carVertical’s European Market Transparency Index 2025: how transparent is the used car market in your country?

Buying a used car in Europe can feel like a lottery – some markets are clear and trustworthy, others still hide plenty of surprises. Transparency levels vary widely across countries, and knowing where the risks lie can save you money and stress.

Meet the Market Transparency Index – our annual study conducted in 25 countries to determine the level of transparency in their second-hand vehicle markets. We ranked each country and analyzed current market trends by using the following metrics:

• Percentage of odometers with falsified readings
• Average falsified mileage (in kilometers)
• Percentage of damaged cars
• Relative damage amount
• Percentage of imported used cars
• Average age of checked cars

These metrics are your shortcut to spotting how transparent a specific market is. When the figures climb, so does the risk for used car buyers – and transparency takes a dip.

The UK leads the ranking for yet another year

The most transparent used car markets remain in Western Europe, with the United Kingdom once again cruising confidently at the top of the Transparency index. Only 2.3% of cars on British roads show mileage tampering, and only 17% carry damage records. Thanks to driving on the left and importing far fewer cars than most European countries – a modest 2.3% – UK buyers can keep their peace of mind while shopping for a used vehicle.

Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and France complete the top five. The reason these Western countries perform so well is simple: fewer imports, higher living standards, and more open automotive data. Transparency in the used car market doesn’t just happen – it’s built on systems that reward honesty and easy access to information.

The pattern is clear – the more cars a country imports and the tougher its economic conditions, the greater the risk of odometer fraud and hidden damage.

Top-ranking countries import relatively few vehicles: Italy (20.6%), Germany (30.2%), Switzerland (35.5%), and France (31.6%). On the other hand, in countries that find themselves at the lower end of the ranking, import rates typically skyrocket to 70–80%.

It’s not hard to see the connection: when vehicles travel long distances through multiple markets, records get patchier, and opportunities for tampering multiply.

Mileage fraud rates among the top 5 countries range from 1.6% in Switzerland to 2.9% in Italy. But if you take a peek further down the list – say, the 20th to 25th spots – those rates climb to between 4% and 11%.

Put simply, the UK, Italy, and Germany lead the Transparency Index because buying a used car there is far less of a gamble. Meanwhile, Lithuania, Latvia, and Ukraine still have a long road ahead to catch up.

Of course, a country’s position isn’t set in stone. Take Sweden, for example. Last year, a solid 5th, it slipped to 10th place as imports increased, more cars showed damage, and mileage manipulation ticked upward. Portugal also took a noticeable dip, falling from 11th to 16th.

These shifts remind us that transparency is not a given – it’s something markets must constantly protect and improve. Because when used car data becomes murky, even the most careful buyer can get caught off guard.

Car clocking, high imports, and hidden damages define Eastern European vehicle markets

The least transparent countries in the study were Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Estonia – and, unfortunately, they held on to those bottom spots last year as well. A mix of falsified mileage, hidden damages, older vehicles, and high import rates makes these markets some of the riskiest places to buy a used car.

Since scammers are rarely punished for rolling back odometers or concealing defects, this shady practice isn’t going away anytime soon. In fact, Latvia (10.8%) and Ukraine (9.5%) recorded the highest mileage fraud rates in Europe. When it comes to damage, Poland (62.5%) and Slovakia (62%) lead the unfortunate rankings.

Lower purchasing power across Eastern Europe fuels a strong appetite for cheaper, used vehicles. Importers and dealers are quick to meet that demand – often by bringing in older or previously damaged cars from wealthier Western nations and reselling them at lower prices. It’s a win-win for sellers, but not always for buyers.

Bulgaria tops the import chart with a staggering 81.6% of its cars coming from abroad, followed closely by Ukraine (78.4%), Lithuania (76.7%), Serbia (76.6%), and Estonia (74.7%).

Buyers in Eastern Europe tend to prefer older vehicles, but they’re not alone. Even in wealthier countries, many used cars on the road have seen their fair share of years. The oldest average vehicle age on carVertical’s checks belongs to Latvia (11.4 years), followed by the United States (11.3 years) and Sweden (11.1 years) – proof that even in more transparent markets, the love for well-traveled cars runs deep.

Central Europe: not exactly transparent but not quite as risky

Central European countries like Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, and Czechia have always balanced between Western and Eastern Europe – not exactly transparent, but not quite as risky as the Baltics or Balkans either.

Among them, Slovenia takes the lead this year with 2.6% of clocked vehicles and 31.5% showing damage, climbing to 9th place, up one position from last year. Czechia landed 15th (3.9% clocked, 54% damaged), Slovakia came in 13th (2.7% clocked, 62% damaged), and Hungary followed in 18th (5.3% clocked, 57.3% damaged). Hungary slipped one spot from 2024, while Slovakia managed to climb 3 positions – small shifts that show how dynamic this market remains.

Compared to Western Europe, Central European buyers have less purchasing power, which means used cars remain the go-to choice. This demand for cheaper vehicles creates a market for older or potentially tampered cars, so extra caution is key. A quick vehicle history check can save a lot of headaches down the road – literally.

Import levels also tell part of the story. 49.6% of cars in Czechia were imported from abroad, 56.5% in Slovakia, and 50.1% in Hungary. Those numbers are high but still lower than in Eastern Europe, explaining why Central Europe ranks in the middle rather than at the bottom.

Why should you check the history of every car?

No matter where you’re buying a car, one rule always applies – check its history. Too many buyers think scams only happen to other people, but even in the most transparent markets, odometer fraud and hidden damage still slip through the cracks. Why take the risk when it’s your money – and your safety – on the line?

A carVertical report gives you the full picture before you commit. With data pulled from more than 900 data sources, it can reveal odometer rollbacks, past accidents, theft records, ownership changes, and even the countries where the car’s been registered.

Whether you’re buying in a highly transparent country or one with a few more shadows, knowing a car’s story helps you make smarter, safer decisions. After all, discovering the truth before you buy will always cost less than finding out the hard way later.

How was the Market Transparency Index calculated?

Our study analyzed vehicle history reports purchased by the company's users between September 2024 to August 2025. The Market Transparency Index was derived using six indicators:

• Percentage of odometers with falsified readings
• Average falsified mileage (in kilometers)
• Percentage of damaged cars
• Relative damage amount
• Percentage of imported used cars
• Average age of checked cars

Since these criteria do not equally impact market transparency, different weights were assigned to each factor. For instance, how many kilometers the odometer was falsified is considered more important than the average age of checked cars in a given country.

You can find the full report here: carVertical Transparency Index.