Most Russians are not ready to buy used cars from resellers
By ForGeeks
The automobile website «Drom» conducted a nationwide survey, the results of which showed that 58% of car enthusiasts prefer not to buy used cars from resellers. More than a third of participants —35% — are fundamentally looking for ads only from owners, and another 23% are ready to consider options from owners if possible.
Automobile website «Drom» has conducted a nationwide survey of car owners.
In comparison, in a similar study in 2012, the number of those opposed to resellers was 53%. Over 13 years, the share of those who are ready to trust such sellers has also decreased: from 29% to 25%. Some respondents note that when choosing a car, only price and condition are important, and the history of resale does not matter. The number of motorists who do not consider cars with mileage at all decreased from 4% to 3%. At the same time, the share of those who prefer new cars remained at the same level — 7%.
The number of respondents who do not consider used cars at all decreased from 4% to 3%.
Regional Highlights
The largest number of opponents of resellers was in the Urals — 41%. In Moscow and the Volga region, 38% of participants avoid resellers. Residents of the North-West (32%) and southern regions (26%) try to find ads from owners most often.
The seller’s personality is least taken into account in St. Petersburg — 29% of respondents said so. The situation is similar in the Far Eastern Federal District, as well as in Siberia and the south of the country — 26% of respondents each said that they are guided only by the price and technical condition of the car.
Seller’s personality is the least taken into account in St. Petersburg — this was the response of 29% of respondents.
Most supporters of buying new, «mileage-free» cars live in the Far East — 15% of survey participants. In the central regions, 9% of respondents said they do not take cars with mileage at all. In the Northwest, the figure amounted to 8%.
A curious detail: 6% of respondents admitted that they themselves are engaged in reselling cars. Most often these are residents of Siberia, Moscow, the central regions and the Far East.
An interesting detail: 6% of respondents admitted to reselling cars themselves.
Attitude towards resellers
In the comments, participants shared their personal experiences. Some recalled cases of twisted mileage and hidden defects, up to the sills filled with foam. Others pointed out that there are different types of resellers: some bring good cars from auctions, while others buy cheap, problematic cars.
A number of drivers said that owners are not always conscientious, either: when they break down, they often save money on repairs, which reduces the life of the car. In their opinion, it is sometimes possible to find cars in better condition from modern resellers.
Many participants summarized: it all depends on the specific situation, the condition of the car, the price and the purpose of the purchase. Sometimes it is smarter to buy a used car from a reseller, and sometimes it is better to overpay for a new car or choose a car with no mileage in Russia.
The survey was conducted from July 7 to July 14, 2025 on the website «Drom». More than 11,000 people took part in it.
