In December, Ukrainians bought a record number of used cars

The last month of last year was a record for the Ukrainian car market: the largest number of cars with mileage within the country were purchased, as well as the highest volume of transactions with used cars in general (including imports). The result of December 2021 is the highest since 2014. More used cars were registered only in July 2020, when buyers met the deferred demand after the «lockdown» and closed service centers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Experts of the Automotive Market Research Institute analyzed the dynamics and ranked the most popular used cars in the domestic market and imported from abroad in December 2021.

In general, in December on the secondary market Ukrainians bought 149.6 thousand cars with mileage. Of this number — 100.2 thousand domestic resales, 49.4 thousand — the first registrations of cars that arrived from abroad.

Compared to the previous month (November 2021), the total market volume increased by 2%. The share of imports of used cars in the structure of the secondary market decreased from 41.1% to 32.8%. This is a consequence of the end of the «preferential» period of customs clearance of the so-called «Europlates». Therefore, the statistics of December 2021 finally show a more real situation on the secondary market, without the influence of the so-called «Europlates», compared to June-November.

Compared to December 2020, the total market volume increased by 24%. The structure of the market also changed in favor of domestic resales: their share increased from 65.4% to 67.2%. At the same time, the number of used cars sold by 21.6 thousand more.

Experts of the Institute of Car Market Research highlight the main trends of the secondary car market in December 2021:

• The increase in activity in the domestic market may also be a consequence of forecasts of a possible rise in prices for used cars in 2022. Earlier, experts from the Automotive Market Research Institute researched that now is a good time to buy a car with mileage.
• The increase in the number of domestic resales may be an indicator of the gradual «de-shadowing» of this segment. Ukrainians are increasingly preferring the official re-registration of cars to the previously popular «power of attorney sales» or «technical passport».
• Former «Europlates» may be part of used cars sold in December. Ukrainians often put such cars up for sale immediately after customs clearance.
• The volume of monthly «net» imports (excluding the impact of «Europlates») is about 50 thousand cars with mileage per month. This is a fairly high result, given the global trends in shortages and rising prices of used cars. The high interest of Ukrainians in such cars contributes to the development of business in this segment and the positive dynamics of the market, as a significant part of «freshly imported» cars are brought for resale.

The most popular models, domestic resale

The ranking of the most popular used cars in the domestic market has remained almost unchanged for several months in a row. The preferences of Ukrainians continue to remain stable. Comparing the rating of December with November, we can see only two insignificant changes: Ford Focus overtook Renault Megane, and Chevrolet Aveo fell from 8 to 10 position.

1. Daewoo Lanos/Sens — 4090
2. Volkswagen Passat — 3533
3. Skoda Octavia — 3118
4. Volkswagen Golf — 2282
5. VAZ 2109/99 — 2241
6. Ford Focus — 1545
7. Renault Megane — 1451
8. Skoda Fabia — 1199
9. Opel Astra — 1159
10. Chevrolet Aveo — 1211

The most popular models imported from abroad

Ukrainiansʼ preferences when buying a used car from abroad are also stable. However, December 2021 brought a surprise: the leader of «freshly driven» cars has changed! Volkswagen Passat, which has been the undisputed leader in the rankings for several years, lost the championship. According to the results of the last month of the past year, most Ukrainians brought a used Volkswagen Golf (although in terms of the year «Passat» is still quantitatively the first in terms of "fit«).

Also, a number of models that could be attributed (by age and some other characteristics) to the typical «Europlates» disappeared from the rating. Instead, Skoda Fabia returned to the list, and Volkswagen Touran appeared in 10th place.

After all, it is quite natural that with the end of the period of «preferential» customs clearance of cars operated in violation of customs rules, these changes were reflected in the «Top» of «freshly driven» cars, as well as such an indicator as average age : in December 11.3 years old, while in November cars with an average age of 14.1 years applied for the first registration. This is a positive change, as well as the fact that without the former «Europlates» the share of diesel cars in the structure of imports decreases — from 48.3% in November to 37.6% in December.

1. Volkswagen Golf — 2610
2. Volkswagen Passat — 2552
3. Skoda Octavia — 2217
4. Renault Megane — 1894
5. Ford Focus — 1529
6. Renault Scenic — 1388
7. Opel Zafira — 1184
8. Opel Astra — 1075
9. Skoda Fabia — 986
10. Volkswagen Touran — 923

In contrast to the new car market, in the secondary market we are once again seeing steady trends, with minor changes in the interests of buyers, at least in the choice of individual models, but this can not be said about the ways of buying and selling. And since the import and sale of used cars is a significant segment of the business, which is actively developing to keep abreast of change and earn more important to use analytics and forecasting. The Automotive Market Research Institute can help with this. Write to us at [email protected] !