Used EVs: residual values rise while combustion vehicles lose value
The used car market for EVs is visibly turning: while used EVs struggled with above-average residual value loss for years, their residual values are now rising noticeably — while three-year-old petrol and diesel cars lose value. The Deutsche Automobil Treuhand (DAT), the industry's key market observer, attributes the turning point above all to persistently high fuel prices.
The gap in figures: DAT May to August 2026
For the period from May to August 2026, the DAT barometer shows a clear gap between powertrains: three-year-old EVs (BEVs) raised their residual values by +1.4 percentage points — the fourth upward trend in a row. Three-year-old petrol cars lost –0.4 percentage points, diesels even –1.1 percentage points.
| Powertrain | Residual value (3 years, May–Aug 2026) |
|---|---|
| EV (BEV) | +1.4 pp — fourth rise in a row, residual value around 51–52 % of the list new price |
| Petrol | –0.4 pp — residual value around 58–59 % of the list new price |
| Diesel | –1.1 pp — residual value around 58 % of the list new price |
The residual-value gap between EVs and combustion vehicles has narrowed considerably: as recently as November 2025 it was around ten percentage points (EV ~ 48.4 %, petrol ~ 62.6 %, diesel ~ 61.2 %). Now it is about six percentage points.
Days on dealer stock (August 2026)
Pure EVs: ~74 days on average · Petrol: ~84 days · Diesel: ~92 days. In the spring all three powertrains sat at ~85–92 days — since June the picture has turned in favour of EVs.
Three drivers of the turning point
1. Running costs favour electricity
Faced with record prices at the petrol station, car owners are increasingly turning to e-mobility — to lower their commute and running costs. Those who can charge at home or at their employer save measurably per 100 km compared with fossil fuel. The LadeGuide guides on home charging and charging costs at a glance show under which conditions home charging pays off.
2. The entry-level segment is in highest demand
Smaller and compact EVs in the price range €20,000 to €25,000 are selling fastest of all. These vehicles currently sit with dealers for very little time — above all former leasing vehicles from the registration boom years 2020/2021 are reaching the used car market now. High-priced models, by contrast, wait longer for a buyer.
3. Battery scepticism is fading
For a long time, the worry about ageing batteries was the clearest brake. Long-term experience now shows: modern batteries as a rule still reach well over 90 % of their new capacity over the normal service life. At the same time, standardised battery certificates (State of Health, SoH) are becoming widespread in the used car trade — buyers can have the condition verified before purchase.
What buyers now get
Bargains in the used-EV segment are becoming rarer. For the most sought-after models, harder price negotiations and shorter decision deadlines can be expected. Anyone buying a used EV should use the residual-value development as a negotiating basis — and specifically ask for the SoH certificate and a still-running battery warranty.
Market share grows in parallel
EVs now make up a clear share of the used car business. In August 2026, according to the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (Federal Motor Transport Authority), around 5.3 % of all ownership transfers went to pure EVs — a year earlier it was just 3.9 %. Among new registrations, the EV share in September was 34.5 % of 88,599 EVs; in parallel, registrations of petrol and diesel passenger cars fell sharply.
Conclusion: The used market for EVs is leaving the niche. Residual values, demand and days on stock speak in the same direction — for buyers that means: decide earlier, demand the SoH documents, and pay attention to well-considered charging cards so that the electricity for your car really stays inexpensive.