1. Value: depreciation affects a car the minute it leaves the forecourt. The AA estimate that at the end of three years, most cars have lost 60% of their value whether conventionally fuelled or electric.  Since 2022 electric cars have depreciated faster in the first 24 months with depreciation slowing in the third year and beyond, falling in line with their petrol and diesel equivalents.  This means that three year old electric cars tend to be at the same pricepoint as their ICE equivalent.
2. Avoiding the expensive car road tax supplement: all cars with a list price of more than £40k, including electric vehicles and hybrids, that were first registered on or after 1 April 2025, attract the expensive car supplement for their first 5 years.  This means that from year 2 there is an additional annual road tax fee of £425 on top of the standard rate of £195.  Buying an electric car that costs more than £40k when new AND was registered before 1 April 2025 reduces your road tax bill from £620 to £195/year.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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 de-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 from 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.