Used cars, the revenge of the small towns: Nuoro, Trento, Aosta, Catania, and Rieti lead the way in cars sold per 10,000 inhabitants
Transparency note: This press release was originally published in Italian. The text has been machine translated. You can find the original press release here.
When comparing the number of used cars sold from January to August to the number of adult residents, the geography of the market changes completely: Valle d'Aosta, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Sardinia stand out among the regions.
Rome and Milan, which rank first in terms of net transfers of ownership, fall to 72nd and 106th (second to last) respectively in terms of cars sold per 10,000 inhabitants.
In Italy, 47% of vehicles inspected by CARFAX since the beginning of 2025 have critical issues: 32% have suffered damage and 3% show mileage inconsistencies.
Milan, October 20, 2025 - The used car market continues to enjoy a favorable period. In the first eight months of 2025, sales grew (+1.9%), with over 2.1 million transfers of ownership net of mini-transfers, confirming the vitality of the sector. However, the dynamics of the sector hold some interesting surprises when sales are compared to the number of adult residents.
According to CARFAX*, an international leader in vehicle history information, which analyzed net ownership transfers (ACI) in all Italian provinces considering the adult resident population, Rome, Milan, Naples, Turin, and Palermo dominate in terms of absolute volumes, but the ranking per 10,000 residents reveals a completely different market. Nuoro ranks at the top with 522 net transfers of ownership per 10,000 inhabitants, followed by Trento with 521, Aosta with 509, Catania with 507, and Rieti with 504. At the bottom of the ranking are Genoa with 268, Milan with 285, and Modena with 303. Slightly higher in the ranking, but still in the bottom places, are large cities such as Bologna in 100th place (357) and Florence in 101st place (355). Which regions are most active in the second-hand market? In terms of absolute volumes, the ranking predictably sees the most populous areas of the country (Lombardy, Lazio, Campania, Sicily, and Veneto) at the top, but in terms of population, the podium goes to Valle d'Aosta and Trentino Alto-Adige with 509 transfers of ownership per 10,000 inhabitants, and Sardinia with 484. Umbria follows with 480 and Molise with 471, all regions that demonstrate a particularly dynamic second-hand market. The reversal is significant: Lombardy, which dominates in absolute terms with over 329,000 transactions, finds itself second to last in the ranking per 10,000 residents with 387 transfers. Only Liguria is lower with 339. Lazio is only 12th (431).
CARFAX data: 47% of vehicles inspected since the beginning of 2025 to date have critical issues
Let's now move on to analyzing internal data from CARFAX, a leading international provider of vehicle history information. In Italy, analysis of used vehicles inspected since the beginning of 2025 shows that 47% have at least one risk factor. 'Risk' refers to an element that requires attention from the buyer, such as use as a taxi or rental car, damage, accidents, mileage anomalies, or importation from abroad. Thirty-two percent of vehicles checked by CARFAX have suffered damage or accidents of varying severity, from minor to serious, and over 4,000 cases of mileage anomalies that may be related to tampering have been detected. Where are the most checks carried out? In 2025, the top five Italian regions for use of CARFAX services are Lombardy with 30% of requests for reports, Lazio with 15%, Piedmont with 7%, Campania with 7%, and Sicily with 7%. Which brands are checked the most? The most checked car brands on the carfax.it platform are Fiat with 11%, Audi with 9%, BMW with 9%, Mercedes-Benz with 8%, and Volkswagen with 8%. What is the profile of the vehicles analyzed? The overall average values indicate an average age of 9 years, 119,000 kilometers traveled, and 14% of cars imported.
"The used car market, especially in this historic period, is becoming increasingly important in helping families purchase cars that meet their needs, including in terms of budget," said Marco Arban, Director of Business Development in Europe at CARFAX. The wide range of vehicles available may represent an opportunity, but it is essential not to underestimate the risks associated with a purchase. Our analysis shows that almost half of the vehicles examined have critical issues, some of which are serious. With the CARFAX service, we support dealers and buyers in making safer choices, reducing the level of risk, and we are committed to raising awareness in the industry by promoting transparency."
*Source: CARFAX analysis based on ACI data (net transfers of ownership) and ISTAT data (resident population aged 18+ as of January 1, 2025)