78% of Poles believe that buying a used car from a professional is the safest option. However, only 9% trust their information

Transparency note: This press release was originally published in Polish. The text has been machine translated. You can find the original press release here.

Most people looking for a used car don't want to base their decision solely on the seller's assurances. An independent mechanic is the best source of information for 30% of Poles surveyed, and a vehicle history report for 28%, according to CARFAX data. Eleven percent of respondents rely on their own knowledge and intuition. There's a clear gender difference here: 14% of men trust their own judgment, compared to only 7% of women.

Poles' views on buying a used car present an interesting paradox. Only 9% consider a professional broker or dealer to be the most reliable source of information about a used car's history. At the same time, however, a staggering 78% believe that a professional seller poses the lowest risk of being cheated in such a transaction. The data comes from the latest representative study commissioned by CARFAX, a company that provides used car history reports from credible and certified sources.

The largest percentage of respondents – 30% – consider an independent mechanic to be the most reliable source of information about a used car's history. Only slightly fewer – 28% – cite an independent vehicle history report. Next in line are: a friend's opinion (19%), their own knowledge and intuition (11%), the aforementioned professional seller or broker (9%), and a private seller (only 4%).

This seemingly illogical result, in reality, perfectly reflects the evolution of the Polish consumer. On the one hand, we feel safest when making a transaction with a professional, which stems directly from legal considerations – buying from a commission shop or dealership requires an invoice and the protection afforded to consumers by warranty regulations. On the other hand, few buyers trust the word of professional sellers. This echoes the years when the Polish market struggled with the plague of odometer rollbacks and concealing the accident history of cars. We have developed a healthy, market-oriented assertiveness: we buy from entrepreneurs for legal security, but we treat their commercial promises with a great deal of caution – says Robert Lewandowski, Business Development Manager CARFAX Polska.

Men are twice as likely to rely on their own judgment as women

There are significant gender differences in the distribution of responses. C o 3. Women most trust the opinion of an independent mechanic, and an independent vehicle history report is indicated by just over a quarter of respondents (27%). Twenty-two percent of surveyed women are most likely to rely on the opinion of a friend. In turn, 9% trust a professional salesperson, 7% trust their own knowledge and intuition, and only 3% trust a private seller.

Men, on the other hand, consider an independent vehicle history report to be the most reliable source of information about a used car's history (29%), with a mechanic coming in second (26%). 16% are most likely to trust a friend's opinion, while 14% trust their own knowledge and intuition (twice as many as women). The differences in the latter two options are small – 10% consider a professional seller the most reliable source of information, while 5% consider a private seller.

According to 77% of women and 79% of men, the risk of fraud when buying a used car is lowest with a professional seller. Twenty-three percent of women and 21% of men express confidence in dealing with a private seller.

A lack of trust in seller assurances naturally leads buyers towards objective sources of verification. We're pleased with the apparent shift away from "buying with your eyes" and toward a more objective analysis – today, an independent mechanic and a vehicle history report are key. Interestingly, our research shows that women approach purchases more analytically and cautiously, more likely to rely on the professional opinion of a repair shop. Men are still almost twice as likely to overestimate their own intuition during inspections. Regardless of gender, however, combining a visit to an independent service center with a VIN verification should now be the absolute standard before finalizing any transaction on the secondary market – says Robert Lewandowski, Business Development Manager of CARFAX Polska.

The survey was conducted at the turn of June and July 2026 using the CAWI method on a representative group of two thousand Poles.