Copy article

The UK is the safest market in Europe to buy a used car – any advice on buying cars?

ended 24. November 2025

The UK’s ranks amongst the top used car markets in Europe, for the fewest clocked cars, lowest odometer rollback and lowest share of previously damaged vehicles.

Britain has the lowest number of imported vehicles (2.3%) reducing the risk of buyers being scammed or defrauded.

Vehicle history checking service carVertical launches its annual Market Transparency Index, revealing the countries where buying a second-hand car is riskiest. Diagram below.

  • What is your reaction to the data? Are you surprised UK is top?
  • What tips do you have for people buying used cars?
  • Do you have any negative or positive experiences of buying used cars? What was it that made it a good or bad experience?

Responses by Monday morning.

 

1 responses from the Newspage community

Copy all

Copy

Premium
Dr Marianne TrentVerified
Clinical Psychologist at Good Thinking Psychology
I bought a used car this year and my journey to buying it started over 20 years ago when my colleague was killed in a car accident. At the time I started researching car safety and pledged to always buy the safest car I could afford. In my 20's that was a Toyota, in my 30's a Peugeot and in my 40's I finally have the car brand I originally wanted, a Volvo. I bought from a dealership so I know I paid a premium for that but the warranty and customer service as well as having someone in person to complain to if things didn't work out well for me were important factors.