If you've been waiting for electric cars to become affordable, the used market is the place to look, because some three-year-old EVs are now worth around 70% less than they cost new. A Vauxhall Corsa Electric that averaged £32,635 new is worth about £9,275 after three years and 36,000 miles, according to Auto Express analysis of CDL Vehicle Information Services data, and a Lexus UX 300e drops from £51,145 to about £13,950. Fifteen of the 20 cars that lose value fastest are electric, so whatever your budget, there's a good chance of finding something that suits you.
These are part-exchange values, which is what a dealer would pay for the car, so you'll pay a bit more on a forecourt, but even then you're getting a nearly new electric car for a fraction of the new price.
The best used electric cars for around £10,000
If you want an electric car for the school run, the commute and trips into town, the cheaper end of the list is where the best value is. The Fiat 500e is worth about £8,475 after three years, and it's as stylish and easy to park as its petrol ancestor, while the Citroen e-C4 (about £9,125) puts Citroen's usual focus on comfort first and the Vauxhall Corsa Electric (about £9,275) gives you a badge everyone knows, with no fuel bills to worry about.
The best used electric family cars
If you need more room, the Vauxhall Astra Electric is worth about £10,425 and the Mokka-e about £12,175, so a roomy electric family car needn't cost much more than a small one. The Lexus UX 300e is the one we'd look at first, because it comes from a brand with an excellent reputation for reliability, and Lexus offered extended battery cover of up to 10 years or 1,000,000km on it, as long as the car has had its regular battery health checks at a Lexus dealer.
Spend a little more and the Subaru Solterra (about £15,575), Genesis GV60 (about £20,750) and Ford Mustang Mach-E (about £23,775) all bring bigger SUV bodies and plenty of kit for well under half their price new.
Luxury electric cars for a lot less
This is where the numbers get really eye-catching. A Porsche Taycan that averaged £162,255 new is worth about £50,475 after three years, which is more than £111,000 less than new, and a BMW i7 limousine drops from £143,530 to about £46,050. The Mercedes EQS, Audi e-tron GT and BMW i5 all come in more than £70,000 below their new price, so if you've ever fancied a luxury EV, a three-year-old one makes the dream a lot more realistic. Just check what the tyres, insurance and tax will cost before you commit, because big cars come with big running costs.
How much used electric cars are worth after three years
| Car | Average price new | Average part-ex value after three years | Value kept |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexus UX 300e | £51,145 | £13,950 | 27.3% |
| Citroen e-C4 | £32,895 | £9,125 | 27.7% |
| Vauxhall Astra Electric | £37,250 | £10,425 | 28.0% |
| Vauxhall Corsa Electric | £32,635 | £9,275 | 28.4% |
| Subaru Solterra | £52,495 | £15,575 | 29.7% |
| Fiat 500e | £28,035 | £8,475 | 30.2% |
| Audi e-tron GT | £107,875 | £33,150 | 30.7% |
| Mercedes EQS | £104,540 | £32,375 | 31.0% |
| Mercedes EQE | £86,615 | £26,850 | 31.0% |
| Porsche Taycan | £162,255 | £50,475 | 31.1% |
| BMW i5 | £110,045 | £34,650 | 31.5% |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | £74,550 | £23,775 | 31.9% |
| Vauxhall Mokka-e | £38,105 | £12,175 | 32.0% |
| BMW i7 | £143,530 | £46,050 | 32.1% |
| Genesis GV60 | £58,515 | £20,750 | 35.5% |
Source: Auto Express analysis of CDL VIS data, after three years and 36,000 miles. The five non-electric cars in the top 20 aren't included.
Why are used electric cars such good value?
The figures are based on list prices, and many new electric cars have been sold with big discounts, so lots of owners paid less than the list price suggests. Electric cars are also improving quickly, with each new generation going further on a charge, and that keeps used prices keen even though a three-year-old EV still has plenty of life left in it. It all adds up to a lot of car for your money.
What to check before buying a used electric car
Ask for a battery health report, which shows how much of the battery's original capacity is left, and check how long the battery warranty has to run. Vauxhall, for example, covers its electric car batteries for eight years or 100,000 miles, guaranteeing at least 70% of their capacity, and the cover passes to the next owner, so a three-year-old Corsa Electric, Astra Electric or Mokka-e should have around five years of battery cover left.
Make sure the charging cables come with the car, look through its MOT history, and factor in vehicle tax, which for electric cars is now £200 a year after the first year. Pricier EVs may also pay the £440 Expensive Car Supplement until they're six years old, and from April 2028 electric cars will pay a new 3p a mile charge too.
When you've found one you like, put its registration into Regit's free car tax checker to see exactly what it'll cost to tax before you buy.
Our verdict
This is a very good time to be buying a used electric car, and a three-year-old Corsa Electric, e-C4 or 500e is about the most affordable way into a nearly new EV, the Lexus UX 300e is our pick if you want something a little plusher, and if you've always fancied a Taycan, now's the time to look. Get a battery health report, check the warranty, and you could drive away with a real bargain.