The current conflict in the Middle East is causing some prospective car buyers to delay their next purchase, according to research by Cazoo & Motors.
It said its latest Consumer Insight Panel survey, conducted three weeks after the start of the conflict, found that 38% of prospective buyers were delaying their next purchase, with 56% citing uncertainty over the conflict as one of their reasons for this.
However, among those delaying, the average claimed delay was shorter for those referencing the conflict than not, at seven-and-a-half months versus eight-and-a-half.
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Cazoo & Motors also found that more buyers (45%) were expecting to purchase within the next 12 months at the time of the survey than when the same question was asked in May 2025 (39%).
Car buyer hesitancy over Middle East conflict ‘understandable’
Lucy Tugby, marketing director at Cazoo & Motors, said: “Uncertainty over the impact the war in the Middle East will have on the UK is understandably prompting some buyers to put their next car on hold until there is more clarity.
“It is not unusual for big ticket purchases like cars to be delayed in times of uncertainty and this is being compounded by rising energy and fuel prices.
“However, it is encouraging to note an increase in the number of buyers planning to purchase a car in the next 12 months, compared to last year. This makes it even more important for dealers to factor in affordability and cost of ownership in their conversations with customers and highlight fuel efficiency whenever it is appropriate.”
Motoring-related disruption caused by the conflict has included steep increases in the price of petrol and diesel at UK filling stations, driven by the increasing cost of oil.
According to the RAC, the average price of petrol and diesel has increased since the start of the conflict by 20p-per-litre and 40p-per-litre respectively.