Used car dealers across the country are calling for government support to boost electric vehicle sales in the secondhand market. According to the latest Startline Used Car tracker, 60% of dealers believe funding for free or low-cost home chargers would be the most effective way to drive adoption.
The monthly survey captures dealer sentiment about market conditions. Most respondents backed financial incentives to help more drivers make the switch to electric.
Used EV sales have already jumped 45% in 2025 – but dealers argue the secondhand sector deserves similar support to new car sales, where government grants reach up to £3,750.
Chargers Top Priority List
Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, explained the research aimed to identify which measures dealers consider most effective.
“With larger volumes of electric stock appearing on the market every day, there have been persistent demands from the motor trade for help from the government to support used electric car sales and we wanted to build a more detailed picture of which measures retailers thought would be effective.”
Home charger installation typically costs between £700-£1,500. Burgess noted some targeted charger support already exists, but it’s limited in scope and generosity.
“There is also a wide range of support among dealers for other measures,” he said. “Overall, the picture that emerges is they simply want help to make buying an electric car more financially attractive and charging it easier and lower cost.”
Half of surveyed dealers want a grant scheme similar to the Electric Car Grant for used vehicles. When asked about effective grant levels for a £15,000 used EV, the most popular response was £1,500 – though over a quarter suggested £2,000 would be necessary.
Cost-Effectiveness Considerations
This price point represents a typical used electric car in today’s market.
Burgess observed that subsidy costs exceed charger installation expenses. “Overall, government resources might be better directed towards free chargers than discounting the price of the car,” he noted.
Additional dealer priorities include:
- 52% support low or zero-interest loans
- 52% favor charging support for drivers without private parking
- 23% want reversal of planned pay-as-you-drive EV tax starting 2028
The survey reveals broad dealer consensus that financial barriers remain the primary obstacle to used EV adoption. With electric vehicle inventory growing daily, dealers are pushing for policy changes that make ownership more accessible for everyday buyers.
Current government support focuses heavily on new vehicle purchases, leaving a gap in the used market where most car transactions actually occur.
