What to Know Before Buying a Used Electric Vehicle

EVs have fewer moving parts to inspect than gas-powered vehicles, but you’ll want to check the tires. Because of their increased weight and instant torque, EVs tend to wear out tires more quickly than conventional vehicles. Bring a quarter to the dealership: If the top of George Washington’s head is just visible when placed head first in a tread groove, the tread has about 4⁄32 of an inch depth, which means it’s time to start shopping for replacements.

Some early EVs were sold in small numbers and could have little in common with newer models, which could make it more difficult to find replacement parts and knowledgeable repair technicians compared with a more mainstream model, says Michael Crossen, lead automotive technician at CR. For example, Mercedes-Benz sold about 4,000 B-Class EVs and Kia sold about 6,500 first-generation Kia Soul EVs, a fraction of the 164,000 Tesla Model 3s sold in 2019 alone.

“Low-production-number cars are always a concern for parts availability and parts pricing as they age,” Crossen says. Although dealerships should still be able to fix problems, independent shops might not have as much experience.

In addition, some older EVs relied on now-discontinued cellular networks for connectivity, and owners may not be able to schedule charging, adjust climate control, or check battery levels remotely as a result.