EV Resale Value - What to Expect When You Sell.
- Tim Bond
- 11 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Key Facts Panel
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If you're weighing up an EV purchase and quietly wondering what it'll be worth when you sell, you're asking the right question at the right time.
EV resale value in Australia has had a genuinely rough few years, but 2026 data shows the picture is shifting.
Here's what actually happens to an EV's value over time, and which models are bucking the trend.
Why EVs Have Depreciated Faster, and Why That's Changing
The core numbers are genuinely tougher for EVs than for petrol or hybrid vehicles. A one-year-old EV loses around 25% of its value on average, more than double the 11.5% for petrol cars, and dramatically more than a hybrid's 1.7%. Over three years, that gap widens further: EVs retain about 60.3% of original value, hybrids retain 92.4%.
A few genuine factors drive this. Battery health concerns still weigh on buyer confidence, even though most EVs now carry 8-year warranties. High upfront prices mean the dollar loss looks larger even when the percentage loss is similar to other vehicle types.
And until recently, used EVs made up a tiny fraction of the overall used car market, less than 1% of used sales, making values more sensitive to shifts in supply and buyer sentiment than a more established category like hybrids.
The Turning Point
2026 has brought a genuine shift. Used battery EV sales grew 54.6% in the first half of the year, and days-to-sell dropped from over 60 in January to under 40 by June.
March was the clearest pivot point, used EV sales jumped 138% month-on-month as petrol prices spiked toward $2.50 a litre, pushing more buyers toward the used EV market.
Manufacturers have responded too: Tesla partnered with finance company Driva in July 2026 to offer guaranteed future value loans, effectively underwriting resale value directly on new purchases.
Which EVs Hold Their Value Best
Model | Why It's Holding Value |
BYD Atto 3 (original and Extended Range) | Strong ongoing demand, proven reliability track record locally |
Tesla Model Y Juniper (2025 model) | Fast-selling on the used market, benefits from Tesla's brand demand |
Kia EV6 | Established 800V charging architecture buyers trust long-term |
Hyundai Ioniq 5 | Same 800V advantage, strong resale demand across the model range |
The common thread across all four: genuine demand in the used market, and charging architecture buyers aren't worried about being outdated within a few years.
Luxury EVs, by contrast, tend to lose the most value of any price bracket, sometimes losing close to half their value within five years, driven by a smaller pool of used buyers at that price point.
Buy or Avoid: The Verdict on EV Resale Value
Buy with resale confidence if: you're choosing from the models currently holding value best, the BYD Atto 3, Tesla Model Y, Kia EV6 or Hyundai Ioniq 5, all of which combine real demand with modern charging tech.
Think carefully before buying if: you're eyeing a luxury EV purely as a resale investment, this segment has historically depreciated the hardest of any EV price bracket, and a lower purchase price elsewhere may serve your finances better long term.
FAQs
How much do EVs depreciate in the first year in Australia? EVs lose around 25% of their value in the first year on average, compared to 11.5% for petrol vehicles and just 1.7% for hybrids, according to AADA/AutoGrab data.
Is EV resale value improving in Australia? Yes. Used EV values have been stabilising since January 2026, with upward pressure since March, driven by a 54.6% surge in used battery EV sales in the first half of the year.
Which EVs hold their value best in Australia? The BYD Atto 3, 2025 Tesla Model Y Juniper, Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 are currently the strongest performers in the used EV market.
Do luxury EVs lose more value than mainstream EVs? Yes, historically luxury EVs over $100,000 have depreciated the most of any EV price bracket, in some cases losing close to half their value within five years.
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