10.8% of inspected cars in Latvia were found to have distorted, that is, tampered mileage data, representatives of the vehicle history report platform carVertical told the LETA agency, citing platform data.
According to this data, the mileage of cars in Latvia has been reduced by an average of 102,400 kilometers.
At the same time, 59.3% of cars in Latvia have records of damage incurred. Representatives of the platform explain that since 2024, this figure has increased by almost two percentage points, and the average amount of damage is 2,800 euros.
The data also indicates that 70.5% of the inspected cars in Latvia were imported from abroad. Such cars often have tampered mileage data and signs of damage hidden.
The average age of inspected cars in Latvia is 11.4 years compared to 11.1 years in 2024. Accordingly, buyers in Latvia are purchasing slightly older vehicles.
Automotive industry expert Mats Buzelis points out that used car buyers often have certain expectations regarding mileage.
"Some want a car with mileage up to 100,000 kilometers, others up to 200,000. Cars with higher mileage are harder to sell, so unscrupulous sellers tamper with the odometer to make the vehicle more attractive and increase profits," he explains.
The company conducts an annual study on the transparency of the European car market to identify countries where buying a used car carries the highest risks. This year, Latvia ranked 24th out of 25 countries. The UK ranks first in the Transparency Index, where 2.3% of cars have recorded tampered mileage, and 17% have damage records.
The study analyzed vehicle history reports purchased by the company's clients from September 2024 to August 2025.
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