Seven out of ten cars (71.47%) registered in Romania in 2025 were second-hand, while Volkswagen, Dacia and BMW are the brands most sought after by Romanian buyers, according to an analysis carried out by a marketplace platform based on official data from the General Directorate for Driving Licences and Vehicle Registration (DGPCI).
According to Plus-Auto.ro, a total of 548,612 vehicles were registered last year, of which 28.53% were new cars.
The nationwide analysis also shows that limited budgets, rising maintenance costs, inflation and economic uncertainty are driving Romanians to opt for cars that have already depreciated but remain reliable, models with verifiable histories and low running costs, better equipment for the same budget compared with a new car, and vehicles that meet similar needs for different users, such as commuting, mixed driving, city use, family transport and keeping costs under control.
Against this backdrop, Volkswagen, Dacia and BMW are the most popular brands among Romanian buyers. Of the total registrations, 27% were Volkswagen vehicles, meaning that more than 148,000 cars registered in Romania were of this brand, predominantly the Golf model.
As for new cars, Dacia was the most purchased brand in this category, with 41,598 units, accounting for 29.29% of the total.
By engine type, almost half (48%) of all cars registered in 2025 run on diesel (262,553 units), followed by petrol vehicles (128,896) and mild hybrid models (102,229 units, representing 18.64% of the total).
By contrast, electric vehicles recorded 13,191 registrations, while full hybrid models accounted for 15,727 units. In addition, 25,064 vehicles equipped with LPG systems were registered.
Official DGPCI data show that last year, car models and brands regarded as reliable, durable and affordable dominated purchasing preferences. Depending on the county, Volkswagen was the most registered car brand in Romania in over 70% of cases, specifically in 30 counties, mainly with the Golf model (including Alba, Arad, Bacau, Bistrita, Botosani, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Covasna, Dambovita, Giurgiu, Gorj, Ialomita, Iasi, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Valcea and Vrancea), and with the Passat model in Constanta, Galati, Salaj and Teleorman.
Dacia dominated in eight administrative areas, with the Logan model in Arges and Calarasi counties, and the Duster model in Braila, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ilfov, Maramures and the Municipality of Bucharest.
At the same time, BMW topped preferences in Dolj county, particularly with the BMW 320D model.
In the electric vehicle segment, competition between Tesla and BYD became increasingly evident in 2025.
The Plus-Auto.ro platform was launched in 2024.
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