Research: A used car with a clean history – mission (im)possible?

You just can’t grab the first car you found on a marketplace and expect to drive for years without trouble. Technically, it’s possible, but you have to be among the lucky ones.

Just how lucky? That’s what we’re here to find out.

According to our data geeks, finding a car with a clean history can be quite a challenge. We analyzed a lot of VIN check data from a bunch of European countries to learn the statistics: how common are clean cars? Which makers are safer? And more.

What is a clean car?

A clean car is one that doesn't have any recorded incidents in its history report. Such a vehicle will hold its price better and serve longer. Let’s dive into the details of what a clean car is.

A car in our study can be called clean if:

• Has at least 5 mileage records
• The period between mileage records is no longer than 3 years

A vehicle with a clean history report must not:

• Have tampered mileage
• Have been involved in an accident
• Have been stolen at some point
• Have been used as a taxi, ride-sharing, or car-sharing vehicle
• Have financial restrictions
• Have junk, salvage, flood, fire, or lemon title
• Have been exposed to natural disasters

While every driver wants to buy a car that hasn’t been involved in any accident or been clocked, in reality, the used vehicle market is full of cars whose histories are far from clean.

Want a car with a clean history? French and Italian brands may be your answer

Italian and French automakers can sigh in relief as they dominate the list of clean cars in Europe. Alfa Romeo takes the crown with 65.1% of vehicles checked on carVertical having clean histories. Peugeot (62.9%), Renault (61.3%), Citroen (61.2%), and Fiat (59.4%) are close behind.

Peugeot, Renault, Citroen, and Fiat produce economy-class vehicles that may be less susceptible to fraud. If you’re some shady dealer, you don’t want to risk clocking the mileage or hiding damages of some cheap hatchback, as your profit will be low. That’s why scammers target more expensive car brands to earn more money.

So, why on earth does Alfa Romeo have the highest share of cars with clean histories? Shouldn't it be at the other end of the spectrum?

While Alfas are considered sporty cars, they don’t attract the same crowd as BMW, Porsche, and Subaru, whose owners may often indulge in more aggressive driving. Estimates say that, in 2023, Alfa Romeo delivered around 70,000 cars. That’s not a lot, as most manufacturers count their vehicles by hundreds of thousands or even millions of units. This explains why Alfa Romeo attracts scammers less. They just don’t want to clock the mileage of a car that may have a high price but fewer interested buyers.

If you’re some shady dealer, you don’t want to risk clocking the mileage or hiding damages of a cheap hatchback, as your profit will be low. Scammers tend to target more expensive car brands to earn more money.

What if we narrow down our scope and look at the situation in different countries? Apparently, the dominance of French and Italian car manufacturers is visible across the continent. Fiat has the most vehicles with clean histories in Czechia (54.1%) and Finland (91.1%). Renault – in France (74.1%). Citroen – in Hungary (54.6%), Croatia (72%), and Latvia (67.1%). Peugeot – in Lithuania (64.1%), Poland (50.3%), and Ukraine (64.1%). Alfa Romeo – in Slovakia (62.8%).

However, depending on the country, other car brands may also have a clean history. In Spain, Lexus has the highest share of vehicles with clean history records – 88.6% of all VIN checks on carVertical. In the UK – Honda (72.1%), in Italy – Toyota (95.2%), in Portugal – Toyota (91.5%), in Romania – Lexus (60.5%), and in Serbia – Toyota (79.6%).

Finding a premium car without defects may be difficult

Although finding a car with a clean history requires time and effort, some brands are particularly risky. Among all vehicles checked by carVertical in the research, BMW models had the worst results – only 23.2% had a clean history. BMW has the lowest share of vehicles with clean histories in multiple countries, including Spain (8.9%), France (21%), Hungary (13.5%), Croatia (15.7%), Latvia (15.7%), Poland (6.9%), Portugal (3.9%), Slovakia (4.2%), Romania (8%), Serbia (22.3%), and Ukraine (11.2%).

Next on the list were Porsche (32.5%) and Volvo (40.8%).

In most countries included in the study, premium cars were significantly less likely to have a clean history, meaning that fans of these brands should be especially cautious when shopping for a used model.

Many people dream of owning a premium-class car, but they don’t always fully assess the risks involved in buying one. Since these vehicles are more expensive, dishonest sellers are more likely to falsify their mileage or hide defects.

In most countries included in the study, premium cars were significantly less likely to have a clean history, meaning that fans of these brands should be especially cautious when shopping for a used model.

To purchase a premium-class car at the lowest possible price, buyers often overlook its history or fail to check what kind of damage it may have sustained in the past. Later, as various defects begin to surface, you may face unpleasant surprises, and significant repairs can drive the ownership expenses to unpredictable costs.

How to find a vehicle with a clean history

So, obviously, you want a car with a clean history, the one that will be worth every penny and won’t cause you any trouble in the long run. Be it an economy-class Dacia, a premium Lexus, or a BMW. But where should you start?

1. Get a vehicle’s VIN number

Many sellers contain a car’s VIN number in the ad, so anyone interested in that model may check its history. However, some owners may forget to do that, so don’t hesitate to contact them and ask. If the seller isn’t willing to share the VIN or claims that their car is flawless and there’s no point in getting a history report, it’s a high chance that you’ve met a shady seller.

2. Check a car’s history on carVertical

When you get a VIN number, hop on carVertical and check the car’s history. Evaluate any damage the vehicle has suffered, mileage, ownership changes, safety recall records, and its historical photos.

However, brace yourself – finding a vehicle with a clean history may not be easy. But this doesn’t mean you should completely ignore cars with minor issues. What is more, you can use this information to negotiate a lower price.

3. Test drive a car

If the history report is clean or at least doesn’t contain any information that may suggest that a vehicle is a lemon, go for a test drive. Don’t forget to inspect the car for any rust, leaks, scratches, and dents. Check if all the electronics work properly. It’s best to try the car at different speeds and on various terrains. Listen to any noises from the engine bay or suspension you may not like.

4. Visit a professional mechanic

If you still feel that the car you checked might be the one, do the final step and bring it to an authorized service center for inspection. If the vehicle’s history is unclean and it has past damages or other suspicious issues, use this information in a report to discuss the car’s condition with a mechanic.

They can evaluate the car’s state and give their opinion of how certain damages were repaired. Additionally, they will hook up diagnostic tools so you can learn more about the car.

Finding a used vehicle shouldn’t be a gamble. By employing carVertical’s history report and following the buying process meticulously, you may find a reliable ride. However, if you buy the first car you see without actually digging into its history, the excitement of getting a new vehicle may quickly fade due to persistent mechanical failures or electrical faults.

Methodology

The carVertical study analyzed vehicle history reports purchased by the company’s customers from January 2024 to December 2024. Cars with clean history reports were counted by brand, converted into percentages, and ranked accordingly.