Used EVs and petrol cars reach price parity for the first time

• Neil Frost, MD Autorola UK

USED petrol and electric cars reached price parity for the first time in Q1 2026 according to online wholesale remarketing company Autorola.

Between Q4 2025 and Q1 2026, analysis of vehicles Autorola sold to online wholesale buyers saw used petrol prices increase by 5.1% (£768) to £15,727 while used EVs fell by -9.1% (£1,558) to £15,486 during the same period.

Therefore, the two powertrains were separated by just £241, the lowest price difference between the two fuel types recorded by Autorola.

The average age and mileage of used EVs in Q1 was 32 months and 20,002 miles compared with 37 months and 22,606 miles for used petrol cars, which means buyers were purchasing a younger and lower mileage used EV for less money than a used petrol car.

In Q1 Autorola witnessed a major increase in bids for used EVs which helped gain a market share of 10.4% of all sales, a major increase on the 5.4% achieved in Q4 2025.

Neil Frost, MD Autorola UK’s MD, commented: “We have seen a major increase in bids for used EVs on our online MarketPlace portal with sales nearly doubling in just a three-month period. This has been helped by used EV prices falling alongside an increase in volumes reaching auction following the launch of the new 26-plate registration plate in March, while the increase in ICE fuel prices could have also contributed to their popularity.”