Mathilde Carlier
Research Expert covering transportation and logistics
Used vehicles in Germany - Statistics & facts
With the sudden end of electric vehicle subsidies in effect since December 2023, German car shoppers could turn towards the used car market for affordable electric options. Used EVs have been an emerging market in the past years as they faced consumer concerns regarding the used battery life cycle. In 2023, around 97,400 transfers of battery-electric vehicle ownership took place in Germany, which represented a year-over-year increase of nearly 40 percent. This uptick in ownership transfers is a trend also observable in the overall used motor vehicle market: Although the market had not yet reached pre-pandemic levels, 2023 was the first year when motor vehicle ownership transfers increased since 2016.
Transfers of ownership were a popular way of acquiring a motor vehicle in Germany: Around 2.8 million new passenger cars were sold in the country in 2023, while over six million cars changed owners during that same period.
The used vehicle market is growing in Germany, boosted by the popularity of used cars among consumers. Internet use in the purchasing process adds another layer of potential developments for the sector, which grew by 9.1 percent year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2023. In contrast, the new car market declined by nearly 10 percent across this period.
Transfers of ownership were a popular way of acquiring a motor vehicle in Germany: Around 2.8 million new passenger cars were sold in the country in 2023, while over six million cars changed owners during that same period.
Passenger cars drive the German used vehicle market
Passenger cars were by far the largest segment when it came to motor vehicle ownership transfers. Used cars represented a market over thirteen times larger than used motorcycles, which were the second-largest segment in the German used motor vehicle market. However, while used passenger cars were popular among consumers in Germany, their average price had been steadily growing since 2017. In 2022, it cost over 23,600 euros to buy a second-hand car directly from its brand, compared to 15,100 euros for the same purchase five years earlier. Comparatively, the average price for a new car reached around 42,800 euros in Germany in 2022. Part of this price difference could be due to the prevalence of new sport-utility vehicle sales in the country. Used car buyers, in contrast, tended to prefer smaller models such as compact cars, small cars, and mid-size cars, which topped the ranking for most transfers of ownership recorded in 2023.Internet use plays a part in the purchasing process
Used car consumers in Germany preferred to buy their next vehicle at physical dealerships: Six in 10 respondents to a July 2023 survey reported they would rather go to a car dealer or a used car dealer for their purchase, compared to 17 percent mentioning online car dealers and online used car dealers. However, while consumers still prefer in-person acquisition, the internet still plays a key part in the used car buying process. As car sales are becoming increasingly omnichannel purchases, around eight in 10 respondents to this same July 2023 survey reported using online sources before purchasing a used car. Past customer reviews could contribute to the reasons consumers turn to online sources: Over 80 percent of used car buyers mentioned online reviews had a very big or partial influence on their purchase.The used vehicle market is growing in Germany, boosted by the popularity of used cars among consumers. Internet use in the purchasing process adds another layer of potential developments for the sector, which grew by 9.1 percent year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2023. In contrast, the new car market declined by nearly 10 percent across this period.
