What to look for when buying an Electric Car

Electric Vehicle Checks: What Changes When Buying Used Car EVs Buying a used electric vehicle introduces checks that do not apply to petrol or diesel cars. The fundamentals of bodywork, service history, and documentation still apply, but the powertrain requires specific attention. Battery health is the central concern. Unlike a combustion engine, an EV's battery degrades over time and charge cycles. Many manufacturers provide a battery health report through their app or diagnostic tool; ask for this before viewing. A battery at 80% or below of its original capacity will significantly reduce real-world range. Check the charging history if available through the manufacturer's app. Frequent rapid charging accelerates battery degradation faster than regular slow charging. Verify the remaining warranty on the battery; many manufacturers offer eight years or more, and check whether this is transferable to a new owner. Check the MOT certificate history on the DVLA's free online checker. EVs have fewer moving parts but are not exempt from MOT requirements once they reach three years old. Negotiation, Deposits and Protecting Your Purchase Negotiation is the part most buyers handle worst. The common mistake is to make an offer immediately, before you have any information to negotiate with. The inspection and test drive are your sources of leverage; use them. If you find genuine faults during the inspection, price them up before negotiating. A set of tyres that need replacing, an overdue service, or brake pads at the end of their life all have real costs. Presenting these as specific figures is far more effective than simply asking for money off. Effective negotiation tactics: Anchor low, but not insultingly so. An opening offer that is 10-15% below asking price creates room to meet in the middle. Silence after an offer is powerful. Most buyers feel compelled to fill silence by talking themselves out of their own position. Be willing to walk away. If you cannot walk away, you cannot negotiate effectively. Ask what is included. A full tank of fuel, a fresh MOT, or a service before handover can be worth more than a small cash reduction. On deposits: paying a deposit reserves the car but does not complete the purchase. Get a written receipt that confirms the amount, the vehicle details, and the conditions under which the deposit is refundable. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 guidance for used car buyers, you have specific rights when buying from a dealer, including the right to a refund if the car is not as described. Post-Purchase: The First Steps After You Drive Away Most buyers treat the purchase as the finish line. It is not. The first few weeks of ownership are when problems that were not caught during inspection tend to surface. Book a full service if one is not already due. This establishes a baseline for the car's condition and catches anything that was missed. A fresh oil change, filter check, and brake inspection give you a clean starting point. Check the road tax status immediately using the DVLA's online vehicle enquiry service. Confirm the car is insured before you drive it off the forecourt; insurance is a legal requirement under the Road Traffic Act 1988. Register as the new keeper with the DVLA using the V5C. This ensures the vehicle is correctly recorded in your name for road tax, insurance, and any future MOT or recall notices. Finally, photograph the car thoroughly on the day of purchase. Document any pre-existing marks, scratches, or damage. This protects you if a dispute arises later about the car's condition at the point of sale. Buying a used car without a structured approach is where most problems begin. The checks covered here, from HPI verification and V5C scrutiny through to the test drive and post-purchase steps, are the difference between a reliable purchase and an expensive lesson. At Biggleswade Car Sales, every vehicle in our hand-picked selection is thoroughly prepared before it reaches the forecourt, with honest descriptions and clear pricing from your first enquiry to handover. Browse our stock and find a vehicle you can drive away in with confidence. Frequently Asked Questions What is the most important thing to check when buying a used car? The car's history is the single most critical check. An HPI check reveals outstanding finance, write-off status, stolen records, and mileage discrepancies. A car that looks perfect but carries outstanding finance can be repossessed by the lender even after you've paid for it. Combine the HPI check with a V5C verification and a full service history review before you even book a viewing. Everything else, bodywork, mechanicals, the test drive, builds on that foundation. How can I check if a used car has outstanding finance? Run an HPI check or similar vehicle history check through a reputable UK data provider. These services search the finance register and flag any outstanding agreements secured against the vehicle. The check also shows whether the car has been written off, reported stolen, or had its odometer tampered with. Always check the chassis number (VIN) on the car physically matches what appears on the V5C logbook and in the history report before paying a deposit. How do you spot a bad used car? Look for mismatched paint panels, uneven panel gaps, and fresh underseal that could hide accident damage. Inside, check that all electrical components work, windows, lights, climate controls. Under the bonnet, milky engine oil or a low coolant level can signal serious engine problems. On the test drive, listen for clunking over bumps, juddering under braking, or a clutch that bites very high. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic catches faults that a visual check alone can miss. What questions should I ask when buying a second-hand car from a private seller? Ask why they're selling, how long they've owned it, whether it has a full service history, and whether the V5C logbook is in their name at the address you're visiting. Request the MOT certificate and check the test status and any advisories on the DVSA website. Ask whether any major mechanical work has been done recently and whether the car has ever been in an accident. If the seller can't answer these questions clearly or seems evasive, treat that as a warning sign. What extra checks matter when buying a used electric vehicle? Battery health is the key concern. Ask for a battery health report showing state of health (SoH) as a percentage, above 80% is generally acceptable for a used EV. Check the real-world range the seller reports and compare it against the manufacturer's original figure. Verify whether the car's battery warranty is still transferable to a new owner, and confirm which charging cables are included. Also check that the onboard charging software has received all available updates. Is it safer to buy from a dealer than a private seller? Buying from a dealer gives you stronger legal protection. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods must be of satisfactory quality, and you have the right to a repair, replacement, or refund if a fault emerges within 30 days. Private sales are covered only by basic contract law, the car must match its description, but 'sold as seen' disclaimers limit your options. A reputable independent dealer will also have prepared the vehicle, checked its history, and can provide documentation to support every claim they make.