A new analysis reveals that the UK’s used car market is the safest and most trustworthy worldwide, despite nearly 1 in 5 (18%) second-hand vehicles having a damage record.
The study by carVertical looked at millions of history checks across Europe and the U.S., ranking the markets based on factors like vehicle age, damage, and mileage. Surprisingly, the UK came out on top, beating countries like Italy and Switzerland—even though its used cars are some of the oldest, with an average age of 11 years.
A big reason behind this trustworthiness is the low number of imports in the UK. Only 2% of used cars are imported, compared to a 50% average elsewhere. Imported cars tend to carry a higher risk of scams, making the UK's market more reliable. Plus, while 18% of used UK cars have a damage record, that’s still better than most other countries—only Italy does slightly better at 13%.
The report also highlights that the UK has the lowest number of cars with tampered mileage (just 2%).
Matas Buzelis, a car expert at carVertical, explains: “Buying a used car can carry some risk, but in the UK there is far less chance of people falling victim to fraud or scams. The reason the second–hand car market in the UK is a lot safer than in other countries around the world is because there are far fewer imported vehicles and tighter regulations.
“In most cases, used cars circulate in the UK until the end of their lives and with far less trade in and out of the country, the market ranks as far more transparent.
