Italy's used‑car market faces rising odometer fraud alongside robust sales volumes

A new carVertical study of Italy’s used‑car market finds that odometer tampering remains a significant risk. Diesel vehicles account for 61% of the inspected stock, with 3.1% found to have altered mileage, averaging a reduction of over 73,000 km. Gasoline cars show a 2.3% fraud rate and an average reduction of 58,000 km. Hybrid models are fraud‑prone at 1.3% (41,000 km average reduction) and electric cars at 0.9% (61,000 km average reduction).

According to ACI data for May 2026, used‑car registrations continue to outpace new‑car sales: 151 used vehicles were transferred for every 100 new ones, rising to 173 in the first five months of the year. Total used‑car transfers fell slightly to 259,925, down 2.6% from the same month in 2025, while motorcycle transfers were broadly stable. Deregistrations increased 10.9% year‑on‑year, driven mainly by higher demolition rates.

The share of electrified powertrains is growing. Hybrid gasoline cars represented 12.1% of used‑car transfers in May, up 29.9% annually, while electric vehicles reached 1.5% of the market, a 42.3% increase from the previous year. Older vehicles are also becoming more common, with cars aged 20‑29 years making up 16.8% of transfers.