One in three car buyers buys it used
Several routes to purchase, but watch out for scams
The year 2026 opens with a slowdown for used car buying and selling. According to Unrae (Unione nazionale rappresentanti autoveicoli esteri) data, 438,975 transfers of ownership were recorded in January, 6.7% less than in the same month of 2025: the sharpest drop in the last 40 months. The size of the market, however, remains significant. Last year, 1.538 million new cars and over three million used cars were purchased. In other words, for every first-hand car registered, 2.1 second-hand cars were bought (2 in 2024). With the price of new ever higher, for many families used cars are the most rational choice, provided they pay attention to a few golden rules to avoid nasty surprises.
How safeguards change
The first issue is to be fully aware of one's legal protections, which change depending on the type of seller. "Today there are many platforms that are in fact marketplaces, not retailers," explains Carmelo Benenti, president of Federconsumatori Milano. "If you buy through these channels, with the site that only facilitates the meeting between supply and demand between two private parties, the civil code and not the consumer code applies, with the loss of conformity guarantees and the validity of the 'seen and liked' clause. In such cases, it is a good idea to consider purchasing additional insurance on second-hand cars, which are often sold by the same platforms'.
As a result, the time for reporting defects is reduced to eight days. Those who buy from a trader, on the other hand, are entitled to the two-year legal warranty provided for in the Consumer Code, unless otherwise specified in the contract, and can also benefit from the transposition of the EU directive on legal warranty, which introduced a fundamental change in 2022: for defects arising within one year of purchase, it is presumed that the defect already existed at the time of delivery, shifting the burden of proof to the seller.
The checks to be made
The cost of a used car is not only affected by the depreciation incurred over time or through use. Factors ranging from the condition of the vehicle to the state of health of the mechanics and electronics, from the regularly carried out inspection reports to the condition of the bodywork and tyres and the mileage covered also contribute. Among the unwritten rules that must guide the buyer, the first is to pay attention to the documents: registration, single vehicle registration document and ownership document, and roadworthiness test. In addition, the chassis number in the documentation must be checked and an assessment must be made of the direct relationship between the indicated mileage and the real state of the car. An aspect that should not be underestimated is the presence of second keys, otherwise there must be a report of loss by the owner.
"The savings, when buying from a private individual or through a marketplace, can be as much as 20-30% of the price of a new car,' adds Benenti. 'However, it is advisable to seek the advice of your trusted mechanic for a correct assessment of the condition of the vehicle. In addition, it is advisable to check, through the number plate, whether the car has been involved in previous accidents or, through the Pra (Pubblico Registro Automobilistico, editor's note), whether it is subject to administrative detention'.
