Used Cars: 83% of Italians Fear Scams
Transparency note: This press release was originally published in Italian. The text has been machine translated. You can find the original press release here.
According to a survey conducted by CARFAX, 1 in 4 buyers has experienced at least one fraud, ranging from minor to serious scams
Almost one in two cars checked in Italy (49%) in 2025 shows at least one risk in its history
Among the most checked brands, Fiat leads the ranking, followed by Audi and BMW (9%), Mercedes and Volkswagen (8%)
The Fiat Panda is the most verified model on the CARFAX website, representing 3% of all cars checked
Milan, March 16th 2026 – On the occasion of World Consumer Rights Day, CARFAX, a global leader in vehicle history information, shines a spotlight on safety in the used car market. A new CARFAX survey shows that scams are one of the main concerns for Italians buying a second-hand car. At the same time, data from checks carried out on CARFAX Italy’s website in 2025 reveal how important it is to review a vehicle’s history before purchasing.
«Trust is fundamental in the used car market, but it cannot rely solely on the seller's word,» comments Marco Arban, Director of Business Development Europe at CARFAX. «Always checking a vehicle’s history before buying is one of the most effective ways to avoid unpleasant surprises. Access to reliable information allows consumers to make informed decisions and contributes to making the used car market more transparent and safer for everyone.»
Risk perception in the used car market is widespread
According to the CARFAX survey, 43% of respondents say they are very concerned about potential scams when buying a used car, while a further 40% are fairly concerned. Only 18% say they are not particularly worried about this phenomenon.
Concrete experiences reinforce this perception of risk: almost 1 out of 4 of respondents report having already been victims of a scam during the process of purchasing a used car. In particular, 14% experienced a minor fraud, such as requests for payment for fake reports, altered mileage, or undisclosed damages. Another 10% report more serious incidents, including false advertisements, deposit scams, vehicles with undeclared liens, heavily tampered mileage, or even stolen cars or vehicles with cloned VINs.
It is therefore unsurprising that buyers are becoming increasingly cautious before completing a purchase. 64% say it is very likely they will check the documents and history of a vehicle before buying, while 25% say they would probably do so.
Cars checked in Italy in 2025: key findings
Analysis of the checks carried out on CARFAX Italy’s website in 2025 provides a concrete snapshot of the used car market.
CARFAX analyzed 250,000 of the vehicles that were checked on carfax.it, with an average age of 9 years and an average mileage of 117,000 km.
A particularly significant finding concerns the presence of critical events in vehicle histories: 49% of the cars checked had at least one risk factor, such as recorded accidents, mileage discrepancies, or previous unusual uses.
The most frequent events include recorded accidents or damage (36%), imported vehicles (13%), and cars previously used for leasing (6%). Additionally, 3% of vehicles checked showed mileage inconsistencies.
Regarding fuel types, the market of checked cars remains dominated by traditional engines: 47% diesel and 34% petrol, while alternative powertrains still account for a smaller share, with 9% hybrid and 1% fully electric.
Most checked brands and models
Among the brands most checked on CARFAX Italy in 2025, Fiat stands out (11%), followed by Audi and BMW (both 9%), Mercedes (8%), and Volkswagen (8%).
Looking at the most checked models, the data reflect the most common cars on the Italian market. The Fiat Panda is the most frequently checked model: it represents 3% of all vehicles verified and 23% of all Fiat cars checked, with an average age of 10 years, average mileage of 100,000 km, and 43% of vehicles with at least one risk in their history.
It is followed by the Volkswagen Golf, Fiat 500, Mercedes A-Class, and BMW 3 Series—models that are very common in the used car market and often the focus of pre-purchase checks by buyers.