What to check before buying a used EV

Buying a used EV involves a different checklist than buying a used petrol or diesel car — the engine, gearbox, and exhaust concerns are replaced by battery health, charging behaviour, and software. Here are the things worth verifying before you commit.

Battery essentials

1. Battery State of Health (SoH). This is the single most important number for a used EV — it tells you how much of the original capacity remains. Ask for an independent, measured report rather than relying on the seller's description or the dashboard range estimate alone.
2. Battery warranty remaining. Most manufacturers cover the battery against dropping below 70-80% SoH for 8 years or 160,000 km, whichever comes first. Check the car's registration date and mileage against the original warranty terms — a car still well inside its warranty window has extra protection if degradation accelerates unexpectedly.
3. Charging history, if available. A car that has spent most of its life on gentle AC home charging, kept within a moderate charge range, will generally have aged better than one that has lived on fast DC chargers and been left at 100% for long periods.
4. Real-world range versus the original spec. Compare what the seller or report states as current real-world range to the model's original WLTP or real-world figure — this tells you the practical impact of any degradation, not just the raw percentage.
5. AC and DC charging speeds and connector types. Confirm the car's onboard charger and DC fast-charging capability match the charging infrastructure you'll actually use, and that maximum DC speed hasn't been throttled by a manufacturer software update (this has happened on some older models).

Full battery replacement is rarer than most buyers assume, and it's become rarer still as the technology has matured.

Mechanical, administrative, and history checks

1. High-voltage system and software recalls. Check for open recalls related to the battery, battery management system, or charging software — these are sometimes safety-critical and should be resolved before purchase.
2. Standard mechanical checks still apply. Tyres, suspension, brakes (which wear differently on EVs due to regenerative braking), and 12V auxiliary battery condition are all still worth inspecting as on any used car.
3. Service and update history. EVs receive over-the-air and dealer software updates that can affect range, charging speed, and battery management — a car with a current software version is generally preferable.
4. Previous use case. A car previously used for ride-hailing or high-mileage commercial use will typically have seen more charge cycles and DC fast charging than a similar-mileage private car — worth asking about directly.
5. An independent report, not just the seller's word. Sellers have an incentive to describe the battery favourably. A Battery Truth report gives you a measured SoH, translated range impact, and plain-language verdict from a source with no stake in the sale.