Mathilde Carlier
Research Expert covering transportation and logistics
The French used car market broke national records in 2021 when over six million used passenger car transactions were recorded. However, amid global inventory shortages and price inflation, used car sales dropped in 2022, down to some 5.2 million transactions—the lowest transaction volume since 2009. While fewer transactions took place in 2022, used car prices in the country have been increasing since 1998; in December 2022, the monthly used car Consumer Price Index reached 104.68, the highest it had been since January 2019. This price increase reflects the broader price inflation issues faced by French consumers throughout 2021 and 2022, with the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices surging to 6.8 percent in July 2022, a 5.3 percent increase year-over-year. Despite these challenges, the used car retail market is also forecast to keep growing up to 12.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2027. This is partly related to the consumer perception of the market: In a November 2021 survey, 81 percent of respondents strongly or somewhat agreed that buying a used car was a good way to increase their savings while also feeling that the used car purchasing process seemed more complicated than buying a new car.
According to consumer reports, some 28.47 percent of used cars in circulation in France between May 2021 and May 2022 were damaged vehicles. This share compares to 40.94 percent and 21.3 percent in neighboring Switzerland and Germany. A few months later, between September 2021 and September 2022, consumers reported that Subaru used cars in circulation in the country had the most damages. In contrast, 15 percent of Renault used cars—the best-sellers on the French used car market in 2022—were reported as damaged.
The zero-emissions used vehicle market is still emerging, and 18 percent of French respondents to a November 2021 survey found the used electric vehicle (EV) purchasing costs still too high, with another 16 percent worrying about the warranty and lifespan of the battery. Despite these challenges, the used vehicle market in France has shifted towards more recent passenger cars in line with stricter European emission standards. Used car sales with the Crit’Air E sticker—allocated to battery electric and hydrogen vehicles with no direct emissions—more than doubled between 2020 and 2021. Though the Crit’Air 2 sticker remained the most popular for used cars, Crit’Air 1 vehicle sales have also increased.
Obstacles to the consumer-to-consumer market
Used cars were by far the best-selling road vehicle type in France in 2021, amounting to over sevenfold the sales volume of used vans and trucks—the second best-selling used road vehicle type—and over three times the new car sales volume. That year, most of the used passenger car sales came from consumer-to-consumer (C2C) transactions. However, 85 percent of consumers responding to a November 2021 survey considered making their used vehicle purchase at garages affiliated with major car brands compared to 70 percent willing to purchase a car from people they knew, which was the largest share for the C2C market, over 15 percentage points above online C2C platforms. This survey highlighted that the fear of discovering hidden defects after purchase and lack of warranty were the leading obstacles for French consumers in the used car market.According to consumer reports, some 28.47 percent of used cars in circulation in France between May 2021 and May 2022 were damaged vehicles. This share compares to 40.94 percent and 21.3 percent in neighboring Switzerland and Germany. A few months later, between September 2021 and September 2022, consumers reported that Subaru used cars in circulation in the country had the most damages. In contrast, 15 percent of Renault used cars—the best-sellers on the French used car market in 2022—were reported as damaged.
A rising used new energy vehicle market
The Renault Clio was the best-selling used vehicle model in France in 2022, with nearly 342,600 sales. The Renault Clio is typically a model with a petrol internal combustion engine (ICE), though a diesel model was also produced in the 1990s. Petrol ICEs were the most popular propulsion type for used cars sold in 2021, edging out diesel ICEs—the 2020 best-seller. New energy used cars, while still a small share of the market, have benefited from increased global interest in the electric vehicle market. Excluding non-rechargeable hybrids, approximately 135,100 used alternative fuel automobiles were sold in France in 2021, over double the volume sold in 2020.The zero-emissions used vehicle market is still emerging, and 18 percent of French respondents to a November 2021 survey found the used electric vehicle (EV) purchasing costs still too high, with another 16 percent worrying about the warranty and lifespan of the battery. Despite these challenges, the used vehicle market in France has shifted towards more recent passenger cars in line with stricter European emission standards. Used car sales with the Crit’Air E sticker—allocated to battery electric and hydrogen vehicles with no direct emissions—more than doubled between 2020 and 2021. Though the Crit’Air 2 sticker remained the most popular for used cars, Crit’Air 1 vehicle sales have also increased.
