Buying a Used Electric Car in Germany
Most of a used EV's value sits in the battery, and a normal Gebrauchtwagencheck will not tell you its condition. This is the one area where you have to do something extra.
State of Health is the number that matters
SoH expresses remaining usable capacity against new. 90% SoH on a 58 kWh pack means roughly 52 kWh usable. Degradation is fastest in the first year and then flattens. Below about 85% on a car under five years old, ask why.
- Ask for a written SoH figure, not a verbal claim
- Most brands will produce an official battery certificate at a main dealer
- Independent tests from TÜV, Aviloo or ADAC cost roughly €100–150
- A Carly or OBDeleven adapter reads SoH on many VW, BMW and Renault models for under €100
Battery warranty — and whether it transfers
Nearly all manufacturers warrant the traction battery for 8 years or 160,000 km, typically guaranteeing 70% capacity. The warranty follows the car rather than the owner, so it transfers to you — but only if scheduled servicing was kept up.
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Date of first registration | Starts the 8-year clock — an EZ 2019 car has little left |
| Mileage against 160,000 km | Whichever limit comes first ends the cover |
| Service history | Gaps can void battery cover entirely |
| Battery owned or leased? | Early Renault Zoe models were sold with a Batteriemiete you inherit |
The Renault Zoe battery-rental trap
Older Zoes were sold with the battery on a separate lease, often €70–120 a month depending on mileage. The car looks cheap and then costs more to run than a petrol equivalent. Check Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II and the original sale contract for a Mietvertrag before you commit.
What differs from checking a petrol car
- Test the charging port on AC and, if you can, on a DC session too
- Confirm both cables are included — a Typ 2 Mode 3 cable alone is €150–250
- Check the maximum DC charge rate: 50 kW versus 150 kW changes long trips completely
- Heat pump fitted or not — a significant winter range difference
- Tyres: EVs wear them fast, and they need the correct load-rated size
- Brakes: regen means discs are barely used and often corrode rather than wear — check for scoring
Software and recalls
EVs receive substantial functional updates over their life. Ask whether the car is on current software, and check the KBA Rückrufdatenbank with the VIN for open recalls — several EV models have had battery campaigns that must be completed.