Used car market faces reliability and fraud risks

The used car market faces challenges regarding reliability and transparency. In the United Kingdom, automotive professionals highlight a gap between public perception and technical reality. Mechanics surveyed suggest prioritizing reliability and low maintenance costs over prestige, with models like the Toyota Yaris being favored for their durability and simple technology.

In Germany, imported used vehicles present a significantly higher risk of odometer fraud. An analysis by carVertical reveals that imported cars are more than five times as likely to have manipulated mileage compared to vehicles used exclusively within Germany. While only 1.4% of domestic vehicles showed signs of tampering, the rate rose to 4.2% for imports. This issue is exacerbated by a lack of cross-border data availability, which prevents buyers from accessing full accident and mileage histories from a vehicle's country of origin.