Car maintenance: fewer dinners and trips but used parts boom
44% of Italians have already purchased a used or remanufactured spare part and 37% have done so more often than in the previous year. On eBay double-digit growth in almost all segments for the category
3' min read
3' min read
In times of declining purchasing power, car maintenance also inevitably becomes an item to keep under control. So much so that more than one in two motorists have given up or postponed a service precisely for economic reasons. And when they do choose to take action, they do so by cutting back elsewhere: fewer restaurants, less shopping, less travel. This is what emerges from an Ipsos survey for eBay, which photographs a reality in which recourse to used or remanufactured spare parts is no longer marginal, but a concrete, rational and increasingly widespread option.
44% of motorists have already purchased a used or remanufactured spare part, and 37% have done so more often than in the previous year. The reason is obvious: savings. More than half of the respondents believe that a used part can cost up to 50 per cent less than new. In some cases, the difference can be as much as 70 per cent, as Francesco Faà di Bruno, Head of Motors France and Italy at eBay, points out: 'Used parts are supplied by certified dismantlers, not by private individuals, and meet high quality standards. We are talking about doors, bonnets, headlights: essential elements in case of minor but costly damage'.
The phenomenon is also supported by the evolution of the vehicle fleet: in Italy, the average age of cars has exceeded 11 years. Repair work, even minimal, risks being disproportionate to the residual value of the vehicle. And so used cars make more sense.
In fact, today 7 out of 10 motorists cut back on personal spending to meet maintenance costs. The first renunciations concern lunches and dinners out (39%), non-essential purchases (33%), travel (29%) and even personal care. At the same time, the search for more affordable solutions is growing and, in 33% of cases, the answer comes from digital: one in three motorists have bought used or remanufactured parts online, attracted by convenience, offers, wide availability and ease of comparison between sellers.
The category 'spare parts and accessories' for cars and motorbikes is one of the most dynamic on eBay today. In 2024 it was the best performing in Italy, thanks to double-digit growth in almost all segments: +42% bumpers, +30% doors, +23% complete engines. And every second, at least one search related to car parts is made on the platform.
