Most used EV buyers looking for 300-mile range
News
Consumer interested in used EVs and charging speeds is on the up, too.
GE
George East
20 October 2026 · 2 min read
A range of 300 miles is what most used electric car buyers want, say 30% of dealers surveyed in October’s Startline Used Car Tracker.
This month’s findings showed that 23% of dealers believe UK motorists prefer a 400-mile range, and only 17 are happy with sub-200 miles. Just 3% of drivers will accept a 100-mile range, and another 3% want a range of more than 500 miles. Around 15% want the longest range possible.
The data correlates with a wider trend across the used car market. In September this year, the AA reported searches for electric-only vehicles were up 37% on August, and 49.6% higher year-on-year. This is due to rising petrol and diesel prices, with the latter reaching up to £2.00 per litre.
Startline’s latest survey also showed that 65% of dealers believe buyers are becoming more interested in charging speeds instead of outright range; 55% say drivers are now more informed about range needs.
In parallel, programmes such as EV Retail Ready are offering independent car dealers stocking and selling used EVs training schemes related to costs, running, and maintenance. Manufacturer-backed dealer networks also offer similar knowledge-based programmes to counter disinformation surrounding electric vehicles.
Paul Burgess, CEO of Startline Motor Finance, the firm behind the Startline Used Car Tracker, said: “Dealers feel their customers are developing a more sophisticated understanding of charging, especially that a faster charging speed can be more significant than outright range. As electric cars become increasingly common, this kind of well-informed attitude should become more widespread.”
The most popular second-hand EVs on sale in the UK include the Tesla Model 3, Model Y, the BMW i4, and the Volkswagen ID 3. Depending on trim level and battery size, each can easily manage over 300 miles of range on a single charge. If you’re looking to take the plunge into all-electric motoring, read our back catalogue of used EV buying guides by clicking here.