Car parts sold online in Germany cost 1.9% more in the third quarter of 2026 than in the same quarter a year earlier. The Wolk E-Commerce Car Parts Price Index stands at 107.6 points (2022 average = 100). Compared with the second quarter of 2026, prices rose by 0.4%.
Highest annual rate since the fourth quarter of 2023.
2022 average = 100. Up 0.4% on the previous quarter.
Largest single contribution of all 56 product groups analysed.
Sales-weighted annual rate of all other product groups.
Key finding
Lubricants account for 5.6% of sales but for 59% of the sum of all price contributions. The other product groups were 0.9% more expensive than a year earlier, weighted by sales.
The annual rate reaches its highest level since the end of 2023
In the four preceding quarters, the annual rate ranged between −1.0% and +1.1%. The index last recorded a higher rate than in the third quarter of 2026 in the fourth quarter of 2023 (+2.8%).
| Quarter | Index (2022 = 100) | Year on year |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | 107.6 | +1.9% |
| Q2 2026 | 107.1 | +1.1% |
| Q1 2026 | 105.7 | −0.5% |
| Q4 2025 | 105.8 | −1.0% |
| Q3 2025 | 105.6 | −0.7% |
Lubricants account for more than half of the price increase
Engine oil cost 23.4% more in the third quarter of 2026 than a year earlier. The product group accounts for 4.5% of sales. Gear oil (+16.3%) and hydraulic oil (+24.7%) have also become considerably more expensive. Most other large product groups changed far less over the year.
| Product group | Share of sales | Year on year |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil | 4.5% | +23.4% |
| Engines & engine parts | 7.6% | +2.6% |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 4.5% | +1.1% |
| Brakes & brake parts | 8.8% | +0.8% |
| Car electrics | 5.0% | +0.6% |
| Lighting | 3.8% | +0.4% |
| Tyres & wheels | 14.9% | +0.1% |
| Suspension & steering | 9.1% | −0.5% |
| Air & fuel supply | 4.0% | −0.5% |
| Body parts, add-on parts & accessories | 5.0% | −0.8% |
The ten product groups with the highest sales, change on the same quarter a year earlier.
Since 2022, online car parts prices have risen more slowly than consumer prices
The comparison with official statistics runs up to the fourth quarter of 2025. By then, car parts sold online had become 5.8% more expensive than the 2022 average. Consumer prices overall rose by 11.9% over the same period (HICP Germany, Eurostat). Measured against general inflation, car parts sold online were therefore around 5% cheaper than in 2022.
How the index is compiled
The index is based on completed sales on eBay.de. It does not use list or asking prices; discounts and promotions are included in the price. Over the last twelve months, the data covered sales of EUR 634 million and a median of around 173,000 price-comparable items per month. The index compares the same item from the same seller over time. Changes in the product range or in the seller base therefore do not affect the index.
The index measures price trends on this marketplace. According to our own market estimate, eBay.de accounts for around a quarter of German online sales of car parts. The figure for the third quarter of 2026 is provisional because sales data for September are still being delivered.
Detailed figures on the online market as a whole are available on the E-Commerce Insights page. The eBay analysis down to item level can be found under eBay Insights.