Used-car buying in Europe — straight answers
The questions buyers actually ask, answered with data. Everything here is free to use.
Where are used cars cheapest in Europe?
Based on SonarDeals data (July 2026, 143,000+ live listings), used cars are cheapest in Italy (median €15,400) and most expensive in Denmark (median €36,166) — a spread of over €20,000 for comparable cars. Poland, Bulgaria and Spain are also consistently low. See our monthly Market Index for the full ranking.
Is it cheaper to buy a car in Germany?
Often yes for the same spec — which is why Poland imports ~850,000 used cars a year, mostly from Germany. But add transport and your country's registration taxes to get the true landed cost. SonarDeals shows that estimate on every deal.
How do I check a car for odometer fraud?
Odometer tampering affects an estimated 5–12% of used cars domestically and 30–50% cross-border in Europe (European Parliament). Check the service history, the MOT/TÜV mileage record, and a VIN-history report. SonarDeals automatically flags listings whose recorded mileage decreased between two of our checks — a physical impossibility. Always verify independently before buying.
What does it cost to import a car from Germany to Poland?
Roughly: car price + transport (~€500–720) + Polish akcyza (3.1% ≤2.0 L, 18.6% above) + inspection (~PLN 99) + registration (~PLN 160–190). Mind the 2.0-litre cliff. See our Germany→Poland import guide.
Is SonarDeals free? How do you make money?
Browsing, DealScores, fraud flags and landed-cost are free, no signup; a free account (an email) opens the source listing and saves alerts. We earn only a small commission on optional vehicle-history checks. Dealers cannot pay for placement. We never sell cars.
What is a DealScore?
We compare each listing to genuinely similar cars on sale, adjust for the local market, and score how far below fair value it is (90–100 ≈ 18%+ below market). Too few comparables? We refuse to score rather than fake confidence. Full method →