Used car market is facing a transformation in the coming years, driven both by the evolution of propulsion technologies and by new needs and concerns of buyers. This is reflected in a CARFAX survey that analyzes expectations for the future of mobility, as well as buyers’ experiences, habits, and challenges when purchasing a used vehicle.
Electric and Hybrid Vehicles to Lead the Future of the Used Car Market
The survey shows a clear expectation that electrified technologies will rise in prominence in the used-car market. Asked which type of propulsion will be most popular in used vehicles by 2050, 32% of Spaniards point to electric and 22% to hybrid, meaning that, in total, 54% view these two technologies as the most popular for the future market of used cars.
Additionally, other renewable-energy sources such as hydrogen reach 9%, while by comparison, 15% believe gasoline-powered vehicles will be the most popular in 2050, and 13% opt for diesel. These figures point to a scenario in which electrified technologies would take center stage over combustion options, which are dominant today.
However, this future outlook coexists with certain barriers that consumers believe still need to be overcome. Range is the main aspect Spaniards think should improve to make used electric vehicles more appealing, according to 56% of respondents. They are followed by faster charging (33%), longer-lasting batteries (24%), and greater battery safety (19%).
For hybrids, 45% think they should be able to cover longer distances using electric power alone, 29% call for longer-lasting batteries, and 28% want lower fuel consumption once the battery is depleted.
The perception of internal-combustion vehicles also points to a need for evolution. 61% of respondents believe these vehicles should consume significantly less fuel and emit fewer exhaust gases to stay attractive in the future. Additionally, 28% call for cheaper maintenance and repairs, while 22% consider important that spare parts remain available for longer.
All in all, the results show that while there is a clear expectation of greater electrified technologies in the used-car market, consumers have also identified the main aspects that should improve for each propulsion type going forward.
Transparency: A Key Issue for the Used-Car Buyer
Beyond technological evolution, transparency and trust in the market remain one of the great challenges of the used-car market. Three in ten Spaniards say they have experienced firsthand some fraud related to buying or selling a used vehicle, either as buyers (10%), as sellers (5%), or through a close family member (8%) or a friend or acquaintance (7%).
This direct or indirect experience underscores the importance of having enough, reliable information before making a purchase decision. In fact, 43% of Spaniards say they decided not to buy a used car after inspecting it thoroughly: 22% did so once, 16% several times, and 5% in most of their searches.
In fact, when Spaniards are asked about the main problems they face when looking for a used car, lack of technical knowledge tops the list, with 39% of responses. They are followed by difficulty determining a fair price (33%) and the lack of complete and reliable information in advertisements (31%).
Among those who say they declined a purchase after a inspection, poor vehicle history and misinformation provided by the seller are, at 45% each, the most mentioned reasons.
The results show that the information available about a vehicle can have a direct impact on the final purchase decision, and checking its history before closing a deal can help the consumer spot potential risks and reduce uncertainty when making a decision.
Only 29% Feel They Prep Well Before Buying a Used Car
The survey also reveals room for improvement in how used-car buyers prepare. Only 29% feel they prepare well or very well before buying a used vehicle, versus 35% who rate their preparation as normal, 27% as bad, and 10% as very bad.
To try to reduce this uncertainty, consumers turn to different information sources. The majority option is to seek the opinion of someone with experience in the automotive sector, at 65%, while 39% check the vehicle history. Additionally, 22% say they use AI tools such as Gemini, ChatGPT or Perplexity to obtain an assessment before buying. Here, there is a clear generational divide, as they would be used by 35% of those under 35, compared with 17% of those over 55.
Price Remains the Primary Draw for Used Cars
Despite the challenges that can arise during the buying process, used cars continue to offer clear advantages for consumers.
Sixty-nine percent identify a lower price as the main benefit of buying a used vehicle, while 33% highlight the possibility of purchasing a car in a higher category within a tighter budget.
Additionally, 22% value the ability to extend a vehicle’s life and reduce the need to build another one. This aligns with another major view of respondents, as 63% say they consider buying a used vehicle an environmentally positive option.
In this context, the used-car market faces a double transformation: on one hand, the gradual incorporation of electric and hybrid vehicles, which consumers already place among the technologies that will have the most prominence by 2050; on the other, the growing need for buyers to have reliable information to know a vehicle’s history and make safer purchasing decisions.
“The data we record daily matches what respondents report: the problems that recur most often, such as an odometer mismatch or damages that were never disclosed, are precisely the ones you don’t see in a visual inspection of the car,” says Francisco Rudilla, Head of Business Development at CARFAX. “When four in ten buyers admit they lack the technical know-how to evaluate a vehicle, verified history information stops being a supplement and becomes the basis on which the decision is made.”
CARFAX notes that, in many cases, the lack of information about a vehicle does not necessarily reflect an attempt to hide data, but the seller’s own ignorance about the car’s history. Checking this information before closing the deal helps the buyer know the vehicle better, spot potential risks, and reduce uncertainty when making a decision.
