Latvia Ranks 21st in Used Car Transparency Index Despite Slight Mileage Rollback Improvements
Latvia ranks 21st out of 23 European countries in the latest Transparency Index published by car data company carVertical, with 58.5% of checked used vehicles carrying prior damage records. While the average mileage rollback in the country decreased to 93,006 kilometers—a 9.2% drop from the previous year’s 102,435 kilometers—the market continues to struggle with high import volumes and widespread damage histories.
UK leads European used car transparency rankings
The carVertical Transparency Index evaluates European used car markets based on six risk indicators, including mileage fraud, average rolled-back distance, damaged vehicle percentage, damage value, import rates, and vehicle age. Estonia places 19th, Poland takes 16th, and Finland secures 4th place. The United Kingdom leads the index as the most transparent market, followed by Germany in second place and Switzerland in third.
There is a clear trend among the countries at the top of the index. They rely less on imports, their economies are stronger, and institutions have made car data more accessible to buyers from the start.
stated Ramūnas Pletkus, data expert at carVertical, noting that Eastern European markets face persistent risks due to cross-border data gaps.
High Damage Rates and Import Reliance in Latvia
Imported vehicles account for 69.8% of all registered used cars in Latvia, a slight decrease from 70.5% the prior year, though the share remains among the highest in Europe. At the same time, 58.5% of vehicles checked in Latvia this year featured damage records, staying close to last year’s 58.5% to 59.2% range. The average repair value for these damages rose from €2,754 to €3,371.
Drivers still don’t have enough information about how much mileage fraud actually costs,
Pletkus said, emphasizing that altered odometers and hidden damages artificially inflate purchase prices while compromising driver safety.
Which countries rank in the Transparency Index?
Which country ranks last in the carVertical Transparency Index?
Ukraine occupies the last position in the index, a standing it has held since 2024, driven by an import rate of 76.3% across checked vehicles.
What specific metrics are used to calculate the Transparency Index?
The index relies on six factors: the proportion of cars with fraudulent mileage, the average rolled-back kilometer value, the share of damaged vehicles, the average repair cost, the import percentage, and the average age of checked cars.
How does vehicle age factor into the Latvian used car market?
The average age of checked vehicles in Latvia shifted slightly from 11.4 years to 11.6 years in the latest dataset.
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