Whether you’ve just bought an electric vehicle (EV) or are thinking about buying an electric car, our guide to buying an EV offers top tips and advice on what to look out for.
What EV should I buy?
The type of electric car you buy will depend on your lifestyle, circumstances and budget.
For example, if you’re going to be using the car for leisure or for commuting, you may want to think about the range – the miles an electric car can travel on a charge.
You may also want to consider if it’s a fully electric car that you want to invest in, or whether a hybrid (a combination of an electric motor and a petrol/diesel engine) is more suitable.
Best electric car to buy
While the Tesla electric car is the most well-known electric car on the market, there are other car manufacturers that offer electric vehicles with similar performance and features.
We recommend you do your research to understand the differences between models and their strengths and weaknesses to make sure they’re suitable for you and your needs.
Should I buy a new or second-hand EV?
There are many benefits to buying a second-hand EV. The cost of a second-hand EV will be cheaper than buying a brand-new EV.
There are also fewer components in an electric car, which means there are fewer things to check and less to go wrong with a used EV.
It’s also worth remembering that an EV loses around 1-3% battery capacity each year. So, if you’re buying a second-hand EV, then make sure you thoroughly check the battery’s lifespan.
For more insights and support with buying a second-hand EV, read our list of pros and cons of buying a used electric car.
Questions to ask the dealer when buying an EV
Whether you’re buying a new or second-hand electric car, it’s important that you have all you need to know before you hand over any money.
Here are a few questions to ask your dealer when you’re buying an electric car:
- What’s the battery life like?
- Is the car under warranty?
- Is there an annual battery inspection?
- How much range will I get?
- Does the car need a service?
- When does the MOT expire?
I just bought my first EV – now what?
If you’ve just bought your first electric car, then what’s next?
Besides getting to grips with all its features and making sure it’s charged, there are a couple of things to remember before you take it out for a ride.
EVs and road tax
Currently, you don’t have to pay road tax on electric vehicles. This is because they’re classed as zero emission vehicles, which means they’re exempt from paying road tax.
You can learn more about electric vehicles and road tax in our ‘Do electric cars need MOTs and road tax?’ article.
Getting EV insurance
When insuring your EV vehicle, it’s important to make sure that you have the right cover to protect your vehicle.
To find out more about EV insurance and the type of cover you need, head to our Electric Car Insurance page for more information.
