Spain’s used-car market is moving fast. In 2026, sales of secondhand vehicles are outpacing new-car registrations and changing how people get around. Industry reports show 1,452,851 used cars sold from January to August 2026, up 2.8% from the same period in 2025. Annual turnover now tops 38 billion euros, with between 1.5 and 1.8 used cars changing hands for every new car on the road. In the first quarter of 2026, Spain imported 55,241 used cars from abroad, further boosting secondhand supply, information from the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico).
But sales figures tell only part of the story. The average used car sold in Spain is now more than 14.6 years old, and vehicles sold privately are older still. Models such as the Volkswagen Golf and Renault Megane, both well past the ten-year mark, lead the pack. Madrid is the only region where the average age of used cars falls below 10 years. In Castilla y León and Asturias, buyers are picking up much older vehicles. Sector analysis based on ANFAC and GANVAM data found that in August 2026, 57% of used car sales involved vehicles older than 10 years. Diesel models accounted for about 47% of transactions and petrol for 36.3%. Electrified vehicles, including hybrids and electrics, made up only 16.6% of the market, highlighting the slow pace of fleet renewal.
Digital disruption
The real shake-up is happening online. Most Spaniards now start their search for a used car on digital platforms, with classified portals and dealership websites serving as the basic entry points. Industry sources say the web shapes the buying journey: deals may still close in person, but the search begins online.
Coches.net began as a digital alternative to paper classifieds in the late 1990s. It is now a major player owned by international investors. Entrepreneurs such as Iñaki Arrola and Pablo Fernández have pushed the market further. Arrola’s Coches.com rebranded and expanded into used cars and financing. Fernández’s Clicars adopted a digital fixed-price model, with transparent pricing and a 15-day return window. In just six years, Clicars built a 500-million-euro business. Stellantis’s Aramis Group bought it in 2022.
Other startups have entered the market. MundiCars, launched by Alberto Fossas, combines digital catalogs with face-to-face service. Motoreto, led by Estructura Conde and David Casanova, built a SaaS platform for verified dealerships. Its B2C model acts like a personal shopper, matching buyers with offers that fit their needs.
Falling prices and new risks
Prices are falling. In July 2026, the average asking price for a used car dropped to 17,080 euros, nearly 5% below a year earlier. Market data puts the August average at 17,281 euros, down 4.7% year on year. The decline comes as more cars aged seven years or less reach the market, while new electrified models are also putting pressure on prices. The biggest cuts are affecting nearly-new cars: vehicles under three years old and with fewer than 30,000 km are down almost 8% from last year.
As the market grows, so do the risks. A 2025 CARFAX study found that a third of used cars sold the previous year had hidden risks. Many were imports or ex-rentals. To address this, CARFAX and startups such as NeedCarHelp and Checkar offer independent inspections backed by expert reviews, along with digital histories. Some also guide buyers remotely, helping them avoid unwelcome surprises.
Sustainability and the electric challenge
Keeping cars on the road longer helps the environment, but Spain’s aging fleet also means more pollution and tougher recycling challenges. Recomotor is addressing this by digitizing the recovery and sale of used car parts and automating requests through WhatsApp* (принадлежит Metа, которая признана экстремистской организацией и запрещена в РФ)* (принадлежит Metа, которая признана экстремистской организацией и запрещена в РФ) chatbots. Desguace Suspiro, a long-standing player, continues to offer guaranteed secondhand parts.
Used electric cars bring other challenges. Battery wear and high replacement costs complicate ownership, while large recycling plants remain scarce. GDV Mobility in Alicante leads in battery recovery and recycling. The company holds a unique license to revalorize lithium batteries and runs its own refurbishment plant. Novolitio, a joint venture between Endesa and Urbaser, recovers up to 90% of battery components and certifies second-life uses for batteries that still have capacity.
There is still no dedicated marketplace for used plug-in hybrids and electric cars. Buyers cannot easily get advice on real-world range or home charger installation, and information on available subsidies is also hard to find. That gap may soon be filled.
Financing and new business models
Financing remains a hurdle for many buyers. Young drivers and families looking for a second car are often turned down by traditional lenders. After selling Clicars, Pablo Fernández teamed up with AI expert Elena González-Blanco to launch Clidrive. The platform connects drivers with investors and banks, using the car itself as collateral. Lendrock, another digital lender, promises fast credit decisions and little paperwork for used-car buyers.
The market is maturing, and transparency and traceability have become must-haves. Blockchain pilots such as CarTrustChain have tested tamper-proof mileage records. Mass adoption remains out of reach, but the push for cleaner, more reliable data is changing how trust works in every deal.
What’s next for Spain’s roads
Nearly two million used cars are expected to change hands by the end of the year. Digital platforms are rewriting the rules. Diesel still dominates, while electrified cars are gaining ground; the average car remains old. A recent analysis points to pressure on the auto sector from changing consumer habits and the shift to electric vehicles.
Businesses that pair digital convenience with mechanical transparency are positioned to benefit, particularly when they adopt sustainable practices. The used-car market has become a testing ground for the future of Spanish mobility, with new business models emerging to address its current problems. Technology and trust will help determine who leads.
