Used Cars: Only 13% Will Be Able to Drive Without Restrictions in 2025

The Spanish used car market faces a reality shaped by consumers' purchasing power. According to MSI forecasts for Ganvam, presented at the fifth edition of the "Espacio VO" event, only 13% of second-hand cars sold in 2025 will have the environmental label required to drive without restrictions in urban Low Emission Zones (LEZ). This percentage includes 10% of models with the ECO label and just over 3% with the ZERO label.

These figures highlight that price remains the most decisive factor in purchasing a vehicle, even more so than important considerations such as safety or fuel efficiency.

Despite a third of buyers actively seeking models with ECO and Zero labels, their average budget for a used car is around 12,590 euros, 15% less than last year, pushing sales towards older and more economical vehicles.

In fact, cars with the C label (petrol vehicles registered from 2006 and diesel vehicles from 2014 onwards) will account for 65.6% of total sales by the end of 2025, maintaining the trend from the previous year. This situation underscores the gap between decarbonisation aspirations and citizens' economic capacity to access more modern and environmentally friendly vehicles.

In this price-sensitive scenario, there is a rise in Chinese brands, whose affordable offerings attract the attention of seven out of ten buyers. For 25% of Spaniards, these brands already represent an innovative and reliable option, reflecting a shift in consumer preferences amid rising new vehicle prices and the need to stick to available budgets.

With an automotive fleet whose average age exceeds 14 years, Ganvam, the dealers' association, has once again emphasised the urgency of implementing effective policies for fleet renewal and achieving environmental objectives. The sector insists on the need for a scrappage plan that includes direct aid, centralised management, and respect for the principle of technological neutrality, encouraging the purchase of used vehicles up to five years old.

The importance of a public support plan becomes even more evident when considering that seven out of ten buyers would admit to changing cars if there were specific incentives for used vehicles up to five years old. This demonstrates the potential of latent demand if access to younger and more efficient models is facilitated.

Ganvam highlights the positive impact that young used vehicles would have on decarbonisation. While the Spanish fleet emits an average of 133 grams of CO2 per kilometre, cars up to five years old will record emissions of around 106 grams per kilometre by the end of 2025. This data shows that boosting the young used car market would not only stimulate demand but also be a key driver for reducing emissions and advancing environmental goals.