the used car market | France

1.1 Definition and scope of study

A vehicle is said to be second-hand if it has been in use for more than 6 months (from the date of first registration) and has travelled more than 6,000 km. France has an incredibly dynamic second-hand car market: sales volumes of second-hand vehicles are 2 to 3 times higher than those of new vehicles.

The second-hand car market has of course been shaken by the arrival of internet technology. There are currently around 20 physical and digital players on this market and almost half of used car buyers have done their research on the Internet beforehand. However, no car purchase is made solely on the web, except via platforms that connect individuals such as Le Bon Coin. Some twenty sites are listed, including La Centrale, but the site's paid model is in competition with Le Bon Coin, the leader in second-hand car sales in France, which has lower costs. These sites concentrate the second-hand items put up for sale by private individuals, but many professionals are also present in these niches.

Concerning the online sale of second-hand cars, Aramisauto is the leader in France, with which PSA has been associated since 2015. The particularity of Aramisauto has made its success: this market player buys second-hand vehicles, maintains them and puts them back on sale.

The second-hand vehicle market is special in that it covers only the resale of vehicles between private individuals or through professional dealers. It therefore requires precautions to be taken regarding the condition of the vehicle (mechanical condition) but also its origin (tampered with motorcycle, stolen) in order to avoid being a victim of fraud. This is why many people are gradually turning to professional dealers for more security.