Generosity on wheels: We investigate which cars Ukrainians donated in the third quarter of 2025
What do you usually give to your loved ones? A book, perfume, maybe a new gadget? All these are trifles compared to the heroes of our todayʼs review. In the third quarter of 2025, Ukrainians officially gave each other 9,686 cars!
But donʼt rush to imagine car showrooms filled with cars with red ribbons. The market for "gifted" cars is more of a family affair, where the keys to a beloved, albeit not new, car are passed from hand to hand. The average age of such a gift is 11 years, which immediately suggests: itʼs not about luxury, but about trust and practicality.
Letʼs dive into this world of unprecedented generosity on wheels!
Summer 2025 turned out to be fruitful not only for watermelons, but also for car gifts. If in July Ukrainians gave away 3,200 cars, then in August there was a real explosion of generosity — 3,286 cars! It was an absolute peak of activity.
In September, the enthusiasm subsided a bit, and the figure returned to the July mark of 3,200 cars. Perhaps everyone who wanted to give something as a gift did so on the eve of the new school year. In any case, the stability is impressive.
If you squint your eyes and look at the list of the most popular gift brands, you might think youʼve discovered the top sellers on the secondary market. And itʼs no wonder, because people give gifts that they love and trust.
The undisputed leader is Volkswagen (1,053 units). A true “people’s car” has also become a “people’s gift.” It is followed by BMW (895 units) — probably a gift for those who truly value drive, not just practicality.
Next on the list is a tight trio of time-tested brands: Toyota (747), Audi (703) and Mercedes-Benz (609). The entire Top 10 is full of familiar faces: from the reliable Skoda to the hardworking Ford. No surprises, just classics that have not lost their relevance for years.
When you move on to models, the picture becomes even clearer. This is not just a used car market, it is its quintessence!
- Volkswagen Passat (263 units) is the king of any rating, whether itʼs sales or gifts. An immortal classic for family and work.
- Skoda Octavia (243 units) is the eternal rival of the Passat. Practical, reliable, an ideal option for a "smart" gift.
- Toyota Camry (188 units) — when you want to give not just transportation, but also a little comfort and status.
The Bavarians BMW 5 Series and X5, the popular Volkswagen Golf and the executive Audi A6 are also firmly entrenched in the list. It seems that the scenario of "father passing on his well-maintained car to his son" is still relevant.
From Rolls-Royce to Moskvich: icing on the gift cake
Of course, there were also exclusives. Among the thousands of practical Passats and Octavias, real diamonds also flashed by. In the third quarter, 6 lucky owners of Bentley, 9 — Maserati, and 2 each — Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin were included in the statistics. Thatʼs what we understand, quiet luxury!
But the most interesting specimen on our list is a gift from the past. A green AZLK 402 from 1958. There is a suspicion that such a car is easier to give as a gift than to sell. This is a real time capsule, a contemporary of the beginning of the space age and Peleʼs first World Cup. We hope that this gift has fallen into the caring hands of a true connoisseur who is not currently looking for the address of the nearest tow truck collection point and the number of the tow truck. Although...
Result
Finally, it is worth noting that it was not only cars that were donated. In three months, Ukrainians donated 1,014 trucks, two hundred motorcycles, and even 85 buses. So, the next time you see a bus with a red ribbon on the road, donʼt be surprised — itʼs just someoneʼs generosity on the road.
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