Damaged cars from the United States are entering Europe, some not even roadworthy

Some damaged cars bought at American auctions are entering Europe after only superficial repairs, then being sold as safe used vehicles. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office warns that some are dangerous to drive.

European criminal networks allegedly imported up to 1.5 million vehicles from North America between 2015 and 2025. European budgets lost tens of millions of euros through unpaid customs duties and value-added tax, according to EPPO. The scale of the operation emerged through the Nimmersatt investigation.

In spring 2025, more than 1,000 police officers, tax inspectors and customs officials searched about 200 homes and companies in 10 European countries. They arrested 10 people and detained 18 other suspects. A new wave of searches and arrests followed in Lithuania in February, where investigators believe the criminal organization was centered.

The vehicles entered Europe through major ports including Rotterdam, Antwerp, Bremerhaven and Klaipėda. Shell companies and false invoices concealed their origin and purchase price, helping the networks evade VAT and customs payments. The cars were repaired in Lithuania and returned to the European market. The best vehicles were mainly destined for Germany, while less valuable ones went to Ukraine. EPPO says at least 16,500 cars were sold from Lithuania in this way, with a combined value of 144 million euros.

The safety risks went beyond tax fraud. In a random inspection of five seized cars, EPPO found that none was suitable for driving. Inspectors identified serious airbag and chassis defects. Some vehicles had body sections welded together from different cars, while the origin of other parts could not be established. Online sales make the vehicles’ history harder to verify, and even mechanics may not realize that a car suffered severe damage. Europe also lacks a single central database covering vehicle histories, making it harder to track cars from import to final buyer.