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electric car buying4 MIN

Used-EV Sales Surge in the U.S. as Lease Returns Expand the Market

Used-EV sales are surging as lease returns expand supply, but August 2026 prices were higher year over year. Here is what the market data means for shoppers.

By CarCody Team

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Used-electric-vehicle sales are growing rapidly in the United States. Cox Automotive counted 44,350 used EVs sold in August 2026, up 14.7% from August 2025 and 25.9% from July, giving EVs 2.8% of all used-vehicle sales that month. The increase reflects a larger pool of affordable pre-owned cars and more electric vehicles coming back from leases, but it does not mean every used EV is a bargain or that prices are falling across the board.

What the latest sales data shows

The August result is a monthly market signal, not a full-year 2026 total. It follows other evidence of expanding demand: Reuters reported 31,503 U.S. used-EV sales in January 2026, about 21% more than a year earlier, citing Cox Automotive. Reuters also reported 378,140 used-EV sales during 2025, roughly 35% above 2024, with that annual figure attributed to CarEdge.

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See the underlying monthly data in Cox Automotive’s August 2026 EV Market Monitor and the sales and buyer context in Reuters’ March 11, 2026 report.

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Measure Result Qualification
Used-EV sales, August 2026 44,350 Up 25.9% from July and 14.7% from August 2025; Cox Automotive
Used-EV share of used market 2.8% August 2026; Cox Automotive
Used-EV sales, January 2026 31,503 About 21% year over year; Cox figure reported by Reuters
Used-EV sales, calendar 2025 378,140 About 35% above 2024; CarEdge figure reported by Reuters

Why more used EVs are reaching buyers

Lease returns are enlarging supply

Electric vehicles leased several years ago are now returning to dealers and wholesale auctions. The National Auto Auction Association’s Q1 2026 report cites a Cox Automotive projection that off-lease EV volume will rise 185% year over year to approximately 300,000 vehicles in 2026. That is a forecast, not a final observed count. More lease returns can give shoppers a broader choice of model years, prices and mileage, while also increasing the number of vehicles dealers must price competitively.

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The report is available in the NAAA/AuctionNet Q1 2026 wholesale report.

Depreciation is bringing newer technology within reach

Reuters described steep depreciation as one reason shoppers are considering pre-owned EVs. Used buyers can obtain a vehicle with modern driver assistance and charging capability without paying its original new-car price. Reliability improvements and a wider charging network were also cited as market context, although the available reports do not measure how much each factor contributed to the sales increase.

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Incentives changed the new-versus-used comparison

Federal EV incentives expired in 2025, according to Reuters and Cox. That policy change affects the relative pricing of new and used vehicles, but eligibility and transaction rules are fact-specific; verify current law independently before assuming a credit applies to a purchase.

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Are used electric cars getting cheaper?

It depends on the time period and the measure. Cox recorded an average used-EV listing price of $37,441 in August 2026. That was 1.0% lower than July but 8.2% higher than August 2025, and it represented a 7.8% premium over ICE+ vehicles (internal-combustion vehicles plus hybrids in Cox’s comparison).

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A different market snapshot looked weaker: Cox reported a $34,575 average listing price in September 2025, down 6.5% year over year, with a $679 premium over used ICE+ vehicles. Those figures cannot be combined into a single claim that used EVs are either universally getting cheaper or universally getting more expensive. They cover different months and market conditions. The historical monitor is Cox’s September 2025 report.

What the wholesale market adds to the picture

Cox’s year-end 2025 Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index release said EV wholesale values posted year-over-year gains for nine consecutive months through December 2025, while non-EV wholesale values rose 0.4% year over year in December. Cox also forecast that EVs would represent a growing share of the wholesale index as more vehicles returned to the used market. Wholesale values are not retail transaction prices, so they indicate auction-market direction rather than the amount a consumer will pay at a particular dealership. Read the release at Cox Automotive’s December 2025 Manheim report.

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How to decide whether a used EV fits you

1. Match range to your actual driving

Use the specific model year’s real-world range expectations, not only its original laboratory rating. Leave room for cold weather, highway speeds, heating or air-conditioning use and battery aging. A low purchase price is not useful if the car cannot cover your regular trips without inconvenient charging stops.

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2. Check battery condition and warranty

Ask for documented battery-health information when available and determine what the manufacturer’s battery warranty covers, its time and mileage limits, and whether it transfers to a second owner. There is no universal battery test method established by the cited sources, so understand how any inspection or report was produced rather than treating one score as definitive. Reuters quoted AutoForecast Solutions’ Sam Fiorani saying modern EV packs should survive the life of the vehicle, while noting that gradual degradation still occurs; that is an expert generalization, not a guarantee for an individual car.

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3. Verify charging compatibility

Confirm the vehicle’s connector, maximum AC and DC charging rates, and the chargers available along your routes. Home charging is valuable only when you have a suitable parking space, electrical capacity and permission to install equipment. Before buying a Level 2 home EV charger, verify connector compatibility, panel capacity, installation requirements and current pricing.

4. Review vehicle history

  • Check model year, mileage, accident and title history.
  • Confirm open recalls and completed software or hardware updates.
  • Review service records, tire condition and signs of prolonged storage.
  • Compare remaining warranty coverage with the vehicle’s age and odometer.

5. Calculate total ownership cost

Include financing, insurance, registration, electricity, public-charging fees, home-charger installation and likely tire or suspension work. EVs generally have fewer routine powertrain services; Reuters quoted CarEdge analyst Justin Fischer describing many drivers’ routine checks as little more than windshield-washer fluid and tires. That observation is not a promise of zero repairs or a substitute for the model’s maintenance schedule.

What buyers should not assume

  • Rising sales do not prove that every model has strong resale value.
  • A lower listing price does not reveal battery health or remaining warranty.
  • More charging stations do not guarantee convenient access where you live or travel.
  • A wholesale-value increase does not predict the retail price of a particular car.

Battery-health transparency and charging infrastructure remain central to buyer confidence and regional demand, as Cox noted in its September 2025 monitor. Compare the individual vehicle—not just the headline market trend—before committing.

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

electric car buyingEV batteriesEV marketused car salesused electric vehicles

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