If you're looking for a used electric car, you may be wondering: when do these cars actually come on the market? The answer is simpler than you think, but there is a whole leasing world behind it. We at Eccasion buy primarily through auctions, where electric used cars are released from leasing companies. In this blog, we explain why that usually happens after 4 to 5 years, what exceptions there are and what that means for you as a buyer.
Most electric used cars that end up at auction come directly from leasing companies. That's because of the advantageous addition rules for electric cars and companies' sustainability targets. They buy cars new and often lease them in 5-year operating leases. After that period, the car is released, and that's usually when you can buy it as a used electric car.
Why exactly 5 years? That is often related to the manufacturer's warranty. That is usually 4 or 5 years, and after that the risks and costs of maintenance increase. Leasing companies don't like unpredictability, so they prefer to put the cars up for auction.
👉Fun fact: sometimes leasing companies use a 4+1 construction. Then the contract runs for 4 years, with the option to extend for another year. Convenient for flexibility, but for you as a buyer it means: either after 4, or after 5 years the car comes on the market.
At the end of the year, car manufacturers often offer attractive deals. Leasing companies like to take advantage of this by renewing their fleets earlier. For you, this means that a wave of younger used electric cars often enter the auction towards the end of the year.
Sometimes the driver leaves the company and the car is not taken over internally. In that case, the electric used car becomes available sooner.
In rare cases an entire fleet becomes available at once because a company stops leasing or goes bankrupt. This brings many cars onto the market at once.
It's helpful for you to know that it takes an average of 4-5 years for an electric car to go from lease to auction. So around that age, many used electric cars become available.
The reverse also happens. Leasing companies sometimes deliberately hold onto cars longer to regulate the market. A good example is the Tesla Model 3, where a huge influx was staggered to keep prices stable.
There are also peak moments, such as at the end of the year or during large market movements. This is also reflected in price movements. Want to know more about that? Read our blog on price expectations and the right buying moment.
All in all, you can assume that most electric used cars end up at auction after 4-5 years, with some 10-15% becoming available earlier. Sometimes a little later, depending on market strategies. Knowing that helps you better understand why certain models suddenly show up a lot in supply.
👉 We can find a good match for you, too! Let us know what you're looking for through a no-obligation search.