Buying electric privately - does it happen?

[clive_candy]

Just wondering if anyone's actually done this?

Was looking at a Renault 5, wouldn't consider paying £30k to buy new of course so second-hand.

Nothing private on Autotrader, because they're too new or because they're electric?

[MrTrilby]

They’re quite new. I bought privately in December. Nearly bought a 5, but ended up either a Born instead. There are significant incentives on some cars when buying new that help with the depreciation. We generally keep our cars far longer than 3 years, so leasing has less appeal and depreciation less of an issue.

[paul_c123]

Probably because they're too new.

[Sheepshanks]

Sure I saw a 5 new for around £20K the other day.


I guess one reason why there won't be many nearly-new private sales is very few will have been bought cash.

[Terminator X]

I assume most will be PCP or leases so you'll need to wait 3-4 years to see a lot 2nd hand.

TX.

[South tdf]

People don’t sell mainstream cars privately anymore unless they have a story or they are sub £5k.

Motorway/ WBAC / Carwow etc have cornered the market and from experience it is a lot easier to sell a car on Motorway than have 50 people phone you with “best price” Will you take a PX etc.

[Quattr04.]

The 5 has been out less than a year, don’t think many people will be getting rid soon,

There’s plenty of used ID3s and other Evs being sold privately

[LeoSayer]

I would definitely get quotes from new car brokers like carwow and drivethedea if you are looking at a used car less than a year old.

[ZX10R NIN]

There are a decent amount of pre registered 5's out there so do your research.

[LeoSayer]

ZX10R NIN said:

There are a decent amount of pre registered 5's out there so do your research.

There sure is - starting at £19k:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?make=Renau...

[loafer123]

LeoSayer said:

ZX10R NIN said:

There are a decent amount of pre registered 5's out there so do your research.

There sure is - starting at £19k:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?make=Renau...

It depends upon the battery.

The cheapest 52kw one on there is £23k.

[ZX10R NIN]

loafer123 said:

It depends upon the battery.

The cheapest 52kw one on there is £23k.

21k for a 52kwh Techno:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509086...

[FWIW]

clive_candy said:

Just wondering if anyone's actually done this?

No. Of course they haven’t.

[MG4XPower]

I did. Brand new MG4 XPower for £24.5k.

[ChocolateFrog]

MG4XPower said:

I did. Brand new MG4 XPower for £24.5k.

How did you buy a new car privately?

[loafer123]

ZX10R NIN said:

21k for a 52kwh Techno:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509086...

Fair enough - I didn’t spot that one!

[MG4XPower]

ChocolateFrog said:

MG4XPower said:

I did. Brand new MG4 XPower for £24.5k.

How did you buy a new car privately?

Oops - I misinterpreted it as salary sacrifice vs regular purchase. Ignore my previous comment.

[fooman]

I bought a Renault 5 for cash, well technically my business paid but it wouldn't have made any difference to the dealer as long as the money landed in their account.

[ChocolateFrog]

I think it's similar to selling an ICE car privately. Once you get over £10k you're swimming upstream against all the people that can't really afford it or don't want to spend such a substantial sum with essentially no comeback.

[SteBrown91]

I bought my Ix3 privately at 2 and a bit years old.

It was one of only about 10 or so Premier Pros on sale at that point in time, and was the cheapest bar a couple of ex lease high milers.

Private sales do exist but generally most people cannot be bothered anymore. But for the R5 it will purely be down to how new it is.