UK’s most damaged used cars identified in new study
A new study has revealed that Vauxhalls are the most damaged used cars in the UK.
Analysis carried out by vehicle history platform carVertical has found that 24.7% of used Vauxhalls have sustained damage at some point in their history.
Other brands with high instances of damage include Fiat (23.6%), SEAT (23.5%), Hyundai (23%) and Ford (22.6%).
The national average of used cars with damage history is 20.3%, with the data revealing that the average value of each damage was £4,800. However, this figure is elevated by high-end brands, with Bentley recording the highest average value per damage event at £16,000.
In terms of individual models, carVertical found that 33.6% of used SEAT Ibiza’s had damage history, followed by the Audi A1 (30.6%) and Fiat 500 (30.1%).
Repair quality
Matas Buzelis, motoring expert at vehicle history platform carVertical, said: “Damage is one of the most common issues buyers can encounter in the used car market, and in many cases it affects exactly the sort of models people shop for every day; affordable, practical cars from familiar brands.
“A damaged car is not automatically a bad car, but buyers need to be aware of how serious the damage was and how well it was repaired. Two vehicles can look almost identical in an advert, while one has a much more complicated history underneath.
“That is why buyers should not rely on appearance alone. A car can be freshly cleaned, well photographed, and priced attractively, but still have a record of accidents, poor-quality repairs, or even a previous insurance write-off classification. Without checking its history, it is very easy to miss that.”
