One in five Poles would ask AI for advice before buying a used car, while 68% would check its history

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

For many people, a more thorough inspection of a car prior to purchase results in walking away from the deal. Among those who decided against a chosen vehicle, 61% did so because of false information provided by the seller. A CARFAX study reveals that 46% of respondents consider the lack of complete and reliable information in listings to be the main challenge when looking for a used car. At the same time, 40% feel unprepared for such a transaction and do not know what to look for.

One in four Poles has encountered an attempted fraud when buying a used car – either personally or among friends and family – according to the latest representative survey commissioned by CARFAX, a company providing used-car history reports based on reliable and certified sources. More than half (57%) of respondents admit that they have decided not to buy a used car after checking it more thoroughly. Of this group, as many as 61% walked away from the deal after discovering that the seller had provided false information about the vehicle. In 28% of cases, the reason was a lack of documentation confirming the car’s history.

“The most interesting finding from the study is that the problem is not excessive caution on the part of buyers, but rather a lack of sufficient information available prior to purchase. More than half of those who inspected the car more thoroughly decided against the transaction—most often because the vehicle’s actual condition did not match the seller’s claims. This demonstrates the immense value of reliable vehicle history data today,” says Robert Lewandowski, Business Development Manager at CARFAX Poland.

One in five respondents would turn to AI for advice when buying a used car

As many as 40% of respondents admit that they do not feel prepared to buy a used car – they do not know what to look out for and need expert support. Before making this type of purchase, 73% of respondents would seek advice from a family member or friend who knows more about cars. Slightly fewer – 68% – would start by checking the vehicle’s history. Nearly one in three respondents would search online for information about other people’s experiences with the particular make and model. For now, AI tools do not enjoy widespread trust in this context – 18% of respondents would turn to them for advice. Meanwhile, 17% would seek information from the automotive press.

The main challenge when looking for a used car is the lack of complete and reliable information in sales listings, according to 46% of Polish respondents. 39% point to insufficient knowledge needed to assess a vehicle’s technical condition, while 37% have difficulty determining whether the asking price is fair.

The average car sold this year was 18 years old

According to a CARFAX analysis of cars that changed owners in the first half of 2026, half had recorded damage in their history (compared with 43% of all cars registered in the database), while 71% had been imported (compared with 60% for the database as a whole). On average, each of these cars had changed hands three times. As many as 90% had at least one risk factor, such as unusual odometer readings (compared with 78% for the database as a whole). Their average age was 18 years, slightly higher than the 16-year average for all vehicles in the database.

"Germany has consistently remained the primary source market for used cars imported into Poland for years. This is due primarily to geographical proximity, a vast selection of vehicles, and the widespread belief that they are regularly serviced and in good technical condition. At the same time, cars from this market often have a history of hidden accident damage or tampered odometers, making a thorough check of their past essential. This matters not only for the buyer's safety but also for future vehicle insurance. For cars with a history of serious damage, some insurers may apply a more detailed and rigorous risk assessment, resulting in higher comprehensive insurance premiums, additional documentation requirements, or limited coverage," says Robert Lewandowski, Business Development Manager at CARFAX Poland. "Although we are willing to spend an average of around PLN 30,000 on a used car, many people still find it a barrier to spend an extra few dozen zlotys on a vehicle history report or a few hundred on professional diagnostics. Yet, the cost of a bad purchasing decision can be many times higher than the cost of avoiding one through a reliable pre-purchase vehicle check."

The survey was conducted in August 2026 using the CAWI method on a representative sample of 1,000 Poles.