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Used EV values have shifted. Battery health, range, and model all affect what dealers will pay. Find out where you stand.
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Used EV values have been falling. Auto Trader data puts the drop at roughly 25% year on year in the segments that have been hit hardest.
Three things appear to be driving it. Thousands of cars leased between 2020 and 2022 are coming back to the market at once, which has pushed up supply. Manufacturers have been discounting new EVs to hit ZEV mandate targets, and cheap new cars drag used prices down with them. And buyers are still wary about battery degradation, which keeps a lid on demand.
Market consensus suggests prices could settle in late 2026 or early 2027 once supply normalises. Nobody can promise that. What a valuation does give you is a clear number for today, which you can weigh against whatever you think six months from now looks like. Diesel owners are facing a similar question, and our page on selling a diesel car covers that side of the market.
Sources: Auto Trader Retail Price Index, Cox Automotive 2026 data.
25%
Year on year decline
Approximate fall in used EV values in the most affected segments (Auto Trader, 2026).
38-42%
Three year depreciation
Average EV depreciation after three years (Cox Automotive and Cap HPI, 2026).
274,000+
Used BEVs sold in 2025
Used battery electric vehicles sold in the UK in 2025, up 45.7% year on year.
There is no single used EV price. The spread between models is far wider than anything in the petrol or diesel market.
A Tesla Model 3 or Model Y typically holds somewhere around 48% to 55% of its value after three years. BMW i-series models sit closer to 40% to 46%. At the other end, a Renault Zoe or an older MG may retain only 22% to 35%. Two electric cars that cost the same new can be thousands apart three years later.
That spread is exactly why competing offers matter more on an EV. Dealers do not all want the same electric stock, and a single valuation from one buyer may not reflect what the car could fetch elsewhere.
Sources: Cox Automotive, Cap HPI, Motorway 2026 market data.
| Model | Approx. 3-Year Retention |
|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 / Model Y | 48-55% |
| Porsche Taycan | 45-52% |
| BMW i4 / iX3 | 40-46% |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 38-44% |
| Kia EV6 | 38-44% |
| Volkswagen ID.3 / ID.4 | 32-38% |
| MG4 / MG5 | 28-35% |
| Nissan Leaf (previous gen) | 25-32% |
| Renault Zoe | 22-28% |
Treat these as a guide rather than a quote. Specification, mileage, condition and battery health can move a car several points either way, and a well kept example of a weaker model may beat a tired example of a stronger one.
Sources: Cox Automotive, Cap HPI, Motorway 2025 and 2026 market data.
More than anything else. Battery State of Health has overtaken mileage as the main factor in used EV pricing in 2026. A car showing 90% or more may command a significant premium over the same model sitting at 75%.
A degraded battery means less range than the car had when new, and buyers know a replacement pack can cost anywhere from £5,000 to over £20,000. Some also worry that heavy use of rapid chargers has taken its toll.
Most EVs report State of Health through the onboard system or the app, and a diagnostic report does the same job. Tesla, Hyundai and Kia are among the manufacturers offering eight year battery warranties that may transfer to the next owner, and remaining cover could help support your price.
Get competing offers
Enter your reg and let 8,000+ dealers bid on your car. Prices vary more on EVs than petrol or diesel because not every dealer has the same appetite for electric stock.
Know your battery health
Check your State of Health percentage through the car’s onboard system or app. Sharing that number removes the main uncertainty for a buyer and could lead to stronger offers.
Check your warranty status
Most manufacturers cover the battery for eight years, and that cover often passes to the next owner. Check whether yours is still running and whether it transfers automatically.
Gather your charging records
A history of mostly home charging rather than frequent rapid charging may reassure buyers about battery condition. Not everyone will ask, but it helps to have it ready.
Do not wait too long
More lease returns are expected through late 2026, which could add further supply and put more pressure on values. If you are planning to sell, acting sooner could work in your favour.
Worth checking the basics before you list. Our free MOT checker and tax checker both run from the registration.
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Value Your CarThe general view across industry analysts is that used EV prices could stabilise in late 2026 or early 2027. The reasoning is that the wave of lease returns slows from here while demand keeps building, and supply and demand move back towards each other.
Further out the picture looks softer. The BVRLA has projected that used EV prices could fall a further 28% between 2024 and 2030 as the used pool grows and new electric cars get cheaper. A falling new price tends to pull used values along with it.
These are projections, not certainties, and the market has surprised forecasters before. But the balance of expectation suggests selling sooner is more likely to produce a stronger price than waiting. If you are also weighing up running costs, our electric car running costs guide sets out what an EV actually costs to keep on the road, and the electric vehicles hub covers charging and range.
Some EV owners sell and go back to petrol, usually because charging at home is not practical or the journeys have changed. If that is you, our page on selling a petrol car covers where those values sit.
Plenty of people are simply moving from one EV to a newer one. Softer used prices cut both ways: your car is worth less, but so is the one you are buying. If you are staying electric, compare EV insurance before you change cars, because premiums vary by model.
Common questions about EV values, battery health, and timing the sale.
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