The Maltese are more satisfied than any other EU consumers with the second-hand car market in their country.

They also consider it to be very competitive, according to the latest Consumer Markets Scoreboard, a survey of 52 different markets for goods and services across EU member states.

The markets range from home appliances and ICT products to insurance and TV subscriptions.

The people surveyed were asked questions about the ease of comparing the goods and services on offer, their trust in retailers and suppliers, the problems and complaints they might have, the choice of retailers and their overall consumer satisfaction.

The second-hand car market in Malta obtained an 83.3 per cent scoring – a full 12.1 per cent higher than the EU average for this particular market.

In Malta, this market was bolstered by the relatively recent phenomenon of quality vehicles from Europe, particularly the UK, being imported in large numbers.

U-turn since fee system changed

Importing a second-hand car used to be prohibitive in most cases before a regime of hefty registration fees – which sometimes even surpassed the value of the car itself – was overhauled in 2009.

Currently, Malta is importing more used than new cars, with traditional car importers forced to enter the second-hand market and compete directly with dealers to survive.

According to data published by the NSO, last year Malta imported more than 7,300 used cars and only 5,700 new ones.

The scoreboard also finds Maltese consumers rate positively the markets for spectacles and lenses and for buying small house-hold appliances such as coffee machines, irons, toasters and grills.

On the other hand, alcohol and new car markets were rated badly.

In the services sector, offline gambling services – basically the traditional lotto offices – are considered as providing the best services to consumers followed by airlines.

Unsurprisingly, last year the Maltese considered public transport as offering a mediocre service.

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