1. Start with the battery — always
The battery is roughly a third of the car's value, and the only part you cannot judge from the outside. Ask for a recent SOH measurement (State of Health) or have one done on the spot — it only takes a few minutes. Put the number next to the age of the car: what is normal, you can read in our article about good SOH values. Also check the cell balance: a nice percentage with a large cell difference is still a warning.
2. Check the remaining battery warranty
Most manufacturers warrant the battery for about 8 years or 160,000 km, down to a health threshold of often around 70%. Check how much warranty is left and whether the battery sits comfortably above it — just above the threshold is a solid price argument. How that warranty works exactly is in our warranty article.
3. Check the charging — all of it
- Fast charger: charge briefly at a fast charger during the test drive — does the car reach normal charging power?
- Home charging: are the original charging cables included? New cables easily cost hundreds of euros
- Charging flap and plug: no damaged or melted contacts
- Charging history: ask how the car was mainly charged — daily fast charging wears the battery faster than home charging
4. The test drive: what to watch
- Range estimate: does the expected range on the dashboard roughly match the battery size and the weather?
- Regenerative braking: does the car slow down smoothly and without jolts when you release the pedal?
- Noises: an EV is quiet — ticking, humming or whining stands out. Take it seriously
- Error messages: even messages that "disappear by themselves" are a reason to ask further
5. Paperwork and history
- Maintenance history — an EV needs maintenance too (brakes, battery coolant, tyres)
- Software updates — is the car up to date? Some battery warranties require updated software
- Damage history — especially underbody damage can have hit the battery
- Chassis number — during our measurement we check whether the chassis number in the battery system belongs to the car; a swapped battery is exposed immediately
6. Negotiate with proof
With a battery certificate in hand, the price negotiation is no longer a yes-no game. Is the battery healthy? Then you know you are making a good buy. More wear than expected? Then you have a hard, verifiable argument for a lower price — or a good reason to walk on to the next car.
Want to know what you are buying first?
One measurement, a few minutes, black-and-white results with QR authenticity check — before you sign.
Request a test More about CARVOLT