Used electric cars find buyers faster in France than combustion-engine vehicles

Paris – 23 July 2026: Used electric cars are being sold faster in France for the first time than comparable vehicles with petrol or diesel engines. This is shown by the latest half-year barometer from Avere-France, Mobilians and AAA Data for the second quarter of 2026. On average, 138 days passed between purchase by a professional dealer and re-registration. For used combustion-engine vehicles, the period was 142 days.

The shift is particularly notable because electric cars had previously tended to wait longer for buyers on the used-car market. In the first quarter of 2026, their average time on the market was still 151 days. It therefore fell by 13 days within three months. At the same time, the figures show that the market is not uniform: age, vehicle class, region and sales channel have a significant impact on demand.

Electric vehicles aged between three and five years are particularly sought after. They accounted for 58 percent of sales by professional providers in the second quarter and were sold after an average of 128 days. For newer vehicles less than three years old, the figure was 126 days. Electric cars aged between five and eight years, by contrast, remained in dealers’ inventory much longer, at an average of 190 days.

There are also major regional differences. In Ile-de-France, used electric cars changed hands after an average of 103 days, faster than combustion-engine vehicles, for which 111 days were recorded. In Hauts-de-France, the period was 105 days. Sales were significantly slower in Centre-Val de Loire, Bourgogne-Franche-Comte, Brittany and Pays de la Loire.

Factors include a broader supply, lower prices and greater buyer familiarity with electric drivetrains. The analysts also point to higher petrol prices, which can make the running costs of an electric car appear more attractive. Vehicles first registered between 2020 and 2023 are now increasingly reaching the used-car market. This is particularly expanding the supply of newer models.

In June 2026, transactions involving used electric cars rose by 73 percent year on year to 23,222 vehicles, according to AAA Data. The overall French used-car market, by contrast, declined slightly over the same period. Electric cars still clearly represent a minority by volume, but they are gaining importance. According to the analysis, 76 percent of buyers of a used electric car had previously switched from a petrol or diesel vehicle.

The trend does not mean that every model is equally in demand. The Mini III, Volkswagen ID.3 and several models from Renault, Dacia, Fiat and Tesla were among the faster-selling electric cars in the second quarter. Older versions of the Nissan Leaf, Kia Soul and BMW i3, for example, took significantly longer. The used-car market is thus increasingly becoming the decisive test of the price, everyday usability and value retention of electric mobility.