BBC News - Car sales to hit five-year high in 2013 7 January 2014 Last updated at 00:11 A report is likely to show that 2013 was the strongest year for the UK car market since 2007. Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) due out on Tuesday are expected to show that 2.26m vehicles were registered last year. That would be a 10.5% increase on 2012's sales figures. It would mean that the UK overtook France to become Europe's second biggest car market, after Germany. Industry analysts say that attractive financing deals have tempted buyers and three-quarters of sales to private buyers now involve some kind of financing package. Sales growth is expected to be more modest in 2014. British built The report from the SMMT is also likely to show that one-in-seven, or 300,000, of the cars bought last year were built in the UK. Most cars built in the UK are exported. Last month, the SMMT said that car production in 2013 was likely to be at a six-year high with more than more than 1.5 million vehicles built. Growth was driven by the rollout of new models, including the third-generation Mini, the SMMT said. Thousands of new jobs were created in the industry as both Jaguar Land Rover and Bentley expanded their operations in the UK.