Used electric car: what should you check before buying?

You have spotted a used electric car you like, but just as you are about to decide, the real questions come up: will the range be enough? How can you tell whether the battery is worn? And how will you charge it day to day without any nasty surprises?

Buying a used electric car calls for the same basic checks as buying a petrol or diesel car: inspect the vehicle, take it for a test drive and insist on the Car-Pass. But to avoid unnecessary costs, you also need to check a few things that are specific to electric cars and plug-in hybrids. Here are the 7 specific points to check before you sign.

1. Battery condition: the first thing to check

The battery is the most expensive part of the vehicle. If you need to replace or repair it, the bill can quickly climb to several thousand euros. Before you commit, it is essential to know its real state of health: its SOH (State of Health).

Ask for the SOH (expressed as a %)

The SOH shows the remaining storage capacity compared with when the battery was new. An SOH of 90%, for example, means that the battery has lost 10% of its original capacity.

On average, a recent electric car loses around 1.8% of its capacity per year under normal use. But depending on how the car has been driven, this wear can speed up. Only a measured diagnosis will give you the full picture.

Curious to know how the diagnosis works? Find out all the details in our article on the state of health of a battery.

Check whether the SOH appears on the Car-Pass

Since 2026, the seller can have the SOH certificate included on the Car-Pass. This certificate shows the battery's state of health at the time of the test. To view it, simply scan the document's QR code.

This step is optional for the seller. If the SOH is not mentioned, simply ask them to have the battery tested before finalising the sale.

Check the battery warranty

Most manufacturers cover the battery with a specific warranty, often set at 8 years or 160,000 km (generally down to a threshold of 70% SOH).

Look at the date of first registration and the mileage: you will quickly know whether the cover is still running. Also remember to check with the manufacturer that the warranty transfers to the next owner.

Ask the seller about their charging habits

A battery's lifespan depends a great deal on the driver's habits. Ask a few simple questions:

• Where did they charge the vehicle (standard socket, home charging station, fast charging on the motorway)?
• What charge level did they keep it at day to day?

Good to know: according to Touring, the ideal range for preserving a battery in everyday use is between 20% and 80%.

2. Real-world range: do not rely on the advertised figure alone

The range advertised by the manufacturer comes from the WLTP approval cycle, carried out under ideal laboratory conditions. In real life, your driving range depends on three main factors:

• Battery wear: range drops in line with the SOH. A car rated at 400 km when new will only cover around 320 km with an SOH of 80%.
• The weather: as soon as the temperature drops below 0 °C, range can fall by 15 to 25%, or even more in a hard frost or on short, repeated journeys.
• Your driving habits: in Belgium, electric car drivers cover close to 20,000 km a year on average. Compare the estimated real-world range with your daily journeys and your holiday trips.

A tip for the test drive: keep an eye on how the range shown on the dashboard drops compared with the kilometres you actually drive. It will give you a first idea of how the battery behaves.

3. Charging: check that it suits the way you use the car

Your future used car must be easy to charge wherever you park. Before you make your decision, check these four points:

• The power of the on-board charger: it sets the maximum charging speed at standard alternating current (AC) charging points. If the on-board charger is capped at 11 kW, there is no need to install a 22 kW charging station at home.
• Fast-charging speed: look at the average charging power rather than the advertised peak, as it gives a better idea of the actual time spent at a motorway charging point.
• The cables supplied: ask the seller which cables come with the car and check their general condition.
• Your set-up at home: plugging the car straight into a standard household socket is not recommended, as it is slow and there is a risk of overheating. Opt for a suitable charging station or easy access to a public charging point near your home.

4. Maintaining an electric vehicle: good practice

An electric car has fewer moving parts than a petrol or diesel model, which makes it easier to maintain. But beware: it still needs to be serviced carefully, and its service record says a lot about how well the previous owner looked after it.

Check the maintenance history on the Car-Pass

Since January 2024, garages have been legally required to send Car-Pass a description of the work they carry out.

On the digital Car-Pass, check the vehicle's maintenance history: was it serviced regularly and on time? Have any important or expensive parts been replaced? For work carried out before 2024, ask the seller for the service invoices.

Check that the manufacturer's maintenance schedule has been followed

Compare the services carried out with the manufacturer's recommendations. A flawless service history shows that the car has been well looked after. This matters all the more because some manufacturers only maintain the battery warranty if the maintenance schedule has been followed.

Check for open recalls

Recalls are sometimes issued to correct manufacturing defects. If the previous owner did not have the repair carried out at a garage, the recall is still considered open and is shown on the Car-Pass.

5. Mileage and technical inspection: separating fact from fiction

Do not fall for common misconceptions: while mileage remains a reliable indicator, the technical inspection has its limits when it comes to an electric vehicle.

Mileage is still an essential indicator

On the Car-Pass, the mileage should follow a logical progression. An unexplained drop is often a sign of odometer fraud. Since 2020, manufacturers have been sending Car-Pass four readings a year for connected cars in Belgium, even if they have not been to a garage.

Has the vehicle been imported? Car-Pass often has the mileages recorded abroad by the brand's dealers. For a vehicle from the Netherlands, Car-Pass consults the Dutch odometer database (RDW) directly.

The technical inspection does not check the battery

For an electric car or a plug-in hybrid, the technical inspection covers the same items as for a petrol or diesel car: brakes, lights, steering, chassis, seat belts, etc.

A fully electric car is not subject to the emissions test, unlike a plug-in hybrid. The battery, however, is not checked. A pass certificate from the technical inspection therefore tells you nothing about the condition of the battery: only an SOH test can tell you that.

6. The documents you should receive when buying a used electric vehicle

To complete a purchase from a private seller in full compliance with the law, the seller must give you these essential documents:

• A Car-Pass less than two months old: it is mandatory. Without this official document, the sale is invalid and you can demand that it be cancelled and that you be refunded in full.
• The used vehicle inspection certificate. It is still mandatory if you live in Brussels or Wallonia. In Flanders, it will no longer be required from 1 January 2027, except for an imported vehicle.
• The application for vehicle registration: this is the pink form issued at the used vehicle inspection, valid for two months to register the car in your name.
• The Certificate of Conformity: issued by the manufacturer, it is essential for driving and registering the vehicle.
• The sales agreement: drawn up in two signed copies, clearly stating the Car-Pass number.

Specific items to ask for with an electric car:

• The SOH test report: if it is not already included directly on the Car-Pass.
• The battery warranty documents: to check how long is left and the conditions that apply.
• The service invoices: essential for checking the maintenance carried out before 2024.

7. Basic checks that apply to any used car

Even though the engine and the battery are key, a used car is still a used car. Do not compromise on the general inspection:

• The bodywork: look for signs of rust, small dents or scratches. They often point to an eventful past or sloppy maintenance.
• The tyres: uneven wear often indicates a wheel alignment or suspension problem. Worn tyres mean immediate costs to budget for.
• The interior: check the condition of the seats and plastics, then test all the electronic equipment (air conditioning, GPS, central screen).
• The test drive: drive on different types of road, in town as well as on fast roads, and listen out for any suspicious noise.
• The market price: compare the offer with similar models (year, mileage, trim level) on several classified ad websites.
• The warranty: a professional seller is legally required to give you a warranty of 1 to 2 years. In a sale between private individuals, you generally have no recourse.

All these standard checks are detailed in our checklist for buying a used car.

Frequently asked questions about buying a used electric car

What checks should I carry out before buying a used electric car?

On top of the standard checks, look at the battery's state of health (SOH), the remaining warranty, the real-world range on the road, the charging options and the maintenance history. Also remember to check that the mileage is consistent and whether there are any open recalls on the Car-Pass.

Does the technical inspection check an electric car's battery?

No. In Belgium, the technical inspection covers the same safety items as for a petrol or diesel vehicle (brakes, chassis, lights), without assessing the battery. To find out the battery's health, only an SOH test can be relied on.

Is the battery SOH shown on the Car-Pass?

Since 2026, the seller can add the SOH and the tester's report to the Car-Pass. This step is, however, optional. If the score is not shown, you can ask the seller to have the test carried out before finalising the sale.

What SOH counts as a battery in good condition?

It depends on the car's age, its mileage and your daily journeys. Bear in mind the limit set by the manufacturer's warranty (usually 70%) and check that the remaining range comfortably covers your usual trips.

Do these checks also apply to a plug-in hybrid?

Yes. A plug-in hybrid also has a battery whose state of health can be measured and shown on the Car-Pass. The only difference: because of its combustion engine, it is still subject to the emissions test at the technical inspection.