Electric vehicles and their batteries have a long lifespan, but at some point, it’s time to sell. Drivers in search of change may be ready to make the move from a hybrid to a fully electric vehicle. Others may simply want to trade their EV for a newer model.
Since selling an EV is different than selling a gas car, a common question is: What can I do to get the most for my electric car?
The folks at Recurrent have witnessed thousands of EV transactions while leading their Sell With Recurrent program. Here are their top tips.
Most traditional calculators use combustion-engine metrics, like odometer readings, to estimate your car’s value.
Although these tools are designed for gas cars, they can still be helpful to establish a baseline. Most work by entering your vehicle information in exchange for a range of valuations. Keep in mind 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 estimates for an EV.
It is free for EV owners to connect their car to Recurrent to prove battery performance to potential buyers. As you drive your EV over the course of a week, Recurrent will study your vehicle range and compare it to thousands of similar models.
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.
Some things never go out of style, although they do change a little bit for EVs.
A car wash 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.
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 there’s no guarantee that every sales process will be painless, these steps will help make you a more prepared and informed seller. And that tends to make everything a bit better.
Visit Recurrent to learn more about electric vehicle battery health.
This article is originally researched and written by the team at Recurrent.
AAA’s Recommendation: Whether you own an electric vehicle or a gas-powered car is up to you – and you should consider lots of factors in making that choice. No matter what type of vehicle you’re choosing, we recommend visiting a dealership, test driving one, and asking as many questions as possible to make an informed decision.
