The world of electric cars is like a rollercoaster in a theme park: one day you’re hailed as the future, the next you’re plunged into a pit of skepticism. On the second-hand market, electric vehicles seem to live a schizophrenic existence. Headlines scream that nobody wants a used EV, while other sources cheer that they’re more popular than ever. So, what’s the deal? Is a second-hand EV a hidden gem or a costly gamble best avoided? Let’s unravel this mystery with a hefty dose of realism and a splash of enthusiasm.
Numbers don’t lie, but they can spin a yarn or two. Take the Belgian market: in the first quarter of 2025, second-hand EVs dropped in price by an average of 11.8% compared to last year. That’s no small potatoes. A Tesla Model 3, which costs an arm and a leg when new, can now be snapped up used for a price that wouldn’t have bought you a decent hatchback a few years ago. And that’s not all: the supply is booming. Thanks to a flood of lease cars bought en masse five years ago, a tidal wave of affordable EVs is hitting the market. For under 25,000 euros, you can drive off in a Model 3 with a respectable mileage. That’s not salesman spiel; that’s cold, hard fact.
But hold your horses before you raid your piggy bank and race to the dealership—there’s a storm cloud on the horizon. While prices are falling and supply is growing, private buyers seem a bit hesitant. Why? Well, the battery, dear reader, is the Achilles’ heel of every EV. People lie awake at night, haunted by visions of a battery giving up the ghost and a bill that could pay off your mortgage. This fear isn’t entirely baseless. Older EVs, especially first-generation models, can lose up to 6% of their battery capacity per year. Once a battery dips below 70%, it’s practically destined for the scrapheap. But let’s not get carried away: newer models lose only about 2% annually, and many manufacturers offer eight-year warranties on their batteries. That’s longer than most relationships last these days.
Then there’s another tale doing the rounds: in Europe, in March 2025, second-hand EVs overtook diesels in popularity for the first time. You heard that right. While the diesel driver, cigar in mouth, still chugs out clouds of soot, the modern buyer is increasingly opting for a quiet, clean EV. But here’s the catch: it’s mainly professional buyers—think leasing companies and fleet managers—who are snapping up these cars. The average Joe and Jane? They’re still tapping the brakes. And that’s a shame, because thanks to incentives like the Flemish EV premium of 2024—now sadly consigned to the bin—registrations of second-hand EVs skyrocketed by 202.4%. That’s not a typo; that’s a rocket launch.
Let’s be real: buying a second-hand EV isn’t a walk in the park. You’ve got to do your homework. Check the battery’s health, ask for a ‘State of Health’ test, and make sure you know how the car’s been treated. Was it a lease vehicle driven to the limit every day, or a carefully cherished family car? And don’t forget: in Flanders, to qualify for any potential future subsidies, the car must come from a dealer and cost less than 40,000 euros. But if you play your cards right, you can land a cracking deal. A Kia EV6 or an MG ZS EV for the price of a bare-bones Dacia Sandero? That’s enough to make your mouth water.
Still, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. The market has its quirks. Leasing companies are grumbling because their EVs sit on the lot longer than petrol cars. The resale value of electric vehicles sometimes plummets faster than a Formula 1 driver’s courage in the rain. And then there’s the ‘Elon effect’. Yep, the antics of a certain eccentric billionaire mean some buyers are steering clear of Tesla out of sheer embarrassment. But let’s be honest: if that means you can snag a Model Y for peanuts, who cares about a few controversial tweets?
So, is now the time to buy a second-hand EV? If you’re after a bargain and don’t mind doing a bit of research, absolutely. Prices are lower than ever, the supply is massive, and the technology just keeps getting better. But if you’re the type who wakes up in a cold sweat over ‘what ifs’, stick with your trusty petrol car for now. The choice is yours, but one thing’s certain: the electric revolution is unstoppable, and the second-hand market is a vibrant part of it.
Convinced and ready to score your own second-hand EV? Be sure to check out our marketplace, where you can search and buy from a wide range of cars: https://volty.be/nl/buy/cars/overview/.
