Due to the policy of road fines that are sometimes very low in these countries, some motorists take more risks at the wheel, which leads to more damaged vehicles.
Buying a used car can sometimes reserve unpleasant surprises. We often hear about vehicles sold with hidden problems, poorly made repairs or an uncertain history. On the other hand, few future buyers pay attention to the country of origin of the vehicle, when you should know that some used models actually come from other European countries. This is essential information, because in some countries where speeding fines are little dissuasive, drivers more often adopt risky behavior. This results in a higher number of damaged vehicles on the local market.
But then, what countries should you particularly avoid? MATAS BUZELIS, Business Development Manager at Carvertical, delivers a striking observation in their study “Road safety: How does the amount of fines influence the accident rate?” :: “Central and eastern Europe, less strict, combines more damage” on vehicles. In Nordic countries like Sweden, Denmark or Finland, fines are much heavier compared to salary, and damaged vehicle rates remain very low: for example, in Denmark, speeding of less than 15 km/h can cost up to 402 euros, or around 10% of the average monthly salary, which limits the number of accidents and the condition of used cars.
Conversely, “Countries like Poland, Latvia or Slovakia apply weak fines: 24 euros in Poland, 40 euros in Latvia, 39 euros in Slovakia, representing only 1.6 to 3.3% of the average monthly salary.” Result, “More than half of the vehicles have a history of damage, Poland even reaching 62.1%”, underlines the automotive salesperson. This phenomenon is partly explained by the low deterrent effect of these low fines, which do not sufficiently encourage drivers to adopt prudent conduct.
It is important to keep in mind that the condition of a used car also depends on the local driving culture, which influences the frequency of accidents and the maintenance of vehicles. For buyers, this results in increased vigilance with regard to vehicles imported from countries where tolerance to offenses are higher. Michaël Ledoux, CEO of Transakauto, also advises to favor cars of French origin or countries where road safety is rigorously framed. Finally, before concluding a purchase, checking the vehicle’s past, carrying out a complete technical control and asking for advice from a professional remain essential steps to avoid unpleasant surprises!
