I talk to drivers daily who are in the early stages of selling their cars. For some, they are going from a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) to full battery electric vehicle (BEV). Others hope to trade their secondary car – maybe an older EV with shorter range – in for a primary car with a bigger battery. Still many are simply trading their EV for a new model.
Since selling an electric car is different than selling a gas car, the most common question I hear is: “What can I do to get the most for my electric car?”
I’ve witnessed thousands of EV transactions while leading Recurrent’s Sell With Recurrent program so here are my top tips.
1. Start with a baseline estimate
Most traditional calculators use combustion engine metrics like odometer to guestimate your car's value.
Although these tools are designed for gas cars, not electric cars, they can still be helpful to establish a baseline. Most work by entering your vehicle information in exchange for a range of valuation. Keep in mind, however, that they won’t be as reliable as they might be for a gas car. Don’t be surprised if live offers don’t exactly match what an online calculator says for an EV.
Some popular trade-in calculators include:
- Kelly Blue Book
- Edmunds
- Consumer Reports
2. Prove your EV’s range
It is free for EV owners to connect their car to Recurrent to prove your battery performance to potential sellers. As you drive your EV over the next week, Recurrent will study your vehicle range and compare it to thousands of similar models — over 25,000 EV owners are connected to the Recurrent platform.
Tesla owners also benefit from a Battery History feature that calculates estimated battery health. This is incredibly valuable for your potential buyers.
3. Check pricing trends
It’s helpful to understand the broader trends in EV prices. Car values dropped at the start of the pandemic when no one was driving and soared after chip shortages limited new car supply. Timing matters and auto industry reports equip you with important information.
Each quarter Recurrent publishes a used EV buying report that tracks values over time.
4. Get offers from EV specialists
When dealerships compete, you win. It’s that simple.
Recurrent designed Sell With Recurrent to solicit offers from a variety of buyers who value electric cars. These offers come from small EV specialists, large national dealerships, and everything in between.
The Same Old Car Sales Tips
Some things never go out of style, although they do change a little bit for electric vehicles. Here are some old tips that have been amended for you and your EV.
1. Clean Your Car (Ugh!)
A carwash never hurts. Similar steps, like removing your ice skates from last winter and vacuuming the interior, make your car look great while also suggesting that you actively maintained and cared for your vehicle.
2. Check for Regular Maintenance
If you drive a fully electric car, there’s no oil to change. But I recommend checking the tires, collecting any old maintenance receipts, and confirming the last time that you rotated the tires.
3. Collect Your Documents
Anyone who buys your car will want to confirm its details. It is worth taking a few minutes to organize your paperwork, including the title, registration, insurance, and sales documentation, if you purchased the vehicle new from a dealer.
You’re starting a selling process that can either be enjoyable (when you are pleasantly surprised by your trade-in value) or a long, tiring slog. While I can’t promise that every sales process will be painless, I know that these steps will make you a more prepared and informed seller. And that tends to make everything a bit better.
