1. Value: year one depreciation hits a brand new car the minute you leave the forecourt. Now that EVs are in reasonable supply (new and pre-owned), the same guide applies as for fuel-efficient conventional cars: typically the loss in the first year is 15-35% which slows to around 50% over the first three years.
2. Availability and certainty: having fallen in love (and paid) for a used car you can drive away on the same day. No waiting on delivery dates or order fulfilment teams changing your spec.  If you are part exchanging your existing car you will be able to lock in its value rather than risking its price dropping while you wait for your new car to arrive.
3. Tried and tested: it is not unusual for any brand-new car to return to the dealership for a tweak or a recall. Buying pre-owned means that someone has already been through that inconvenience and you will only need to return to the dealership for its next service.  An independent specialist is more likely to quote a car’s realworld range rather than the aspirational WLTP cycle and have test driven the car, checking battery health.
4. Circular economy: rather than asking a manufacturer to build and deliver something new, opt for something that has already been made. At EV Experts we check and prepare our cars to very high standards and it will feel new and pristine, just missing that out-gassing adhesive smell.

Frequently Asked Questions…

Will I get a cheaper deal with an independent specialist?

An opportunity to test drive the car you’re buying, chat about the different brands and models in the marketplace and great after-sales support are usually available at an independent specialist.  These are small businesses whose reputation is everything and you will probably transact with people who care!  National platforms like Autotrader and CarWow enable you to check that the price you are paying is fair and reasonable.

Will I get a warranty on a second-hand EV? 

The manufacturer warranties are transferable even if you buy from an independent garage.  Nearly all EVs enjoy an 8-year manufacturer HV battery warranty and EV-specific extended warranties are also available from providers like WarrantyWise.

Should I worry about battery health?

Battery degradation has been nowhere near the level that many feared and over time has proved to only affect range by a small percentage – expect about 2% a year.  For example the realworld range of a five year old EV might be 130 miles rather than the 145 achieved when new.  If the battery state of health slips below 70% within the first eight years there is the comfort of the manufacturer warranty.

Does service history matter?

Even though an EV doesn’t need an oil change, it is important that software updates or recalls happen in the right order and brake fluid should be changed every two years.  Always look for models with good history.