The Spanish used car market closed August with positive figures and one particularly striking statistic: one out of every two used cars sold during the month was still diesel. According to data published by the industry associations Ganvam and Faconauto, 155.532 used passenger cars and SUVs were sold, representing a 6,1% increase compared to the same period last year. And within that total, diesel still dominated with a 48% market share, which translates to approximately 74.655 transactions.
For every new car registered in August, 1,5 used vehicles were sold. The cumulative total through the first eight months of the year is approaching 1,45 million units transferred, 2,8% more than in the same period of 2025. While the industry is looking towards electrification and dealerships are filling their showrooms with hybrids and electric vehicles, a large portion of the Spanish vehicle fleet still runs on diesel , a reality that the used car market serves as a constant reminder month after month.
Diesel is holding its own among used cars despite the electrified push
The decline of diesel in the used car market is a reality, but a very slow one. During August, sales of used diesel cars remained practically stable, although year-to-date they show a cumulative decrease of 3%. In contrast, gasoline engines rebounded by 3,5% in the month, reaching 55.683 units, and are only up 0,2% year-to-date, with 515.559 transactions so far in 2026.
Data from Ancove reflects a very similar trend. Gasoline and diesel engines together accounted for 83% of the used vehicle market in August, a clear indication that the energy transition is not reaching used vehicle repair shops at the same pace as dealerships . The pattern is repeated in the used van market, with diesel dominating light commercial vehicle transfers.
Meanwhile, the used electric vehicle market continues to grow steadily, but from such a small base that it has yet to significantly impact overall sales. Used pure electric passenger cars sold 2.565 units in August, a 32,6% increase year-on-year, bringing the total to 24.374 units in the first eight months of the year, a 40,6% increase according to Ganvam and Faconauto. Used plug-in hybrids also saw strong growth, with 4.976 units sold in August, a 52,5% increase, and a 48% rise year-to-date. Even so, all plug-in models still only account for around 5% of total used vehicle sales.
The average age is no lower than 11 years and the old cars are not finding replacements
One of the biggest headaches for the sector is the age of the vehicle fleet. The average age of used cars sold in Spain remains at 11 years, but when the transaction is between private individuals, the figure rises to 15 years. Vehicles over 15 years old represent more than 40% of transactions, specifically 64.382 units in August, 5,1% more than the previous year. This isn't just an aesthetic issue: the lack of generational replacement in the Spanish vehicle fleet is a serious safety and emissions problem.
Cars over a decade old are followed by those between 10 and 15 years old, with 25.146 units sold and a 5,2% increase. However, models up to five years old, which are the most sought after by buyers looking for a recent car without paying the new car price, saw a more significant growth of 13,5% in August. This segment now accounts for 26,3% of transfers, with approximately 40.905 units. Industry associations attribute this trend to the increased dynamism of imports and the sale of rental car fleets, two channels that are introducing newer vehicles to the market than usual.
This contrast between the demand for modern cars and the reality of a market dominated by older vehicles has led Ganvam and Faconauto to insist on the need for a national fleet renewal plan. This, coupled with the elimination of the scrappage incentive within the Auto+ plan, is hindering any qualitative improvement of the vehicle fleet , the distributors point out.
Prices show no mercy: used cars over eight years old are rising above the average.
If there's one piece of news that has defined August in the used car market, it's the surge in prices, especially for older, higher-mileage vehicles. The average price of a used car in Spain reached €13.466, representing a 3,4% increase compared to August 2025, according to data from Ancove. While this may seem like a moderate rise, the details are in the fine print: vehicles over eight years old saw a year-on-year jump of 6,7%, reaching an average price of €11.146.
In the Canary Islands, the increase was even more striking. There, the average price of used cars reached €12.319, 5,8% higher than a year ago and 1,9% higher than in July. The drop in fleet purchases by the rental car sector, which has fallen by almost 34%, has drastically reduced the arrival of nearly new cars to the archipelago. This has led to a shortage of newer vehicles, driving prices up, while cars over eight years old now account for more than 62% of sales in the islands.
If prices continue to rise, the used car market could lose one of its main attractions. The general trend is that buying a used car is becoming increasingly similar to buying a new one in terms of initial outlay , although the used car market remains the primary option for most households on a tight budget. It's also worth noting that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for August closed at 4,3%, so the increase in used car prices, while significant, is still slightly below the overall inflation rate.
By region, Madrid once again led the way with a 50,8% increase in August and a 15,3% year-to-date rise. Castilla-La Mancha also stood out, with a 21,4% increase in the month, while on the negative side, Ceuta saw a 33% drop in sales. Although the national balance is positive, it's important to remember that it's a very heterogeneous market and that used car prices in Spain don't evolve uniformly across different regions.
The situation is what it is: the used diesel car remains king of the Spanish market and doesn't seem likely to relinquish its dominance anytime soon. Demand for used cars is holding steady thanks to price pressures and a new supply that has become considerably more expensive in recent years, but the feeling that the vehicle fleet isn't being renewed at the desired pace remains very strong. Add to that the fact that used vehicles over eight years old are the most expensive and the best-selling, and the used car market in Spain becomes a mixed bag, with plenty of diesels still on the road.
