New data and expert commentary summarizing the 2025 Polish used car market
Transparency note: This press release was originally published in Polish. The text has been machine translated. You can find the original press release here.
The latest data on the Polish used car market indicates a clear conservatism among buyers, primarily driven by economic factors. Amid inflation and rising service costs, drivers are opting for predictable models with established reputations, primarily BMW, Audi, and Volkswagen. CARFAX data from its database of over 23 million used cars in Poland shows that the most frequently searched models are over a decade old, and over 60% have a history of damage. Robert Lewandowski, Business Development Manager at CARFAX Poland, comments on the past year.
As many as 63% of vehicles searched in 2025 by Polish users in the CARFAX database —a company that provides users with used car history reports from reliable and certified sources— had a history of collisions . Meanwhile, 84% were subject to various risks, from unusual odometer readings to serious damage. Half of the cars inspected were imported to Poland. Among these, the percentage of cars involved in collisions was also high, reaching 60%.
Comparing CARFAX vehicle history checks year over year can give you a sense of déjà vu – the same brands and years are still at the top. German-made cars continue to be the most popular with Polish buyers . The most searched models are:
BMW 3 Series (average 14 years);
Audi A4 (average 13 years);
Volkswagen Golf (average 13 years);
Volkswagen Passat (average 13 years);
Opel Astra (average 12 years).
Is this hibernation caused by factors outside the industry, or perhaps a pragmatic and even expected stabilization?
The rearview mirror effect on the Polish automotive market
As automotive market analysts, we often look for revolutions, sudden twists, and new players. Meanwhile, data from the past year demonstrates the remarkable resilience of Polish drivers to change . Despite the media hype surrounding electromobility and the offensive by Chinese manufacturers, the real world of used cars is dominated by the old guard. Where does this phenomenon come from?
This is the so-called rearview mirror effect. The used car market reflects the past, not the present – today's statistics are a direct result of European factory production between 2015 and 2020. Supply is rigid. The Volkswagen Passat, Audi A4, and BMW 3 Series were produced in their millions back then, and they now constitute the backbone of imports and used vehicle offers. The similarity of the data to those from a year ago indicates buyers' conservatism, driven, it seems, primarily by economic pragmatism. Inflation, rising service costs, and general economic uncertainty mean that the average Polish customer is wary of experimentation and unlikely to be able to afford a used top-selling model from 2024. That will take another three to four years.
The automotive aftermarket in Poland is mature and predictable.
And what about the electromobility revolution? It's impossible to ignore the question of why vehicle history checks in 2025 show almost no battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and the emerging Chinese brands, even though their sales are growing. These cars won't flood CARFAX reports until about 3-5 years from now, when the first leases expire and they enter the used car market. Moreover, the share of electric cars in the used car market is already growing, although it still doesn't compare to the popularity of diesel . Furthermore, used electric cars often end up in dealerships, where customer confidence is higher and concerns are more about battery condition than accident history.
The stabilization seen among the most frequently inspected cars is a sign that the Polish used car market is mature and predictable. CARFAX users are typically savvy players who know that the risk is greatest for popular premium models imported from abroad, which is why they dominate the statistics . Until the 2021+ model years flood the used car market (when major production changes have occurred), the big three – Audi, BMW, and Volkswagen – can rest easy. The lack of variety in the tables is good news for buyers, as it means they know what to expect.