Secondhand electric car prices matched petrol models for the first time in Q1 2026, with used EVs now costing nearly the same as traditional vehicles.
According to figures from Autorola, average used EV prices dropped 9.1% to £15,486 during the first quarter. Petrol car prices moved in the opposite direction – rising 5.1% to £15,727.
The £241 gap represents the narrowest price difference the secondhand sales specialist has recorded.
Autorola sells used inventory to dealerships across the UK. The company reported demand for used EVs doubled over three months, with electric vehicles jumping from 5.4% of market share in Q4 2025 to 10.4% by March 2026.
Neil Frost, the company’s managing director, called it a “step change” in buyer behavior.
Dealers Rush for Electric Inventory
Frost said dealerships are bidding aggressively for used EVs on the company’s online marketplace.
“We have seen a major increase in bids for used EVs on our online MarketPlace portal with sales nearly doubling in just a three-month period,” Frost told AMOnline.
Several factors drove the surge:
- Higher inventory volumes following March’s 26-plate registration launch
- Falling EV prices as supply increased
- Rising fuel costs pushing buyers toward electric alternatives
Price parity between new EVs and petrol cars has existed for months. But this marks the first time used models reached similar pricing levels.
Better Value Proposition
The data reveals used EVs offer better value beyond just pricing. Electric vehicles averaged 32 months old with 20,002 miles on the odometer.
Petrol models were older and more worn – averaging 37 months with 22,606 miles.
Buyers get newer vehicles with lower mileage for essentially the same money when choosing electric over petrol.
The used EV market has grown steadily over recent years. But industry reports suggest the Iran conflict accelerated interest as fuel prices spiked in late February.
Search volumes and actual purchases both increased sharply since the war began, according to multiple data sources tracking consumer behavior.
Frost expects the trend to continue as more buyers discover the financial benefits of switching to electric vehicles in the secondhand market.
