ACV calls for: Subsidies for electric cars to be directed at used vehicles
Image: BMW
Interest in used electric cars is rising significantly: In September 2026, demand on AutoScout24 was 67 percent higher than the average level in January and February, according to ACV Automobil-Club Verkehr. Compared to August alone, purchase inquiries increased by 26.8 percent. However, those who buy a used electric car still do not receive any purchase subsidy from the federal government’s incentive program.
The ACV therefore calls for the available subsidies to be used for used electric vehicles as well. In the view of the automobile club, the support should be more aligned with the purchasing reality of most private households, for whom used cars are the primary option. Restricting it to new vehicles thus ignores a crucial pathway to electric mobility.
"A purchase subsidy for new cars is of little help if a new car is simply beyond one’s budget. Those who want to make electric mobility accessible to broader segments of the population must support used electric vehicles," says ACV CEO Holger Küster.
The government subsidy for electric car purchases, in effect since January 1, 2026 and available for application since May, is currently limited to the purchase and leasing of new vehicles. Even the subsidies provided up to 2023 primarily benefited higher-income households. According to ACV, supporting used electric cars would also make it easier for those who cannot afford a new vehicle to make the switch.
According to the association, in addition to a purchase bonus, binding standards for battery health certificates are needed to strengthen the used car market for electric vehicles. Such certificates are already available from various providers. However, the methods for determining battery health, known as State of Health, differ somewhat in their calculation bases and reference values. This makes it difficult to compare results and thus to make informed purchasing decisions.
"A battery certificate should answer questions rather than raise new ones. Buyers need to be able to understand what the indicated battery health means and whether the figures from different offers are comparable. For that, we need a binding standard," says Küster.
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About the author
Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with professional experience in the automotive industry and finance sector. Since 2011, he has been covering electric vehicles, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions for ecomento.de. Learn more.
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