The UK is the most transparent country in Europe when it comes to motor data, according to research conducted by data company carVertical.
Out of all the cars checked by platform in the UK, 14.5% had a clocked mileage and 21% had been damaged at some point. However, the UK has the lowest percentage of imported cars – 10.7%.
Germany is ranked 2nd with 12.6% clocked and 21.3% damaged vehicles. While Germany is the biggest car manufacturer in Europe, 26.8% of used vehicles in the country are imported from abroad.
Italy has the lowest percentage of damaged cars on the Index – 16.6%. The percentage of clocked cars is also relatively low – 11%, and only 32.1% of the vehicles in the country are imported.
“All these countries are crucial players in the automotive industry. Germany, Italy, and France manufacture many vehicles and also feed the rest of the region with used cars through export,” said Matas Buzelis, head of communications at carVertical.
Fines for mileage fraud in France are up to 10 times higher than in some Eastern countries, which results in a low number of clocked cars – 9.6%. However, 28.5% of cars on the country’s roads are damaged, which is significant. The country imports 54% of its used vehicles, which is the highest number among the top ranked countries.
Central European countries like Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, and Slovakia are ranked in the middle of Market Transparency Index. These countries have high import penetration, along with a high number of damaged vehicles.
Half of the used cars in Czechia are imported from abroad. 51.6% of cars are damaged and 11.4% are clocked.
Neighbouring Slovakia has even more imported cars – 58.5%. 57.7% of vehicles are damaged, and 1 out of 9 has clocked mileage.
The situation in the used car market is also similar in Hungary, with 52.6% of imported cars, 55% – damaged, and 12.7% – with clocked odometers. While the percentage of clocked vehicles is one of the lowest in Croatia (10.3%), it has a significant number of imported cars (69.3%) and 56.4% of vehicles damaged.
