Used electric vehicles are bucking the usual pattern: instead of sliding in value, many models are climbing in price this year. That shift matters now because it changes the calculus for anyone thinking of buying or selling an EV amid rising gas costs and recent policy changes.
What the numbers show
Industry data from Recurrent and market researchers at Cox Automotive point to a clear trend: prices for some preowned EVs have increased in 2026. Recurrent’s analysis found a 5.1% rise in average used-EV prices from January through June, and the lift extended into July with about 7% growth year to date through mid-July.
Those gains weren’t limited to a handful of niche models. Cox Automotive reports that most of the high-volume used-EV listings saw price increases in the first half of the year.
Why this is happening
Normally, a flood of used vehicles pushes prices down. That expectation is realistic this year: many leased EVs — Recurrent estimates more than 500,000 returns — are entering the market. Instead, demand has strengthened enough to offset rising supply.
Several forces are converging:
- Higher fuel costs are nudging buyers toward electric and other fuel-efficient vehicles.
- Consumers are weighing total cost of ownership — lower routine maintenance and potential fuel savings make used EVs more attractive.
- More models and price points are now available, giving shoppers a broader set of affordable options.
- Policy shifts removed a federal EV purchase incentive earlier than planned, altering new-car demand and feeding interest in the used market.
Which segments moved most
Price gains have been strongest at the lower end of the market. Recurrent shows used EVs priced under $20,000 rose roughly 9.4% in the first half of 2026, compared with smaller increases in the $20,000–$40,000 brackets. Higher-end used EVs — those above about $40,000 — saw mild declines.
This pattern suggests budget-conscious buyers are competing for the most affordable EVs, pushing their market value upward, while buyer appetite for premium electric models is softer.
What buyers and sellers should know
If you own an EV and are thinking of selling, the market is more favorable than it would be in a normal depreciation cycle. Sellers have a better chance of getting a stronger return than earlier this decade.
By contrast, shoppers hoping to get a deal on a used electric car may face higher sticker prices, especially for well-priced, lower-cost models. That can make timing and careful price-shopping more important than ever.
- Sellers: Expect stronger offers on many mainstream used EVs; consider timing your sale against local inventory levels.
- Buyers: Compare total ownership costs — charging access, local electricity rates, and likely maintenance savings matter as much as purchase price.
- Dealers: Inventory mix and ability to communicate lifetime cost advantages will affect how quickly vehicles move.
Broader context
EVs remain a small slice of the overall market: new electric cars were roughly 5.4% of new-vehicle sales in June, while used EVs accounted for about 2.4% of the used market, according to Cox Automotive. Still, the current price dynamics show that even modest shifts in demand or fuel costs can have outsized effects in a market that’s still developing.
For shoppers weighing an EV purchase today, the key variable is affordability. Whether someone chooses an electric model will often come down to how the total ownership math compares with conventional alternatives — and that calculation is changing in real time as gasoline prices and used-EV values move.
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Jordan Keller specializes in analyzing the US financial markets. With concrete recommendations, he helps you secure and boost your investments by providing strategies that adapt to market fluctuations.