Are you thinking of buying an electric car? It’s worth looking at the almost-new market, as some models are available at huge discounts.

Electric cars (EVs) tend to be more expensive than other types of fuel. In fact, our vehicle pricing data shows that the average new EV will cost just over £47,000 in July 2024; this is around £10,000 more than any other type of fuel. So even with personal contract purchase (PCP) deals, you’re faced with a hefty deposit, high monthly payments and a significant final purchase cost.

However, if you’re willing to look at a nearly new EV, you may be rewarded with a significant discount on a model with almost no mileage.

Read on to see some examples of nearly new EVs that are heavily discounted, why dealers are offering them, and how you can find similar deals yourself.

Learn how Get the best price when selling your current car

Nearly new EVs we found at deep discounts

We did some snapshot analysis using . Auto Investor And CarwowWhere dealers often advertise their latest and greatest deals.

Please note that the details below are based solely on information provided by the dealer and are not a purchase recommendation.

It didn’t take us long to find the Peugeot e-308 GT, available exclusively through Carwow on behalf of Perrys Peugeot, priced at just £21,995; This is 48% lower than the list price. Moreover, it was stated to be under 100 miles per hour.

Meanwhile on Auto Trader we spotted the Nissan Leaf N-Connecta on sale at Brayleys Nissan for £16,481. That’s a 47% discount off the list price for a car with only 10 miles on it.

Similar deals can be found on higher-end EVs such as the Audi RS e-tron GT Carbon Black, which we found on sale at West London Audi for £80,000, 43% off list price. When the dealer told us this was being used as a ‘static demo’ car, this car had a top speed of 100 mph.

Of course, a discounted EV isn’t necessarily a good EV, and some of the models we found didn’t score particularly well. Our latest reliability survey. So be sure to click through our reviews to find out how they score (both in our labs and in terms of reliability).

Why are these electric vehicles subject to such a huge discount?

It’s not uncommon for nearly new cars to be discounted, regardless of fuel type. But the size of the discounts for some nearly new electric vehicles is surprising.

One reason why some manufacturers are offering big discounts on EV models is the government’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which applies to all brands selling more than 2,500 cars a year in the UK. It determines the proportion of EVs a manufacturer must sell in the UK. In 2024, this rate is 22% and is increasing every year (for example, 28% in 2025).

If a manufacturer fails to meet this target, it could be fined £15,000 per car it sells outside the allowance. However, this is unlikely to happen as there are several ways to prevent this. For example, non-compliant producers can purchase ‘credits’ from compliant producers. Producers who comply can ‘bank’ sales that can be traded in years in which they may not comply.

This system was introduced in 2023 as part of the ban on fossil fuel-powered cars being postponed from 2023 to 2035. Some brands, such as Subaru and Peugeot, have publicly announced that they comply with the 22% rule at various periods. Brands that haven’t performed well this year will be under pressure to increase sales.

Business and fleet sales account for the majority of new EVs in the UK. But they generally don’t buy cars from traditional car dealerships; They either go directly to the manufacturer or to a specialist fleet management company.

This puts traditional dealers who need to sell electric vehicles in a difficult position, as they have to balance meeting sales targets with the fact that private demand for electric vehicles is relatively limited. We’ve also spoken with dealers who say the cars they offer are ex-showroom demonstrator models or were purchased from the manufacturer for significantly less than list price.

We’ve also seen some electric vehicles (like the Jaguar I-Pace) advertised with heavy discounts as the brand is in the process of phasing out the model.

Vehicle financing explained: Discover the pros and cons of each and which one is best for you

Any catches?

One downside to these deals is that you have to be flexible when it comes to trim levels and optional extras; Other than metallic paint, most of the models we described didn’t come with any extras.

On the other hand, you may find a high-end model with many options you may not want. If you have something specific in mind, you may have to wait a long time for the deal to happen, or you may accept that you won’t find that big of a discount on this deal.

Not all manufacturers offer significant discounts. Tesla, for example, is under no pressure to meet its zero-emission vehicle mandate because its entire product range is electric, but that hasn’t stopped it Lowers the price of Model 3 and Model Y.

We’ve also seen that some deals can disappear very quickly. But discounted cars usually have a lot of choice, so don’t be discouraged if you miss out.

Cheapest electric cars: View the cheapest EV models we tested.

Find nearly new EV rebates in 4 steps

There are some great deals out there, but also a few things to watch out for. Here are our top tips for finding (and checking out) the best deals.

1. Start your search

When scanning online buying sites for deals, use filters to search for electric cars and set the mileage to less than 100 miles (note that Carwow doesn’t let you set the minimum mileage this low, but you can sort your results to show electric cars). at least kilometers before).

If you don’t get anything, increase the mileage until cars appear. Then use filters to determine the maximum price or order by cheapest first.

2. Deal or no deal?

Once you’ve found a few cars, it’s time to figure out how good the deals really are. Our car reviews show how much the entry-level model costs to buy new, including typical discounts. You can also check the list price for specific models on the manufacturer’s website.

3. Check age

We found many electric cars that were a few years old and had very low mileage, and were almost new. As well as getting a shorter manufacturer’s warranty, an older model could also mean you don’t get the latest version of the car and will be missing out on some extras as a result.

4. Verify details

As always, do your due diligence before parting with any cash. Look at the seller’s reviews, check if they have a return policy, and be sure to ask if there is any damage to the car. It’s also worth checking if the manufacturer’s warranty is still valid.

Drive smarter and cut costs with our expert advice. Get our motoring newsletter; monthly free.