Resale Value and Longevity: The Hard Truth About Used EVs in 2025
- E.H. Reliance
- Jun 25
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 27
Let’s not sugar-coat it—resale value is the elephant in the EV room, and Australian drivers are finally starting to ask the right questions.
“Do EVs hold their value?” “What’s the resale value of used electric cars?” “Are used EVs a good buy?”
Here’s the drive-electric answer: the market’s wild, the bargains are real, but you need to go in with your eyes wide open.
Do EVs Hold Their Value?
Short answer: Not as well as petrol or hybrid cars—at least, not yet. The numbers are real. In 2025, EVs lose an average of 58.8% of their value within five years. Compare that to petrol and diesel cars, which drop about 45.6% over the same period. That’s a big gap, and it’s even wider for some models. The Tesla Model 3? Down 30% in just two years. The Model Y?
A brutal 36% drop. Luxury EVs like the Jaguar I-PACE and Porsche Taycan? They’re topping 60%+ depreciation in five years.
Why? It’s a perfect storm:
New EV prices keep dropping as tech improves and competition heats up.
More off-lease EVs are flooding the used market, pushing prices down.
Battery tech keeps evolving, making older models less desirable.
Consumer nerves about battery life and charging don’t help.
What’s the Resale Value of Used Electric Cars?
Let’s get specific. In Australia, the average used Tesla Model 3 listed at $65,990 in January 2023—by December 2024, it was $46,705. That’s a $19,000+ haircut in under two years. The Model Y fared even worse, dropping from $79,950 to $53,987 in the same timeframe. And it’s not just Teslas—BYD, MG, Nissan LEAF, and others are all seeing steep falls.
But it’s not all doom and gloom.
Some mainstream models—like the Hyundai Kona Electric—are starting to close the gap, holding their value better than early adopters or luxury EVs. The market is volatile, but as battery tech stabilises and more Aussies get comfortable with electric, the worst of the depreciation may be behind us.
Are Used EVs a Good Buy?
Here’s where it gets interesting. For buyers, the current market is a goldmine. Used EVs are now, on average, $3,000 cheaper than equivalent petrol cars in Australia. You get lower running costs, fewer maintenance headaches, and sometimes even government incentives to sweeten the deal. If you’re planning to keep your car for years, a used EV can be a smart, wallet-friendly move.
But—big but—do your homework:
Check battery health and warranty status. A tired battery can turn a bargain into a money pit.
Factor in charging access. If you can charge at home, you win. If not, think twice.
Don’t expect petrol-like resale stability—yet. If you’re a serial upgrader, you’ll feel the pain more than someone who drives their car into the ground.
Would you buy a used EV given current resale values?
0%Yes, the savings are worth it
0%Maybe, if battery health is good
0%No, depreciation worries me
0%Still prefer petrol or hybrid
You can vote for more than one answer.
The Drive-Electric Verdict:
If you want to save money and drive green, used EVs are finally worth a look.
If you care about resale value above all else, hybrids and efficient petrols still win the day.
If you’re buying new, know that depreciation is steep—but running costs might balance the books if you keep it long enough.
The second-hand EV market is growing up fast, but it’s not a safe haven for flippers or fence-sitters. Buy smart, drive long, and you’ll come out ahead.
Drive Change. Drive Electric
