Lithuanian consumers face a considerably elevated risk of encountering used vehicles with undisclosed issues, especially when purchasing from abroad. A new study reveals buyers in Lithuania are three times more likely to find discrepancies in a car’s odometer compared to those buying domestically, highlighting a growing problem across Europe’s used car market. The findings, based on analysis of vehicle history reports from September 2024 through August 2025, underscore the challenges of cross-border vehicle sales and the need for greater clarity in vehicle history data.
Lithuanian consumers should exercise extreme caution when purchasing imported vehicles, as they are three times more likely to encounter cars with mileage discrepancies, according to a new study. The findings highlight a growing concern over transparency in the used car market and reflect broader anxieties about hidden defects in second-hand vehicles across Europe.
Imported Cars Carry Higher Risk
An analysis of vehicle history reports completed by carVertical clients in Lithuania between September 2024 and August 2025 revealed that 7% of all checked vehicles had evidence of odometer tampering. However, this figure doesn’t fully represent the extent of the problem.
Of all cars imported into Lithuania, 8.3% had altered mileage readings, compared to just 2.7% of those exclusively operated within the country. This means buyers face a roughly three-fold increase in the risk of purchasing a vehicle with a manipulated odometer when buying from abroad.
A separate carVertical survey, encompassing over 10,000 drivers across Europe, found that 46.3% of car buyers harbor distrust towards car dealerships. Many respondents reported past experiences of being deceived, leading to significant stress when purchasing a used vehicle.
The issue stems from the fact that mileage records, accident histories, and other crucial vehicle data often remain in the countries from which the cars were originally imported. As a result, some sellers and dealerships may be unaware that a vehicle’s odometer has been tampered with or that it sustained significant damage in a previous accident.
“The laws governing odometer fraud vary between countries, making it difficult to address this issue on an international scale,” explained Matas Buzelis, a carVertical automotive market expert. “When a car is exported, its history effectively starts with a clean slate, as countries do not routinely share historical vehicle data. This is why the risk of acquiring a vehicle with a falsified odometer is consistently higher when purchasing an imported model.”
Three-Quarters of Checked Cars in Lithuania are Imports
The scale of vehicle imports varies significantly across Europe, with Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Serbia seeing the highest influx of foreign vehicles. In Lithuania, 76.7% of the cars checked by carVertical were imported, while 23.3% were originally sold and used within the country.
The greater the number of imported vehicles in a country, the higher the probability of encountering a car with a manipulated odometer or concealed damage.
“In Europe, cars generally move from West to East,” Buzelis said. “These vehicles often have a history of accidents or odometer fraud. Just because a vehicle comes from Germany, France, or another Western European country doesn’t guarantee its condition. Every car has a unique history, and that history isn’t always positive.”
The Cost of Unavailable Data: 35% of Buyers Report Being Deceived
When a vehicle has been used exclusively in one country, government authorities typically maintain a comprehensive record of its history. However, this data doesn’t automatically transfer when the vehicle is imported.
According to the carVertical survey, 83.2% of European respondents believe that car buyers should have access to a vehicle’s historical data. A majority – 61.5% – indicated they would be willing to share such data, excluding personal information.
Despite some European countries treating Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) as personal information, driver sentiment suggests otherwise. The survey revealed that over 70% of respondents do not believe a VIN should be considered sensitive data and are confident that its disclosure does not pose a privacy risk.
“Our research shows that 35% of drivers have been victims of dishonest sellers, purchasing vehicles with falsified odometers or hidden defects,” carVertical reported. “Greater transparency in vehicle data would help reduce fraud and bring much-needed integrity to the European used car market.”
Methodology
The carVertical study analyzed vehicle history reports obtained by the company’s clients across European Union countries from September 2024 to August 2025.
The article also incorporates data from a survey conducted through carVertical report generation between October and November 2025, gathering responses from over 10,000 drivers in 35 countries. The survey sample is limited to individuals actively seeking used vehicles, as it targeted carVertical users.
carVertical operates in 35 countries and collects data from over 900 databases worldwide, including law enforcement, financial institutions, government and state registries, and classifieds. By processing millions of vehicle history reports annually, the company provides the used car market with the latest trends, detailed forecasts, and unique insights.
