Dangerous fraud in the used car market: how scrap cars end up on European roads
(Munich, June 16th 2026) For years, organized criminal networks have been putting tens of thousands of severely damaged accident vehicles on Europe’s roads—often as supposedly flawless used cars. Investigations by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and research by the Süddeutsche Zeitung reveal that even vehicles with tampered safety systems, missing airbags, or severe frame damage sometimes receive a TÜV seal in Germany and are subsequently sold to unsuspecting buyers. The result is a significant risk to road safety—and billions in losses for consumers and the state.
In April 2025 and February 2026, approximately 1,000 police, tax, and customs officials raided locations in several EU countries as part of the international operation “Nimmersatt.” The target was a criminal organization that imported wrecked vehicles, primarily so-called “salvage cars” from the U.S., into Europe, performed only superficial repairs on them, and then resold them as accident-free. At least 16,500 vehicles are estimated to have entered the market from Lithuania alone, generating 144 million euros in revenue. The estimated tax loss amounts to at least 31 million euros, not including any consequential costs resulting from necessary repairs, accidents, or other property damage. (Source: Süddeutsche Zeitung, Schrottwagen mit TÜV-Siegel auf Deutschlands Straßen)
When security checks fail
Particularly alarming: In many cases, the vehicles received the required technical inspection from testing organizations. Investigations by the Süddeutsche Zeitung have documented more than 30 cases in which prosecutors have investigated automotive experts for issuing false reports. Courts have convicted several inspectors of bribery and falsification of documents, in some cases sentencing them to several years in prison. In other cases, inspectors declared vehicles to be technically sound that they had never even seen themselves. Investigators report on reports with timestamps of just two minutes, effectively impossible for a real inspection.
According to the investigating authorities, some of the clients are said to be linked to criminal organizations, including the Italian ’Ndrangheta. Imported accident-damaged cars were hastily cobbled together, with safety-critical components repaired unprofessionally or replaced with fakes. The TÜV seal, a symbol of the highest possible safety for many consumers, lost its protective value in these cases.
A lucrative but high-risk business model
The import of accident-damaged vehicles is a multi-billion-dollar industry. According to CARFAX data analysis, approximately 303,000 used vehicles were exported from the U.S. to Europe in 2024 alone—about 220,000 of which were totaled. While these vehicles can no longer be registered in the U.S., they fetch high prices in Europe after being “refurbished.” An example from the investigation files: A heavily damaged sports car is purchased at auction for around $10,000 and later resold for $50,000. The less that is invested in repairs, the higher the profit margin—at the expense of safety for the occupants and other road users.
Why Vehicle History Reports Ensure Transparency
Transparent vehicle histories can reveal accident damage, total loss classifications, odometer tampering, and cross-border anomalies, regardless of where in Europe a car is currently being offered for sale. They provide buyers, dealers, and platforms with an additional, objective source of information and can help detect systematic fraud at an early stage. Especially in the international used car trade, where vehicle documentation can be lost, such historical data helps reduce risks and restore trust.
Better protect consumers
The cases surrounding “Nimmersatt” and other European investigations such as “Crime Cars” show that used-car fraud is not a marginal phenomenon, but a cross-border, organized business. Together with Renato Schipani, a Criminal Intelligence Officer at Interpol for 30 years, CARFAX Europe presented in-depth insights into the machinations of organized crime in the European used car market at the AutosBuzz marketplace conference and demonstrated the strategies and tools online marketplaces can employ to foster security and trust through transparency.
“Today, it is more important than ever that consumers have access to the most comprehensive vehicle information possible. Transparent vehicle histories are a key component in uncovering dangerous fraud schemes, safeguarding purchasing decisions, and increasing safety on Europe’s roads. As recently stated by INTERPOL expert Renato Schipani during the AutosBuzz conference, major platforms in the used car business can become safer for customers if cooperation with law enforcement agencies will be strengthened,” explains Frank Brüggink, Managing Director and founder of CARFAX Europe.