Used electric cars are now selling faster than traditional gasoline cars!
Are electric cars difficult to resell? Recent figures released by Mobilians, Avere-France, and AAA Data tell a different story. In the third quarter of 2026, professionals took less time to resell their electric models compared to conventional vehicles. This trend confirms the gradual transformation of the used car market.
We still often hear that electric cars are hard to resell for various reasons... Yet, the latest data from the French market show that the situation is changing. Some of the results are even quite surprising.
Electric cars sell faster than conventional vehicles
This is probably the most interesting finding from the latest barometer published by Mobilians, Avere-France, and AAA Data. In the third quarter of 2026, a used electric vehicle stayed with a dealer on average for 134 days before being sold, compared to 147 days for a conventional vehicle. That’s nearly two weeks less time for electric cars to sell. And this is unprecedented!
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This disparity is particularly interesting given that the trends are opposite. The resale time for electric vehicles continues to decrease: it was still 161 days in the fourth quarter of 2025, then dropped to 138 days in the second quarter of 2026. Meanwhile, the resale time for conventional vehicles is increasing. These statistics refer to professional inventories and do not allow for the same conclusions to be drawn regarding private sales.
At the same time, the supply continues to grow. Professionals now have 61,569 used electric vehicles, accounting for 9% of their total vehicle inventory. This represents a 5% increase compared to the previous quarter.
Which electric vehicles sell faster than others?
Not all electric cars are created equal, of course. The differences vary significantly by category. For city cars, the average delivery time dropped from 138 to 117 days in one quarter. Electric SUVs show remarkable improvement, with a delivery time of 83 days compared to 141 days for their gasoline equivalents.
The Tesla Model Y benefits from price reductions on new models since the beginning of the year. These adjustments have made used units more attractive. Among other models, the older generation Renault Twingo electric stands out. In the third quarter, 60% of its transactions were completed within three months. It outperforms the electric Mini (57%) and the Renault Mégane E-Tech (52%). In terms of volume, the Peugeot e-208 leads sales with 1,820 units sold.
A Market That Is Growing Despite Challenges
The French used electric vehicle market saw 61,349 transactions in the third quarter of 2026. This represents a 15% decrease from the previous quarter, a time when used electric vehicles experienced huge demand due to the sudden rise in fuel prices. However, it still represents a 40% increase compared to a year earlier.
What about price? With purchase subsidies, a new electric vehicle costs an average of 35,543 €, compared to 33,672 € for a used electric vehicle under three years old. The difference is only 5%, which might encourage some drivers to opt for new models. However, older models still offer a greater financial advantage. Across all age groups, a used electric vehicle costs an average of 23,384 €. This highlights that the second-hand market plays a crucial role in making electric vehicles more accessible to everyone.
