525), BIRMINGHAM (1,030), MANCHESTER (779), LEICESTER (479), BRADFORD (431). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
The sector is growing: 68% of currently active SIC 45112 companies were formed since 2020, and 23% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for sale of used cars and light motor vehicles services in the UK.
Companies classified under SIC 45112 have an average age of 5.9 years. This suggests a balanced sector with both established players and newer entrants. Notable companies include BRITISH CAR AUCTIONS LIMITED, COPART UK LIMITED, CAR GIANT LIMITED.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 45200 (Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles), 45320 (Retail trade of motor vehicle parts and accessories), 45310 (Wholesale trade of motor vehicle parts and accessories), 45111 (Sale of new cars and light motor vehicles). Companies may use multiple SIC codes if they operate across several of these related activities. When registering with Companies House, businesses should select the code that best represents their primary activity.
You can search for companies with SIC code 45112 (Sale of used cars and light motor vehicles) using UVAGATRON's company explorer, which allows filtering by SIC code, location, and company status. Alternatively, Companies House offers a basic search on their website. Our platform adds risk intelligence, director networks, and signals from 50+ government databases to each company record.
Search, filter, and analyse 32,757 companies classified under this SIC code with AI-powered risk intelligence.
Data sourced from Companies House, HM Land Registry, FCA Register, and 50+ government databases. SIC classification follows the UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities 2007 (SIC 2007). Last updated: 2026-04-17.