Should I buy a used EV?

Until fairly recently Australia was seen as something of a laggard when it came to electric vehicle (EV) adoption, with our love for big combustion-powered SUVs and utes helping keep EV uptake subdued.

But the script began to flip in 2025, with the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) reporting that EVs and plug-in hybrids accounted for 13.1% of new vehicle sales, up from 9.6% in 2024. The year ended with EVs accounting for 16.7% of all new cars sold in December – the highest monthly EV market share ever recorded in Australia.

That momentum has carried over into 2026 and gathered pace as consumers fretted about rising fuel prices linked to the US-Israel-Iran conflict and concerns about Australia's fuel reserves.

By June, EVs accounted for a record 23.5% of new vehicle sales, with the Tesla Model Y overtaking the Ford Ranger as Australia's best-selling vehicle. Including PHEVs, electrified vehicles captured a combined 35.8% market share.

Used EV concerns easing

Booming new EV sales have been accompanied by strong growth in the used market, with rising fuel prices appearing to improve consumer confidence and lift retained values.

Data from the Australian Automotive Dealers Association (AADA) and AutoGrab shows that while the broader used vehicle market declined by 6.6% during the first six months of the year, used EV sales rose strongly.

“Used EV sales rose 54.6% and sold faster as the year progressed, with average days to sell falling from over 60 in January to under 40 by June," said AutoGrab Chief Commercial Officer Saxon Odgers.

"The volume growth is now well established in the Australian market.”

Cox Automotive Manheim Market Analyst Mike Costello said this growing popularity was also evident at auction.

“At a wholesale level, sold volume of EVs at Manheim auctions is running about double 2025 levels so far in 2026,” Mr Costello said.

“In Q2 we saw an almost 20% improvement in average selling prices of EVs over the preceding quarter, and a 12-percentage point increase in resale values.

"This was largely driven by more dealers and private buyers alike looking for a great-value used EV.”

While EVs make up just 1.4% of vehicles sold through Manheim’s public auction business, that rises to 5% among vehicles aged five years or less, largely reflecting the popularity of novated leasing.

These newer EVs typically have lower kilometres and less battery degradation, helping address one of the key concerns for used EV buyers.

EV batteries lasting better than expected

RACQ Principal Technical Researcher Andrew Kirk said there was a growing body of evidence that EV battery degradation was far less significant than first thought, and that regular fast DC charging has little effect on battery State of Health (SoH).

“The myths have been busted and EV batteries are lasting a lot longer than was first predicted,” Mr Kirk said.

“But consumers shouldn’t be complacent and it’s still important to get a battery State of Health check done before signing on the dotted line for a used EV.”

Auction house Pickles has begun releasing battery State of Health reports for the used EVs it sells, with data compiled so far from more than 2,500 tests indicating cars retained 96% battery capacity after 30 months and 35,000km of driving, 93% after five years, and 89% after 120,000km.

Brendon Green.

Car companies have also sought to address concerns over battery longevity by offering separate, longer warranties on their EV batteries, with many new EVs now sold with eight-year battery warranties while the vehicle warranty itself may be five or seven years.

This means a growing number of used EVs are coming onto the market with their battery warranty still in place, which is a key consideration for buyers.

General Manager of Automotive Solutions at Pickles, Brendon Green, said battery health was often the first question used EV buyers asked about.

“The data continues to demonstrate that modern EV batteries retain a high proportion of their capacity well beyond the early years of ownership," Mr Green said.

"That's giving buyers greater confidence to consider a used EV."

EV battery checks recommended

While much of the focus with EV batteries is on degradation, or how much original capacity an EV battery retains after a certain period of use, RACQ’s Andrew Kirk said battery SoH checks were also important in identifying problems at the cell level.

“Manufacturing defects in battery packs and cells could lead to a much larger cost to the consumer than the manageable inconvenience of a small percentage degradation in battery capacity,” Mr Kirk said.

He said these defects can be identified during regular battery SoH testing such as by RACQ Auto and may in turn lead to a manufacturer warranty repair claim if the battery is still under warranty.

"Private sellers should be looking to get battery State of Health reports done, particularly when their vehicle is approaching the end of its battery warranty period, and buyers should be doing likewise, particularly with older EVs,” Mr Kirk said.

Range anxiety concerns fading

Another factor feeding into the rising popularity of new and used EVs was a reduction in concerns about charging infrastructure and EV range, said Pickles’ Brendon Green.

“Range anxiety is less of a barrier than it once was," he said.

"As charging infrastructure continues to improve and buyers become more familiar with EV technology, we’re seeing growing confidence from regional Australians who previously may not have considered an EV.”

Interest in used EVs isn’t just confined to Brisbane and the South East corner either, with a growing volume of Pickles’ sales being to regional Queenslanders.

“Regional buyer participation in Queensland increased from 17% of used EV purchases in FY25 to 48% in FY26, significantly outpacing the national increase from 27% to 32% over the same period,” Mr Green said.

He believes the used EV market is entering its next phase of maturity, with affordability becoming one of the biggest drivers.

“The first wave of salary-packaged EVs is now beginning to enter the used market, creating greater accessibility for everyday Australians,” Mr Green said.

“We’re moving beyond early adopters and into a market where used EVs are becoming a realistic option for many households." The most popular used EV models sold through Pickles' public auctions during FY26 were the Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model Y, Polestar 2, BYD Atto 3, and Hyundai Kona Electric, with BYD leading the surge in online search interest.

Checklist for buying a used EV

Battery

The battery is the most expensive component of an EV so check battery health first. Ask for:

• State of Health (SoH) report if available.
• Battery capacity reading from the dealer or service centre.
• Evidence of battery warranty remaining.
• Any history of battery repairs or module replacements.

Battery health guide:

• 95-100% SoH: Excellent.
• 90-95% SoH: Very good.
• 85-90% SoH: Normal for an older EV.
• Below 80% SoH: Investigate carefully.

Warranty

Confirm the status of the vehicle and the battery warranty, as this can add significant value. A typical battery warranty today is 8 years/160,000km, while the vehicle warranty will likely be shorter. Check:

• Original first registration date.
• Current odometer.
• Whether warranty transfers to subsequent owners.

Research

Research the specific model you’re considering buying:

• Check charging speed.
• Battery size and chemistry type.
• Real-world battery range, don’t rely on the windscreen label.
• Check ADAS systems to make sure they won’t become a frustration.

Cooling

Battery cooling systems are important so check the cooling system for:

• Coolant leaks.
• Warning lights.
• Battery cooling faults.

Charding

Replacement chargers can be expensive so confirm charging equipment is included. Ask if the car comes with:

• Portable charging cable.
• Type 2 charging cable.
• Adapters.
• Charge port caps and accessories.

RACQ EV battery health check

RACQ’s EV battery health check is a State of Health check for EVs that provides customers with a report detailing:

• Battery State of Health (SoH): How the EV battery is performing now versus when new.
• Battery health benchmarking: A ranking comparing the tested car to other vehicles of the same make/model.
• Current versus original range: Estimated range the used car is achieving now on a full charge compared to when new.
• Energy capacity comparison: An analysis of current usable kilowatt hour versus original capacity.
• Full battery sensor system: A diagnostic scan to show faults or irregularities.

Cost $200 members/$225 non-members (+$70 for mobile inspection).

Note, this service is a ‘current’ battery State of Health analysis and does not predict future outcomes.