61% of cars that changed ownership in 2026 have at least one risk factor
Transparency note: This press release was originally published in Spanish. The text has been machine translated. You can find the original press release here.
The vehicles analyzed have an average age of 13 years and 183,300 kilometers on the clock, compared with 15 years and 177,000 kilometers for Spain’s overall vehicle fleet. In addition, 61% have at least one risk factor, nine percentage points above the national average
13% have a rental history and 10% are imported, compared with 7% and 6%, respectively, in Spain’s overall vehicle fleet
Vehicles that changed hands have had more than four owners on average, compared with 2.6 for the national fleet
Madrid, October 28th 2026 – The Spanish used-vehicle market continues to account for a significant share of the automotive sector. According to data from GANVAM, sales of used passenger cars and SUVs exceeded one million units during the first half of the year, with 1,069,372 transactions and growth of close to 5% compared with the same period of the previous year. For every new passenger car sold, 1.8 used cars were sold.
Against this backdrop, CARFAX, the largest private provider of vehicle history information in Spain and Europe, analyzed 1,515,780 cars that changed ownership between January and September 2026 to identify the profile of these vehicles and the main aspects of their history that buyers should consider before purchasing a used vehicle.
The data available to CARFAX reveals a notable paradox: vehicles that changed ownership during this period are younger on average than Spain’s overall vehicle fleet, yet they have higher mileage and a greater proportion of risk factors associated with their history.
Younger, but with higher mileage and more risk factors
Vehicles that changed ownership during the first nine months of 2026 have an average age of 13 years and 183,300 kilometers on the clock, compared with 15.11 years and 177,442 kilometers for Spain’s overall vehicle fleet.
However, 61% of these vehicles have at least one risk factor, nine percentage points above the 52% recorded for the overall fleet. Among the indicators analyzed, 43% of vehicles have a history of damage or accidents, while 13% were previously rental vehicles, 10% are imported and 2% have mileage inconsistencies. In addition, imported vehicles account for 10% of ownership changes, compared with 6% of the national fleet, while vehicles with a rental history account for 13%, compared with 7% of the Spanish fleet.
“Vehicles that change ownership can have a particularly relevant history for buyers, as they have had, on average, more owners than the overall fleet,” says Francisco Rudilla, Business Development Manager at CARFAX. “The presence of these factors does not necessarily mean that a vehicle is problematic, but it does demonstrate the importance of knowing its history. Having this information allows buyers to assess a vehicle more effectively and make a purchase decision with greater confidence.”
More than four owners on average and diesel engines predominate
The number of owners is another factor that distinguishes the vehicles that changed hands during the period analyzed. These vehicles have had 4.1 owners on average, compared with 2.6 for Spain’s overall vehicle fleet.
This figure highlights the importance of knowing the history of a used vehicle, particularly when it has changed hands several times. The number of owners, any recorded damage, the vehicle’s origin and how it has been used are all factors that can provide relevant information about its past.
By origin, imported vehicles that changed ownership have an average mileage of 199,247 kilometers, while vehicles that originally came from rental fleets have 142,936 kilometers on the clock.
It is also worth noting that diesel is the most common powertrain among these vehicles, accounting for 47% of the total, ahead of gasoline at 38%. Hybrids already represent 12%, while electric vehicles account for 2%. The remaining 1% corresponds to other fuel types.
By location, Madrid accounts for the largest volume of ownership changes, with 15% of the total, followed by Barcelona (9%) and Valencia (5%).
Volkswagen and the Golf lead ownership changes
Volkswagen is the most prevalent make among the vehicles analyzed, accounting for 9.2% of the total. It is followed by Peugeot at 8.1% and SEAT at 7.9%, while Renault and Citroën each account for 7.2%.
By model, the Volkswagen Golf ranks first, accounting for 3.1% of ownership changes. The vehicles analyzed have an average age of 16.8 years and an average mileage of 221,041 kilometers. In addition, 53.7% have a history of damage and 71.5% have at least one risk factor, the highest proportion among the five models most represented in the analysis.
The SEAT Ibiza, SEAT León, Ford Focus and Renault Clio account for 2.7%, 2.5%, 2% and 1.9%, respectively. Among them, the SEAT León stands out, with an average age of 13.3 years and 220,865 kilometers, while 63.9% of the vehicles have at least one risk factor.
More turnover, greater need for transparency
CARFAX data show that a younger age or below-average mileage does not in itself guarantee a history free of risk factors. In a market where more than 1.5 million vehicles changed ownership in just nine months, access to information about their past is particularly important.