Second-hand car dealers in Qatar have reported an increase in demand, after showrooms were shut down temporarily for selling damaged cars as brand news, after repairing, according to a report.

The dealers stated that this is unusual in the beginning of the year, when new model cars enter the market, said the Peninsula report.

"There is more demand for second-hand cars this time despite that this is not the season. Demand for used cars normally goes up during summer," a dealer was quoted as saying.

The marketing manager of a Qatar-based used car portal confirmed that sale of second-hand cars has gone up. There is more demand for family cars and sport cars, he said.

"People would trust second-hand cars because they go for technical check-ups to know their condition. Many customers are weary of buying new cars for the fear that they would discover some problems later," he said.

A respondent of a survey said he was not concerned about minor scratches and dents in the body of cars that could happen while transporting them. However, some dealers are getting cars from the first owner and reselling them as new ones, said the report.

A Qatari resident said that some citizens are now thinking about buying cars directly from the manufacturers, having lost trust in the local dealers, it added.