Italy's used‑car market expands in 2026 with rising sales and fraud concerns

The Italian used‑vehicle sector recorded solid growth in the first half of 2026. In June, car ownership transfers rose 5.2% year‑on‑year to 263,311 and motorcycle transfers increased 5.4% to 74,771, while deregistrations climbed 19.3% for cars and 3.2% for motorcycles. Traditional fuel types still dominate, but hybrid gasoline models reached 11.7% of transfers and electric cars grew to 1.4% of the market.

A carVertical analysis of platform data identified the Volkswagen Golf as the most searched model (3.7% of queries), followed by the Audi A3 and Fiat 500. The study also highlighted hidden risks: the Smart Fortwo showed the highest share of vehicles with recorded damage (23.8%), and the Alfa Romeo Stelvio led in odometer tampering (3.9%). Experts advise checking full vehicle histories and professional inspections before purchase to avoid costly surprises.