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The UK electric vehicle (EV) revolution continues apace, with electric car registrations increasing by 40% in 2024 alone. This popularity surge has quickly grown the market for second-hand EVs, providing eco-conscious drivers with a budget-friendly path to cleaner motoring. But there are risks hidden behind this positive trend, which used EV consumers should be aware of.
Here at Green Car Guide, we’re continually seeking to help drivers make an informed purchase when they buy an electric car. In our desire to more accurately inform you about the used EV market, we’ve examined statistics from some of the UK’s leading sources – such as new research offered by Car Owl vehicle history checks – to more accurately inform you about the most significant risks commonly overlooked by buyers.
There is a general presumption that EV owners are being more careful, i.e., their vehicles are in mint condition. But current compiled car facts indicate that up to nearly 18% of used electric cars in the UK have already been written off by insurers at some point or other. This rate is higher than most customers realise, i.e., there is a high chance that seemingly spotless electric cars could be hiding serious previous damage.
A wrecked EV may have latent structural or battery damage, drastically undermining safety, performance, and long-term dependability.
Mileage fraud isn’t only present in older petrol or diesel cars – it’s becoming more prevalent in the used EV market, too. Up to 13% of used EVs register mileage discrepancies, possibly concealing heavy use or battery degradation, according to data.
With the all-important relationship of proper mileage and battery health, abuse can greatly reduce the dependability and estimated life of the expensive high-cost battery system in the car, clandestinely costing the new owner money.
The only space found solely within EVs, not typically tracked, is the history of the vehicle in regard to replacement of the battery or significant repair. The latest report indicates that around 8% of the tested EVs had hidden battery replacement or significant repair in their past.
Battery replacements are expensive, typically in the order of thousands of pounds. Numerous battery replacements or repairs may signal that reliability issues are pervasive, having a profound impact on your ownership experience and the vehicle’s value.
General vehicle history checks, while useful, often fail to capture the depth of information critical for used electric car buyers. EV-specific factors like battery health, detailed accident history, mileage accuracy, and previous repairs need thorough investigation.
Specialised services such as the Car Owl Vehicle History Check go beyond basic details, providing comprehensive EV-focused reports. These can uncover vital information, ensuring you’re fully informed and protected before committing to a purchase.
Lesser-numbered EVs remain subject to normal MOT inspections despite having fewer components. Recent figures for MOT results name common tyres and suspension advisories in some 9% of EV tests – reasons stemming from electric vehicle battery packs’ added weights.
By doing a MOT history check on an EV before purchasing, buyers are able to budget and prepare financially for maintenance fees and negotiate with suppliers accordingly. Sites like the Car Owl MOT check can be particularly valuable in finding this data.
To safeguard your investment, we advise buyers to:
• Conduct a thorough EV-specific history check from trustworthy sources.
• Give great importance to mileage and battery servicing records.
• Approach the car’s MOT history with utmost care.
• Don’t distrust amazingly cheap prices – there is probably hidden harm.
Purchasing a used electric vehicle can be a good bet – financially, reasonably, and for the environment – but just if properly carried out with some caution and some knowledge. As long as there is awareness and care of those behind-the-scenes dangers, all the benefits of EV ownership could be enjoyed without surprise.
Utilising regular visits to our site, GreenCarGuide, we have found sites such as Car Owl to be of immense use in providing second-hand EV buyers with the information they need.
