Five years ago I barely bought any electric cars. Today at least one Tesla, one VW ID.3 or ID.4 or one Hyundai Ioniq 5 comes in every week. The market for used electric cars has completely changed. And the rules for valuation are different from combustion cars. If you want to sell your EV, there are a few things you need to know.
The battery is everything
With a combustion car you look at the engine and the gearbox. With an electric car there is exactly one factor that stands above the rest: the battery. More precisely the SOH, the State of Health. This is the health status of the battery, given in percent. 100% means: full capacity as on day one. 90% means: 10% of the original capacity is lost.
Sounds dramatic? It is not. A Tesla Model 3 with 95% SOH after 3 years and 60,000 km is completely normal and no cause for concern. Most modern batteries lose only 5 to 10% of their capacity in the first 5 years. But: A vehicle with 85% SOH is worth significantly less than one with 95%. The difference can be 2,000 to 4,000 euros, because the buyer knows that the battery will continue to degrade in the foreseeable future.
How to check the SOH of your electric car: With Tesla the app shows the current maximum range under "Battery". With VW ID models you will find the information in the infotainment system under "Battery status". With Hyundai and Kia you can read the SOH via an OBD dongle and an app like Battery Monitor. There are also independent testing services that do this professionally.
How different brands hold their value
Tesla Model 3 and Model Y
Tesla still holds its value best among electric cars, even though the new car price cuts in 2023 and 2024 put residual values under pressure. A 2022 Model 3 Long Range with 50,000 km currently sits between 26,000 and 30,000 euros with us, depending on equipment and condition. That is a depreciation of about 35 to 40% compared to the new price. Two years ago it was only 25 to 30%. The reason: Tesla regularly lowers its new car prices and that automatically pushes down used prices.
The Model Y currently holds its value better than the Model 3 because demand for SUVs in Luxembourg is higher. A 2022 Model Y Long Range with 45,000 km fetches around 32,000 to 36,000 euros.
VW ID.3 and ID.4
VW ID models had a difficult start on the used market. The first model years (2020, 2021) suffered from software problems and dissatisfied first owners. That pushed down residual values. A 2021 ID.3 Pro Performance with 40,000 km currently sits at 18,000 to 22,000 euros. That is a depreciation of almost 50%. But the newer models from 2023 with improved software are more stable in value. The ID.4 holds up slightly better than the ID.3, again because of SUV demand.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6
The Korean electric cars are the surprise on the used market. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 holds its value surprisingly well. A 2022 model with 77 kWh battery and 35,000 km fetches 28,000 to 33,000 euros. This is due to the 800-volt charging system (10 to 80% in 18 minutes), the good battery warranty (8 years) and strong demand. Kia EV6 values are similar. Both benefit from Hyundai and Kia keeping their new car prices stable, unlike Tesla.
Charging infrastructure in the Greater Region
Luxembourg has one of the densest charging networks per capita in Europe. Chargy operates over 800 public charging points across the country. In Germany the network is also growing fast, but regionally there are still gaps, especially in rural areas. In France there is massive expansion, but in rural areas coverage is not yet comparable to Luxembourg. Fast charging stations from Ionity and Tesla Superchargers are available in all three countries along motorways. This matters for the used EV market because good charging infrastructure stabilises demand and therefore prices.
If you charged your electric car at home with a wallbox and can prove it, that is a plus. A car that was gently charged at home with 11 kW tends to have a better battery SOH than one that was constantly on a fast charger. Informed buyers know this.
Tips for the best price when selling your EV
Document the SOH
Have the battery SOH professionally tested and documented before selling. It costs between 50 and 100 euros, gives the buyer confidence and strengthens your negotiating position. A car with a documented 95% SOH is much easier to sell than one where the buyer has to guess.
Charging cables and accessories
A missing Mode 2 charging cable (the one for the household socket) costs 200 to 500 euros depending on the brand. A missing Mode 3 cable for public charging stations runs 300 to 800 euros. If you have everything included, that directly adds value. Adapters (CCS, Type 2) and the original charging cable matter to the buyer.
Software updates
Make sure all available software updates are installed. Especially with Tesla and VW ID models, updates have brought significant improvements (better range, faster charging, improved navigation). A car with outdated software looks neglected and is harder to sell.
Watch timing and subsidies
The used EV market is even more volatile than the combustion car market. When a manufacturer lowers new car prices (as Tesla regularly does), used prices drop within weeks. If you suspect a price cut is coming, sell beforehand.
And then there are government subsidies, which differ greatly by country. In Luxembourg there is the "Clever fueren" premium for new EVs. In Germany there was the environmental bonus, which expired in 2024. In France there is the bonus ecologique and a scrapping premium. When the government announces new subsidies, demand on the used market sometimes rises too, because more people want to switch to electric. But be careful: some subsidies have holding periods. If you sell your EV too early, you may have to pay back the premium. This applies especially to the German environmental bonus (12-month holding period) and the French bonus ecologique. Check this beforehand.
Expert tip
The battery warranty is often transferable to the next owner. With Tesla the warranty applies for 8 years or 160,000 km (Model 3/Y Long Range), with Hyundai/Kia for 8 years or 160,000 km. Check the warranty status and communicate it actively. A battery with 5 years of remaining warranty is a strong selling point.
Plug-in hybrids: A special case
Plug-in hybrids (PHEV) are currently the losers on the used market. Subsidies for PHEVs are running out or have already been cut, and new prices are dropping. The small batteries (often only 10 to 15 kWh) offer 40 to 60 km of electric range, and real-world consumption is far above WLTP figures when the battery is empty. Word has got around. A 3-year-old PHEV often loses 50 to 55% of its new value. If you have a PHEV and are thinking about selling, do not wait too long. The trend continues downward.
Why mirkaafenaerenauto.lu is also your EV partner
We buy electric cars of all brands. Tesla, VW, Hyundai, Kia, Peugeot, Renault, BMW, Mercedes, you name it. We check the battery SOH, know the current market prices and make you a fair offer. The paperwork and deregistration is handled by us, whether at SNCA in Luxembourg, the registration office in Germany or via ANTS in France. Just like with any other car.
Selling your electric car? We know the market.
Free valuation with battery SOH check. Fair offer based on real Luxembourg market data.