Every third used car was purchased blindly

Used cars are becoming cheaper. In September 2025, the average price of a car sold on the Polish secondary market dropped by almost PLN 680, to approximately PLN 46,000. The waiting time for a buyer also shortened – from 42 days in August to 40 days in September. The monthly AAA Auto Barometer report, based on data on used car sales at dealerships, websites, and dealerships, shows that 285,900 cars were sold on the Polish secondary market in September 2025, which is 7,100 more than in August. The average age of the vehicles offered remained unchanged at 11 years, while the average mileage decreased to 169,300 km.

Last month, private imports accounted for a large share of the market. According to the Samar Institute, nearly 81,500 imported used passenger cars and light commercial vehicles were registered in Poland in September 2025. This is almost the same result (0.2 percent higher) as a year earlier. September's result was the best for that month since 2020, but imports are being driven by commercial vehicles, whose numbers have been steadily increasing for 27 months. "Passenger cars are declining for the fourth consecutive month. A total of 725,900 used cars weighing up to 3.5 tons were imported to Poland in the first three quarters of 2025, representing a 0.4 percent year-on-year decline," Samar reports.

German ones are also risky

Germany is the largest source of used cars imported to Poland, with over 52% of the market share. The United States recently moved into third place, with imported cars proving to be a lottery. According to carVertical data based on national vehicle registries, insurance company databases, and information from authorized service centers and institutions with access to vehicle history, last year over nine out of ten cars imported from the American market to Poland were involved in an accident or collision.

But buying a used car from a major European market also carries significant risk. Nearly 93% of damaged cars are found in cars imported from Belgium, and over 89% of cars imported from Germany have a history of accidents. Nearly 79% of cars imported from France, almost 55% from the Netherlands, and almost 39% from Italy were involved in a collision or accident. "Last year, nearly 2 million used cars were sold in Poland, so it's quite alarming that there is a large percentage of drivers unaware of the technical condition of their cars," says Karolina Topolova, CEO and President of the Management Board of AURES Holdings, operator of AAA Auto.

This is especially true given that a significant portion of used car buyers approach transactions with a risky attitude. Data shows that many people fail to inspect vehicles before signing a purchase agreement, despite the potential risks. According to a survey conducted in the UK by the online marketplace Carwow, only 64% of respondents declared that they conduct vehicle inspections before purchasing a used car. This would mean that approximately 2.6 million British drivers who bought a used car last year may not have inspected their vehicle before purchasing. If this share were applied to the Polish market, it could represent 691,000 careless buyers, considering that 1.92 million cars were offered on the used car market in Poland in 2024.

They are looking for cheap opportunities

An analysis of survey responses by Carwow also revealed that over a third of buyers do not check a vehicle's service history before making a purchase. Meanwhile, one in ten British drivers admitted to not performing any pre-purchase inspections. Meanwhile, while a large percentage of used cars offered for sale have a history of accidents or damage, imported cars do not always have full documentation, making it difficult to assess their actual history and technical condition.

The rising cost of living is said to be driving used car buyers to look for bargains and save money. Research by the UK's Vehicle Safe Trading Advisory Group (VSTAG) has shown that increasingly, untrustworthy or fraudulent dealers are offering cars for up to half the market price. A survey of over 2,000 second-hand car buyers found that almost half would pay upfront for a car to secure a better deal. Over a fifth of those surveyed said that due to rising financial pressures, they would buy a used car if they thought it was a "good deal." According to VSTAG, this makes them more susceptible to fraud from sellers.

So far, Poland has failed to address the issue of old cars of unclear origin imported from abroad. The announced 2020 excise tax increase considered revisiting a regulation previously developed, when a tax increase on used cars was planned. A radical proposal from 2016 linked the tax rate not to the car's price, but to engine capacity, year of manufacture, and exhaust emission standards. This was intended to favor newer cars while eliminating the practice of undervaluing imported cars to reduce tax. However, under public pressure, the proposal was withdrawn.

A metrical nuisance

The Polish market is facing a problem with the low share of young used cars. In September 2025, 28,500 cars were sold, with an average age of three years and mileage of up to 43,000 km. Their average price was PLN 148,700, a PLN 1,700 decrease compared to August. The average sales time shortened to 59 days, making it the shortest compared to the Czech market (82 days) and Slovakia (72 days).

Currently, the largest share of newer used cars is among electric cars. "The number of electric cars on the used market is small compared to combustion vehicles, but the number will grow every year. Zero-emission cars are offered by many manufacturers, and competition between brands will drive down prices, which is an ideal scenario from the consumer's perspective," emphasizes Julia Langa, an expert at Autoplac.pl. According to Carvago, one of Europe's largest online platforms offering used cars, fully electric vehicles accounted for one-tenth of all cars sold through its website last year.

The used hybrid market, which already plays a leading role in the primary market, is growing rapidly. Therefore, among used vehicles – as with new ones – Toyota completely dominates, accounting for a staggering 48.4% of listings on Autoplac. Lexus comes in second with an 11.7% share. Volvo, Kia, and Hyundai have significantly smaller shares, at just a few percent, so the gap between the leader and the rest is a chasm.

According to AAA Auto, in September 2025, the most sold cars were those in the PLN 20,000–40,000 price range (69,300 cars), which represents a 2.6% increase compared to August, but a 4.1% decrease compared to September of the previous year. High sales also continued among the cheapest vehicles priced up to PLN 10,000 (56,900 units).

Cycle Partner Opinion

Karolína Topolová - CEO and Chairwoman of the Management Board of AURES Holdings, operator of the international network of AAA AUTO car centers

The used car market in Poland is growing rapidly, but we still struggle with a key problem: a lack of trust. At AAA AUTO, we believe the only way to rebuild it is through transparency, accountability, and genuine customer protection. That's why we offer every buyer warranties and insurance programs that far exceed market standards.

Our advantage is that the cars we sell at AAA AUTO belong to us. This means we bear full legal and mechanical responsibility. Unlike intermediaries who sell cars "on behalf" of owners, we guarantee that each vehicle has been thoroughly inspected, both legally and mechanically. We invest millions of złoty in verifying the history and technical condition of vehicles, collaborating with renowned partners such as carVertical. This allows our customers to buy cars with complete peace of mind.

Our greatest asset, however, remains the Carlife program, unique in the Polish market. We offer four levels of coverage: Comfort, Advantage, Deluxe, and e-Deluxe for electric cars. For cars up to five years old, the Deluxe package offers the broadest coverage, while for older vehicles, up to 20 years old, we offer flexible Carlife options with unlimited mileage. These are solutions that are hard to find in our competitors. Most dealers limit coverage to cars up to ten years old and impose restrictive mileage limits.

Thanks to Carlife, our customers can also count on free roadside assistance and towing, and in many cases, the warranty also covers components that other dealers exclude, such as air conditioning, clutch, and braking systems. These are tangible benefits that truly protect our customers' wallets and peace of mind.

AAA AUTO is introducing standards to the Polish market that have proven successful in the Czech Republic for years. Over 60% of our customers there already choose extended Carlife coverage, and 40% regularly renew it. This proves that a warranty isn't an optional extra, but a key element of responsible car sales.

Our goal is to ensure that customers have peace of mind after purchasing. Warranties, transparency, and full responsibility for the cars sold aren't marketing tactics; they're the foundation of trust. That's why AAA AUTO is creating a new level of quality in the Polish used car market.