Hybrids and EVs gain ground in the Italian used-car market: in 2026, vehicle history checks rise by 52%
Transparency note: This press release was originally published in Italian. The text has been machine translated. You can find the original press release here.
Milan, 30 September 2026 – Hybrids and electric vehicles are gaining ground in the italian used-car market. In 2026, motorists are showing growing interest in electrified vehicles, driving greater attention to vehicle history before purchase. According to the CARFAX Observatory, from CARFAX, an international leader in vehicle history information for Italian and European cars, the number of electric and hybrid vehicles checked on the Italian platform in the first part of the year rose by 52% compared with the same period in 2025.*
This trend is unfolding against a European backdrop of steadily increasing adoption of electrified powertrains. In June, battery-electric cars overtook petrol cars for the first time: in the first six months of the year, battery-electric vehicles accounted for 22.2% of total new-car registrations across the wider European market (EU+EFTA+UK), compared with 22% for petrol cars (analysis based on ACEA data).** The used-car market is also seeing a corresponding increase in electrified vehicles. In Italy, according to ACI, hybrid vehicles accounted for 13.2% of ownership transfers in August 2026, up from 11.1% in the same month of 2025; fully electric vehicles stood at 1.2% , compared with 1.1% a year earlier (ACI Auto-Trend bulletin).***
Age, previous owners and origin: a profile of used hybrid and electric cars
Around 13% of all CARFAX checks carried out by Italian users in 2026 concern electric and hybrid vehicles. Hybrids make up the largest share, at 88%, with fully electric vehicles accounting for the remaining 12%.
Compared with the overall average, electric and hybrid cars have a “younger” profile: the vast majority (88%) are less than five years old and have mileage below 80,000 km (72,132 km on average, compared with 116,803 km overall). Some 27.3% have had only one owner (vehicles checked on CARFAX have an average of 3.8 owners in their history, while just 15% have had a single owner).
As for origin, 6.1% were imported from abroad*, less than half the overall average (13.2%) but slightly higher than in 2025 (5.1%); 1.4% come from rental fleets.
"The growth in Italy in checks on hybrid and electric vehicles shows that Italian motorists are increasingly interested in new powertrains in the used-car market as well. These vehicles are younger on average and do not have a long history of use behind them, but the increase in the number of models showing damage and risk indicators – recorded on our platform compared with last year – confirms how important it is, even for relatively recent cars with electrified powertrains, to understand every aspect of their history before making a purchase,” says Marco Arban, Director of Business Development Europe at CARFAX. “More generally, when buying a used car, having a clear picture of its history can make all the difference. A thorough check helps buyers approaching both the choice of vehicle and the negotiation with greater awareness and confidence."
Nearly 4 in 10 electric and hybrid cars (39.8%) have at least one risk indicator**, up from 33.9% in 2025
Although the share of hybrid and electric cars checked that show damage or risk indicators is lower than the overall average, the data point to a marked increase compared with 2025. Today, 35% of the electric and hybrid vehicles analysed show recorded damage, compared with 22.7% in 2025; meanwhile, 39.8% have at least one risk indicator, up from 33.9% in 2025. This suggests that, although electrified vehicles in the used-car market are relatively new, checking their history remains essential to help avoid fraud.
Fiat, Toyota and BMW are the most-checked brands, while Panda and BMW X Models lead the model ranking
Among the most-checked hybrid and electric vehicle brands, Fiat ranks first with 12% of searches, followed by Toyota (11%) and BMW (9%). Audi (8%) and Mercedes-Benz (6%) complete the top five.
Looking at individual models, Fiat Panda, BMW X Models and Fiat 500 are among the most frequently checked each accounting for 5% of searches, followed by Toyota Yaris (4%) and Jeep Compass (3%).
*Period analysed: 1 January - 31 August 2026. ** ACEA – New car registrations: +5.7% in H1 2026; battery-electric 20.7% market share. *** https://aci.gov.it/comunicati-stampa/mercato-auto-ad-agosto-venduti-258-veicoli-ogni-100-nuovi/.