Check a used electric car before you buy it

Use this guide alongside the usual used-car checks when you are looking at a second-hand electric car. Have your typical daily and longest regular journeys in mind, and your home charging situation, before viewing.

Step by step

1. Work out the range you really need

   Write down your typical daily mileage, your longest regular trip and how often you go beyond that. Remember that real-world range is lower in cold weather and at motorway speeds, often noticeably so in winter. Allow a margin for a battery that has aged and for days when you cannot charge. This tells you which models and battery sizes are realistic before you look at adverts.