Importing trouble: why used cars from abroad are more likely to have past damage

Picture this. You've spent weeks scrolling listings, comparing specs, negotiating prices. Then you find it – the right car, the right color, a price that actually makes sense. It came from abroad, sure, but the photos look clean. The seller sounds reasonable. The odometer reading is reassuring.

You buy it. You drive it home. Life is good.

Then, 6 months later, a mechanic pulls it up on the ramp and goes quiet for a moment longer than you'd like. "Did you know this car was in a serious accident?" he asks. You did not.

This isn't a rare story. Across Europe, it plays out thousands of times a year – and the data shows exactly why.

Research findings

• In some markets, imported cars are up to 3 times more likely to have been damaged.
• Over 90% of buyers believe sellers should disclose a vehicle’s damage history.
• Nearly two-thirds of buyers would avoid purchasing a car that has been in a serious accident.
• Almost 64% of buyers are willing to pay more for a car with a verified clean history.
• Import share varies widely across Europe, from as high as 78.2% in Lithuania to just 19.9% in Italy.
• Poland stands out with the highest damage rate in Europe, as 68.6% of imported cars have a recorded damage history.

The numbers don't lie – but the cars might

Let’s start with the data. Across European markets, imported vehicles consistently show significantly higher rates of recorded damage than locally registered cars. In some markets, the risk is up to 3 times higher.

Damage patterns in imported cars vary significantly across Europe, but several clear groups emerge. In countries like Poland (68.6% vs 55.3%) and the Czech Republic (65.6% vs 42%), imported cars show some of the highest shares of recorded damage while also clearly exceeding local vehicles. This indicates that cars entering these markets are more likely to carry a history of previous damage compared to those already registered domestically.

Another group includes countries where the difference between imported and local cars is particularly pronounced. In Spain, 61.1% of imported cars have damage records, compared to just 21% of locally used vehicles. France shows a similar pattern (68.5% vs 25.9%), as does Portugal (55.4% vs 25.3%) and Ukraine (63.4% vs 27.9%). Here, the key takeaway is not just the share of damaged imports, but how much more likely they are to have a recorded history compared to domestic cars.

Finally, there are countries where damage levels are relatively high across both imported and local vehicles, making the difference less pronounced. In Slovakia (62.8% vs 59.1%), Hungary (58.6% vs 55.6%), and Romania (61.9% vs 53.1%), imported cars still show higher shares, but only slightly. This suggests broader market conditions where damage is common regardless of origin.

How large is Europe's import dependency?

Import patterns across Europe vary significantly, often reflecting the economic realities of each region. In countries like Lithuania (78.2%), Ukraine (78%), and Serbia (75.8%), imported vehicles dominate the market, accounting for the vast majority of all used cars. This is largely driven by affordability – buyers in these markets tend to rely on vehicles sourced from wealthier Western European countries, where cars are replaced more frequently and sold at lower prices after several years of use. As a result, imports become the primary way to access newer or better-equipped vehicles at a reasonable cost.

Moving west and south, the picture becomes more balanced. In countries such as Spain (56.6%), Portugal (56.5%), Poland (55.1%), and Belgium (52.4%), imported cars still make up a significant share, but local supply also plays an important role. These markets often have stronger domestic used car ecosystems, yet imports remain attractive due to price differences and wider model availability.

In Central Europe, like the Czech Republic (50%) or Slovakia (57.4%), this balance reflects both steady local turnover and a continued flow of vehicles from neighboring countries.

In contrast, large and economically strong markets such as Germany (22.9%), France (30%), and Italy (19.9%) rely far less on imports. These countries have robust domestic car markets, where buyers can easily find used vehicles without looking abroad.

Overall, the data shows a clear pattern – the further east you go, the more dominant imported cars become, driven by price sensitivity, supply gaps, and cross-border trade dynamics.

What buyers actually want, and what they're not getting

Here's the twist: buyers aren't blind to the problem. In a carVertical survey of 14,000 drivers across 22 European countries, the responses were remarkably clear. 92.2% of respondents believe sellers are obligated to disclose a vehicle's past damage. That's a near-universal agreement. Yet not all sellers, particularly those trading in imported vehicles, play by those rules.

When asked what matters most when buying a used car, 75.6% of drivers chose a clean accident history over a lower price. Only 9.6% said price was their top priority. Buyers aren't looking to save money at any cost – they're looking for transparency.

The reluctance to accept a previously damaged car is equally strong. 60.7% of drivers said they would not buy a car that had been in a serious accident, even if it looked perfect. And 86.7% said the severity of past damage – not just its existence – is extremely important to them. Minor cosmetic scratches are one thing. A car that was structurally compromised is quite another.

For those willing to pay a premium for peace of mind, 63.9% said they would spend more on a car they could verify had never been in a crash. The demand for transparency is clear. The supply of it is not.

A systemic problem that needs a systemic fix

This isn't just about dishonest sellers or unlucky buyers. The root of the problem is structural: the European used car market operates without a unified vehicle history register. Damage records, mileage entries, ownership changes – all of it sits in the national databases, inaccessible across borders.

GDPR adds another layer of complexity. The vague definition of "legitimate interest" means that companies trying to connect vehicle data across countries face a legal obstacle course, having to justify their data processing country by country rather than operating under a clear EU-wide framework.

A more open approach to anonymised vehicle data in Europe would remove the legal barriers that currently exist, foster innovation, and protect car buyers from fraud. Until that changes, the gap between what buyers expect and what they actually receive will remain wide. And imported used cars will continue to carry histories that only reveal themselves after the deal is done.

Why do imported cars have more damage? Because their history often stays behind

The answer isn't that cars somehow get into more accidents on the way over. It's simpler and more troubling. When a car is moved from one country to another, its history often doesn't travel with it. Countries don't share vehicle records with each other. Damage reports filed with insurers, repairers, and national registries in the country of origin stay locked in that country's databases. The car, meanwhile, starts fresh in its new home.

The result is a gray zone – and one that private traders and used-car dealers know how to exploit. A vehicle that was written off or repaired on the cheap in one country can be registered, polished, and resold in another with no visible trace of its past. Buyers, drawn in by a clean exterior and an attractive price, have no easy way to know better.

What risks may a damaged car carry?

• Structural damage, when not properly repaired, can compromise crash performance and the effectiveness of safety systems.
• Cheap, non-original parts can fail in ways that OEM components wouldn't. And since none of this is visible to the naked eye, buyers often have no idea what they're looking at – until something goes wrong.
• Underlying damage can lead to long-term mechanical problems that only appear months later, often resulting in expensive repairs.

When buying a used car, whether imported from abroad or driven locally, checking its VIN is a must. Cars are expensive enough, so you wouldn’t want to spend additional money on repairs, skipped maintenance, or risk your own safety on the road.

Since imported vehicles are significantly more likely to have a hidden damage history, a simple check can reveal what doesn’t cross borders with the car – and help you avoid costly surprises later on.

Methodology

The carVertical study analyses vehicle history reports purchased by the company's customers from January 2025 to March 2026.

Additionally, the article draws on data from a carVertical survey conducted in February–March 2025, in which 14,000 respondents from 22 countries participated. As the survey sample covers only users of carVertical's services, it reflects individuals who are actively looking to buy a car.