Despite its essential role in everyday life, the car is increasingly seen as a financial burden: it accounts for more than €330 of European households’ monthly budget. According to a recent study carried out in seven EU countries, 80 per cent of those surveyed now regard the car as a luxury item, yet one that is essential for getting around freely. Rising fuel prices are contributing to this situation. For many, therefore, now is the time to make the switch to electric vehicles, starting with reconditioned second-hand models.
Cars: the new luxury item
The European survey commissioned by the French car broker Aramisauto and carried out by the polling organisation OpinionWay confirms the trend observed in recent years: cars are becoming increasingly unaffordable for households, despite their need for mobility. This major paradox stems from a simple question: how can we encourage the transition in the automotive sector (towards electric vehicles in particular) in the current economic climate (fuel prices, geopolitical instability, the end of the internal combustion engine, etc.)? Without exception, 80 per cent of respondents in France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Austria, Germany and elsewhere state that owning a car is becoming a luxury, yet 88 per cent need one to get around every day.
An ageing vehicle fleet
Above all, this situation is leading to growing uncertainty amongst consumers when it comes to buying a new car. New or second-hand? Petrol, hybrid or electric? Wait and see, or seize an opportunity? Concerns over fuel prices are a key factor: 60 per cent of French people intend to switch to electric or hybrid vehicles. But many are facing financial constraints and are putting off their decision. As a result, the French car fleet is ageing: the average age is 11.5 years. Whilst the government is encouraging vehicle replacement to speed up the transition to electric vehicles, drivers are keeping their cars for longer, particularly due to the rise in new car prices (up 24 per cent on average across Europe between 2020 and 2024).
Budget: the number one criterion
The average monthly expenditure on a car is €283 for a French person and €335 on average for Europeans. Three out of four motorists have already cut back on non-essential journeys, and nearly half have postponed replacing their car. In fact, the decision to buy or replace a car depends first and foremost (and by a long way) on its price, ahead of fuel economy and reliability. Factors such as brand image, design and technology take a back seat. Motorists are making more rational choices, but are not, however, opposed to stricter regulations.
Thus, 61 per cent of Europeans (56 per cent of French respondents) are in favour of banning the sale of combustion-engine vehicles in Europe by 2035. But this shift must not be imposed at any cost. For many, the energy transition will initially involve buying a second-hand car rather than a new one.
Sales of second-hand EVs are rising sharply
In recent years, the range of second-hand EVs on sale has been growing on platforms such as Aramisauto. Sales figures reflect this trend: a 195 per cent increase in just four years. In 2023, only 4 per cent of used cars sold by this leading French website were electric; by mid-2026, they accounted for 12 per cent. Across all engine types, the average price of the most sought-after used cars is €20,180.
Refurbishment: a new mark of trust
Against this backdrop, motorists are turning to reconditioned models. These are second-hand cars that have undergone a thorough inspection and a 200-point workshop check (170-point check for an EV) before being put back on the market, often with a one-year warranty. A positive sign is that only 2–3 per cent of the models selected at the outset fail these technical checks and are withdrawn from the market. Currently, 12 per cent of reconditioned cars are electric, with particular attention paid to the battery’s state of health (SoH), which accounts for a third of the vehicle’s value. “Motorists want to continue getting around with greater transparency regarding price, the vehicle’s condition, financing and maintenance. This is precisely what the reconditioned used car market should achieve: making car buying clearer, more reliable and more accessible,” explains Romain Boscher, Managing Director of Aramisauto. This reconditioning solution is gaining momentum. Three-quarters of drivers are aware of it and are attracted by the significant price difference: a reconditioned vehicle costs 40 per cent less than a new model that is one year old.
