Are used EVs getting more expensive?

In September 2026, the average asking price of used EVs on AutoScout24 rose by 2.1 percent. At the same time, AUTO1 reports no change from August for used EVs in the European dealer-to-dealer market.

Both figures can be correct. AutoScout24 looks at German listings and their asking prices. AUTO1 analyses European dealer-to-dealer sale prices and expresses them as an index. Applying these figures to a specific car overlooks the very distinction that matters when comparing prices.

The word “price” appears in all three reports. Yet it refers to three different stages: the list price of a new car, the amount asked in a used-car listing and the sale price between dealers.

The periods also differ. The IEA compares 2024 and 2025. AutoScout24 and AUTO1 compare August and September 2026 here. AUTO1 also reports a 20.6 percent increase since January in its European EV index. This year-to-date change must not be combined arithmetically with AutoScout24’s monthly figure.

In the AutoScout24 report, the EV average rises from 38,220 euros in August to 39,006 euros in September. That is a difference of 786 euros or, before rounding, approximately 2.06 percent.

This does not mean that the same car became 786 euros more expensive within a month. The average can also change if different models, battery variants, age groups or equipment specifications were listed in September. In this part of the report, no fixed group of models is published that would allow this effect to be removed from the calculation.

For a car on your shortlist, you therefore need two separate comparisons:

• 1. The same listing: has the seller changed the price? Record the date, asking price and any changed terms.
• 2. Other comparable listings: compare only cars of the same model generation and battery or powertrain variant, with a similar age and mileage. Look at dealer and private listings separately.

Only then can you ask whether the car you want is following the broader market. The two monthly reports provide context, but do not yet establish a discount or a premium.

According to the Global EV Outlook 2026, the inflation-adjusted, sales-weighted average price of new battery-electric passenger cars in Germany fell by around six percent in 2025 compared with 2024. The IEA identifies lower-priced new models and falling battery costs as contributing factors. At the same time, prices rose in the mid-range vehicle segment. IEA: “New electric car prices”

Footnote 9 contains an important definition: the figures are based on list prices including VAT, purchase taxes and dealer mark-ups. Negotiated discounts, purchase subsidies and registration taxes are excluded. This is therefore not a survey of the final prices actually paid. IEA: Price definition, reference 9

The figure refers to new battery-electric cars, or BEVs. It covers neither plug-in hybrids nor used EVs.

A sales-weighted average accounts for how often each model was sold. A car that sells frequently has a greater effect on the result than one that rarely finds a buyer.

The following example is entirely fictional. It explains the calculation and represents neither the German market nor the IEA’s six-percent change. We consider two unchanged cars at unchanged prices and ignore inflation, discounts and taxes as separate factors.

For year A, the calculation is: 40 × €30,000 plus 60 × €50,000, divided by 100 cars sold. The result is €42,000. In year B, we reverse only the numbers sold and arrive at €38,000.

The average therefore falls by €4,000, or around 9.5 percent. Anyone who still wants to buy the larger car nevertheless sees the same €50,000 on the price tag.

The additional choice can be very welcome for buyers of the smaller car. For buyers of the larger car, it does not yet mean a discount. That is precisely why you should ask of every average: has the price changed, has the mix of cars sold changed, or have both changed?

Even without a change in the model mix, two statements about prices can be correct at the same time. If a fictional car price stays at €40,000 and the general price level rises by two percent, the car still costs a nominal €40,000. In the previous year’s money, that is around €39,216: 40,000 divided by 1.02.

In real terms, the calculation would make it around two percent cheaper. The buyer’s invoice would still show €40,000. This example is also made up and says nothing about actual inflation or a specific car.

For your budget, what matters first is the amount you actually need to pay. An inflation-adjusted price trend is useful for market comparisons. It does not tell you whether you need to transfer less money today than a buyer did the year before.

AutoScout24 also reports 26.8 percent more purchase enquiries for EVs in September and 1.2 percent fewer listings than in August. This can be consistent with a tighter market. But it does not prove that demand alone caused the higher average price, and it does not predict the coming months.

The demand chart with its footnote in the September 2026 AGPI, page 6 shows an index of 167 for September 2026 and 119 for September 2025. However, for each year’s line, the average for January and February of that same year is set to 100. The two September values therefore have different baselines. The chart does not reveal how many purchase enquiries these represent or whether the absolute number was higher in September 2026 than in September 2025. The chart is not seasonally adjusted. Its footnote also mentions the change in methodology in March 2025 and describes the previous year’s line as a guide. Purchase enquiries are also not a count of unique buyers or completed purchases. For your price comparison, this means that a higher asking price for the car you want cannot be justified by the gap between 167 and 119. You still need to compare suitable vehicle listings.

Do not let a single percentage figure pressure you into a quick decision. What matters for your decision is whether suitable cars are available within your budget and which differences explain their prices.

Alongside the market average, compare a small selection that you keep as consistent as possible. You do not need a large database for this. A few carefully documented listings that you would genuinely consider are enough to start.

Record the same points for every listing:

When you look again, first check whether it is still the same offer. If the lower price comes with a smaller battery, different equipment or different terms, you are no longer comparing like for like.

If you are seriously interested, ask for a written offer for the exact configuration and the terms that apply to you. This lets you compare amounts you can actually base a decision on. A published market average does not replace that request.

A new model can give you another option. You need to check the specific listing to see what effect it has on the asking price of a particular used car. A general new-car figure does not tell you how much to deduct from that price.

Suppose your budget could cover a smaller new EV or a larger used one. I would then look at two questions side by side: does the smaller car meet your requirements? And what additional documents and checks do you need for the used car you are considering? Only then can you put the price difference in context.

Do not automatically compare with the used car’s original new price either. Ask yourself which suitable alternatives your budget can buy today. You cannot spend a high original list price or put it to use day to day.

Our explanation of German used-car market data helps you distinguish asking prices from purchase prices. The first-year budget template adds your other expenses to the asking price.

Are used EVs generally becoming more expensive now?

AutoScout24 reports that the EV average for German listings in September 2026 was 2.1 percent higher than in August. AUTO1 reports an unchanged EV index for European B2B sale prices in the same month. Both figures refer to groups, not every model. To check whether the car you want has become more expensive, you need to keep the variant the same and compare suitable listings.

Can I use the AUTO1 index to negotiate the price?

It shows the European price environment in dealer-to-dealer trading. It does not give a German retail price for your car. For an actual price discussion, comparable current listings, the car’s condition, its documents and work already due are more informative.

Can I use the market figure to ask for a blanket discount?

Comparable listings and specific, documented differences are more helpful as a basis for negotiation. Show what other sellers are offering for the same variant, in a similar condition and on clear terms. An average is not a price list for the car you want.

Should I wait for further price cuts?

Set a time frame and a budget limit that suit your needs. If you can wait, monitor the same small selection over that period. Decide based on how it changes and on your alternatives. The future trend cannot be inferred from the year-on-year comparison alone.

Is a car priced below the average automatically a good deal?

It may simply belong to a lower-priced vehicle class. What matters is whether its price makes sense against suitable alternatives and whether the car meets your requirements. Also check the conditions attached to the quoted amount.

Where does the figure come from, and who created the worked example?

The new-car price figure in the IEA section comes from the IEA. Both worked examples and the buyer questions come from Vehilo. The examples are not listings collected from the market.

In the free First Look, Vehilo puts a listing’s visible details and the questions still to ask in context. If your main concern is specific wording, you can also use our guide to listing language (German).

Request a free First Look

The AutoScout24 Used Car Price Index for September 2026 was published on 1 October 2026. According to the methodology sheet, the calculation is based on around 700,000 listings from the German AutoScout24 database. Vehicles priced up to 250,000 euros are included, with no age limit. Demand figures are based on purchase enquiries. The methodology was adjusted in March 2025.

The AUTO1 Group Price Index for September 2026 was published on 30 September 2026. It is based on B2B sale prices from European AUTO1 trading. AUTO1 calculates monthly values by categories such as vehicle class, powertrain and mileage, applies weights, removes outliers and seasonally adjusts the index. The current methodology page states that the database contains around 6.2 million transactions, but does not give a count for the September figure alone.

The IEA analysis already used here was published on 20 May 2026 and covers new battery-electric passenger cars in Germany in the observation year 2025. It remains here as an example of why the price type, period and model mix must be clear before drawing any conclusion.

The sources for the comparison and worked example were checked on 2 October 2026. The AGPI demand chart, including its annual baseline and footnote, was checked against the original report on 14 October 2026. The comparison and worked example were prepared by ChatGPT on behalf of Vehilo and edited for this update. Vehilo did not collect any listings, observe any vehicle transaction or assess the price of any individual car for this work.