GERMAN makers have claimed the podium places in a new survey which reveals the most in demand used car brands for buyers looking to finance their next purchase.

The research, by Automotive data expert cap hpi, shows that German premium car brands are proving to be real objects of desire for British buyers, filling four of the top five positions in the survey and five of the top 10.

The analysis, based on consumer search habits from the company's website, shows that BMW topped the tree with 13.64 per cent of searches in July, followed by Audi with 10.34 per cent.

Third on the highest number of searches were Mercedes-Benz with 10.03 per cent followed by the only non-German manufacturer in the top five, Ford, with 8.46 per cent just ahead of Volkswagen in fifth with 8.15 per cent.

Significantly German-owned Porsche also makes the top ten in tenth place. After Ford, the most searched "British" brands were Vauxhall in sixth place, Land Rover in eighth and German-owned Mini in ninth.

Philip Nothard, consumer and retail specialist at cap hpi, says: "Looking at the data from the number of used cars consumers are searching online, there's no arguing with the German dominance of the used market.

"German manufactured cars are book ending the top 10 with BMW out in front and Porsche in tenth spot. The Germans give consumers the cars they want - engineering, a long history of car manufacturing, quality and brand recognition are just some of the factors that help them remain popular and appealing."