Used car market in Estonia in March: transactions jumped 48% – BMW remains the leader
In March, 7,726 passenger cars changed ownership in Estonia. Compared to February, the number of transactions increased by 1,695.
On a yearly basis, the growth is significant. Compared to March 2025, the number of transactions increased by 48%, indicating that the used car market in Estonia remains active.
BMW remains the leader of the used car market
By brand, BMW continues to hold the leading position in Estonia’s used car market. In March, a total of 970 ownership changes were recorded for BMW passenger cars, which is 128 more transactions than in February.
Volkswagen ranked second with 812 transactions. The number of Volkswagen transactions increased by 204 in March compared to February. Audi came in third with 678 transactions.
BMW and Volkswagen have remained in the top three for several consecutive months. Audi entered the top three for the first time this year.
Most popular used cars
In previous months, there has been strong competition between the BMW 3 Series, BMW 5 Series, and Volkswagen Passat. March brought a change, as Škoda Octavia entered the top three and BMW 5 Series dropped to fourth place.
Top 3 models in March:
- BMW 3 Series
- Volkswagen Passat
- Škoda Octavia
In March, 317 transactions were made with the BMW 3 Series, 304 with the Volkswagen Passat, and 294 with the Škoda Octavia.
Škoda leads among cars up to 10 years old
In the segment of cars up to 10 years old, Škoda has been the leader for the second month in a row. In March, 461 ownership changes were recorded for Škoda passenger cars.
Toyota ranked second with 392 transactions, followed by Volkswagen with 262.
Among models in this segment, the most popular was the Škoda Octavia with 185 transactions, followed by Toyota RAV4 with 101 and Toyota Corolla with 94.
Compared to February, transaction numbers increased for all three top models.
Oldest car was a 1938 DKW
The oldest passenger car that changed ownership in Estonia in March was a 1938 DKW F7 Front Luxus. The DKW F7 was a front-wheel-drive small family car with a two-stroke engine, produced by Auto Union’s DKW division between 1937 and 1938. Auto Union AG, formed by the merger of four German car manufacturers, is considered a direct predecessor of today’s Audi.
The highest number of ownership changes in March was recorded for cars from 2021, with a total of 676 transactions. This indicates that buyers tend to prefer relatively newer used cars.
This was followed by vehicles from 2018 with 400 transactions and 2017 with 399 transactions.
Used car imports to Estonia
In March, a total of 1,397 used passenger cars were imported into Estonia.
Most cars were imported from Germany, with 485 vehicles arriving from there. Finland ranked second with 188 cars, followed by Sweden with 114.
The average age of imported used cars was 8 years, indicating a preference for relatively newer vehicles.
Among imported cars, the most popular brands were BMW, Volvo, and Mercedes-Benz. The most imported models were Volkswagen Passat, Volvo XC60, and Škoda Octavia.
Diesel dominated by fuel type, with 662 diesel cars imported. Petrol cars ranked second with 300 units.
Summary
In March, Estonia’s used car market remained active, showing growth both month-over-month and year-over-year. The highest number of transactions was recorded for BMW, Volkswagen, and Audi passenger cars, while the most popular models were the BMW 3 Series, Volkswagen Passat, and Škoda Octavia.
In the segment of cars up to 10 years old, Škoda held the leading position, while diesel vehicles imported from Germany dominated the import market. Overall, the results show that buyers prefer relatively newer and practical used cars.
