Updated: 03:00 EDT, 25 March 2026
24
View
comments
Around a fifth of second-hand cars for sale have a history of major damage that cost thousands of pounds to fix - but this is being hidden from potential buyers with no mention of past repairs, according to a new report.
CarVertical, which conducted background checks on tens of thousands of used motors in 2025, says 20.3 per cent of history reports it produced last year showed vehicles having a least one 'damage event' that 'caused physical harm to the vehicle and may have impacted its structural integrity or functionality'.
It said few - if any - of the models listed for sale referenced this important information in the advert wording, especially if broken panels had been replaced or repainted.
The vehicle history check provider, sourcing information from insurance claims, body shop receipts and vehicle inspection records, says the average value of a single recorded damage event unearthed last year was £4,800.
And analysis of the reports suggests some brands are more likely to have hidden damage histories than others, with almost a quarter of Vauxhalls showing a damage entry when checked last year.
And the data also points to small supermini-style models - those typically used in urban areas and owned by new, younger drivers - are most likely to have damage events hidden in their historical closets.
We reveal the brands and models highlighted most commonly in CarVertical checks as having sustained previous damage.
CarVertical says 20.3% of vehicle background checks it ran on second-hand motors last year showed vehicles having a least one instance of a hidden 'damage event'
CarVertical says 24.7 per cent of Vauxhalls it checked on behalf of customers in 2025 had at least one recorded damage event, making it the most likely brand with this type of hidden history among those analysed.
Vauxhall was followed by Fiat (23.6 per cent), Seat (23.5 per cent), Hyundai (23 per cent), and Ford (22.6 per cent), suggesting that many of the cars British drivers buy for affordability and everyday practicality are also the ones most likely to show signs of past damage.
Among individual models, smaller cars are the ones most likely to show damage history.
The Seat Ibiza was the most frequently damaged model, with 33.6 per cent of those checked showing damage history, followed by the Audi A1 (30.6 per cent) and Fiat 500 (30.1 per cent).
BRANDS FOUND TO HAVE THE MOST INSTANCES OF HIDDEN REPAIRS BRAND % of checked cars having at least one damage event Average cost of repair Vauxhall 24.7% £3,336 Fiat 23.6% £3,420 Seat 23.5% £3,985 Hyundai 23% £3,471 Ford 22.6% £3,741 Citroen 21.7% £4,286 BMW 21.6% £5,175 Volkswagen 21.4% £4,116 Audi 21% £5,050 Peugeot 21% £4,019 Renault 21% £3,759 Nissan 20.8% £4,369 Honda 20.3% £3,359 Suzuki 20.2% £3,067 Mini 20.1% £3,301 Lexus 19.7% £3,586 Toyota 19.4% £3,811 Bentley 19.3% £15,917 Tesla 19.3% £5,712 Skoda 19% £3,471 Source: CarVertical
When it identified examples of severe damage and insurance write-offs, it found that a 'small but important share' of damaged vehicles had repair costs amounting to 50 per cent or more of the car’s market value.
These are the kind of cases that can end in vehicles being classed as insurance write-offs, particularly in Category S or Category N cases.
While for dealers and traders it is a legal requirement to not mislead consumers and disclose known significant damage or repairs, there is less protection for those who buy cars privately.
'While many damage records are relatively minor, this shows why buyers should not dismiss past accident history as a small detail,' CarVertical said.
CAR MODELS FOUND TO HAVE THE MOST INSTANCES OF HIDDEN REPAIRS MAKE/MODEL % of checked cars having at least one damage event Average cost of repair Seat Ibiza 33.6 £3,378 Audi A1 30.6 £4,290 Fiat 500 30.1 £3,213 Peugeot 208 30 £3,088 Vauxhall Corsa 29.7 £3,348 Volkswagen Polo 29.3 £3,748 Ford Fiesta 28.7 £3,262 Skoda Fabia 27.5 £3,458 Volkswagen Scirocco 26.9 £3,716 BMW 1 Series 25.7 £4,015 Nissan Juke 24.5 £3,383 BMW 4 Series 24.4 £7,459 Vauxhall Astra 23.8 £2,595 Renault Clio 23.3 £2,522 Audi A3 23.2 £4,244 Volvo V40 22.7 £2,118 BMW 2 Series 22.5 £4,003 Nissan Qashqai 22.5 £4,312 Mercedes-Benz A Class 22.4 £4,085 Mercedes-Benz C Class 22.4 £6,204 Source: CarVertical
Read More
Some insurers refuse to underwrite Chinese cars - and when they do, premiums can be twice as expensive as other models
While a history of serious damage does not automatically make a car unsafe, it should change the level of scrutiny on a buyer's behalf.
For example, if repairs were rushed, poorly documented or carried out as cheaply as possible, the next owner could inherit problems that are expensive to fix and difficult to spot during a quick viewing or test drive.
By highlighting the potential severity of the damage and the section of the car where the repairs have taken place, buyers can pay closer attention to the specific area to ensure the vehicle remains in a roadworthy condition.
Matas Buzelis from CarVertical told Daily Mail and This is Money: 'Damage is one of the most common issues buyers can encounter in the used car market, and in many cases it affects exactly the sort of models people shop for every day - affordable, practical cars from familiar brands.'
The study also identified the brands with the highest average repair histories.
Unsurprisingly, it was a luxury manufacturer with the highest average of all, with Bentleys having a repair bill of £16,000.
Other notable above-average single damage events are for Teslas (£5,700) and BMWs (£5,200).
Save on services and MOTs - and keep track of your car's documents
The This is Money Motoring Club is designed to make car ownership cheaper and simpler for This is Money and Daily Mail readers.
Powered by MotorEasy it's the place to keep on top of tax, MOTs and servicing - and manage the important documents and receipts that boost your car’s value.
You can also save money on maintenance and repairs - and book into one of 10,000 trusted workshops nationwide.
New members receive a £20 reward voucher, which you can put towards repairs or even a warranty - giving you peace of mind that if something goes wrong, you won’t be left footing the bill.
You can even get £20 off an MOT with one of MotorEasy's listed providers.
Context:
One in five used cars hides major damage history costing buyers thousands in unknown repairs.
Context:
This affects resale values and safety, making proper vehicle history checks essential before purchase.
Context:
Vauxhall leads with 24.7% damage rates, while luxury brands like Bentley average £15,917 repair costs.
