Updated 19 October 2026 with the latest market, running cost and charging figures.
Is now a good time to buy an electric car? In 2026 more people than ever think so: a record 28% of new cars registered in September were fully electric, and demand for used electric cars is up 40% on a year ago, as petrol and diesel prices hit record highs. But whether an EV makes sense for you still comes down to where you can charge it. This guide sets out the costs, the market, and what to check before you buy a used one.
The short answer
- Yes, if you can charge at home. Off-peak home charging can cost around 2p to 3p a mile, against roughly 18p for a petrol car.
- Think harder if you’d rely on public rapid chargers. At around 79p per kWh, they can cost more per mile than petrol.
- New EVs: the government’s Electric Car Grant takes up to £3,750 off eligible models under £37,000.
- Used EVs: plenty of choice, from under £10,000, but check the battery and the car’s history first.
The electric car market in 2026
Electric cars are no longer a niche. According to the SMMT:
- A record 99,201 battery electric cars were registered in September 2026, 28.3% of the new car market, up from 23.3% a year earlier.
- From January to September 2026, EVs took 26.2% of new car sales, up from 22.1% in the same months of 2025.
- The government’s zero-emission vehicle mandate requires 33% of new cars to be zero-emission in 2026, rising to 80% in 2030. A review of the targets for 2027 onwards is under consultation until 23 October 2026; the 2030 and 2035 end dates are not part of it.
The used market is growing even faster. Used electric car sales rose 67% to 110,761 in the second quarter of 2026, a record 5.5% of used sales (SMMT). Auto Trader puts the average used EV at £25,091 in September 2026, up 2.8% on a year earlier: the only fuel type with rising prices, as demand rose 40%. Used EVs also sold faster than any other fuel type in October, in 25 days on average. Our report on used EV sales 2026 looks at what this means for buyers and sellers.
Running costs: is an electric car cheaper to run?
It depends almost entirely on where you charge. These are our estimates per mile, for an EV doing 3.5 miles per kWh and a petrol car doing 45mpg:
| How you fuel it | Price | Cost per mile |
|---|---|---|
| EV, off-peak home tariff | around 7p to 9p per kWh | 2p to 3p |
| EV, standard home tariff (price cap) | 26.32p per kWh | 7p to 8p |
| EV, public charger (up to 49kW) | 54p per kWh | around 16p |
| EV, public rapid charger (50kW+) | 79p per kWh | around 23p |
| Petrol car | 174.9p per litre | around 18p |
Electricity prices are from Ofgem’s price cap for October to December 2026, with VAT removed from electricity bills until 31 March 2027; public charging prices are Zapmap’s September 2026 averages; and the petrol price is the UK average on 5 October 2026. Which? found EV owners who can’t charge at home are unlikely to save money on fuel. Electric cars also need less routine servicing: no oil changes, and brakes that last longer.
Buying new: the Electric Car Grant
The government’s Electric Car Grant takes up to £3,750, or up to £1,500 depending on the model, off eligible new electric cars priced at £37,000 or less. The dealer applies it, so you don’t need to claim it yourself. It runs until March 2030, and more than 160,000 drivers had used it by August 2026. Check the eligible models on GOV.UK before you buy.
Tax on electric cars
Electric cars have paid road tax since April 2025: £10 for the first year, then the standard £200 a year. Cars registered from April 2025 with a list price over £50,000 pay £440 a year more for five years. From April 2028, a pay-per-mile charge of 3p a mile will be added. Our electric car tax guide explains it all.
Charging: is there enough?
Zapmap counted 124,738 public chargers across the UK at the end of September 2026, up 7.4% on a year earlier, including 29,722 rapid and ultra-rapid chargers. If you live in a flat or rent, grants of up to £500 can help pay for a home charger.
How long do electric car batteries last?
Longer than many people fear. Telematics firm Geotab found EV batteries lose about 2.3% of their capacity a year on average, leaving around 82% after eight years; batteries charged mostly at home lasted better than those used heavily on rapid chargers. A Which? survey of owners found cars from 2018 and 2019 still had about 94% of their original range. Most batteries come with an eight-year or 100,000-mile warranty.
Buying a used electric car: what to check
- Battery health: ask for a battery health certificate showing the battery’s remaining capacity, and how much of the battery warranty is left.
- Range: make sure the car’s real-world range covers your longest regular journey, with room to spare. Early EVs may manage 100 miles or less.
- Charging: check the connector type and the maximum charging speed. Some older EVs charge slowly or use connectors that are now rare.
- History: an electric car can be stolen, written off or still owe finance, just like any other.
Our free electric vehicle check shows a used electric car’s battery type, charging connector, plug location, real-world and maximum range, charging times and running costs from its registration. Start with our free car check, then run a full car history check before you pay to check whether the car has been stolen or written off, or still has finance owing. See Silver and Gold check prices.
So, is now a good time to buy an electric car?
If you can charge at home and most of your driving is within a car’s range, 2026 is a good time: running costs are far lower than petrol or diesel while fuel prices are high, there’s a wider choice of used EVs than ever, and batteries are lasting well. If you’d rely on public rapid charging, the savings shrink or disappear, so do the sums first, and consider a hybrid instead.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth buying an electric car in 2026?
For most people who can charge at home, yes. Which? estimates an EV saves around £31 to £56 a month on fuel compared with a hybrid, depending on your tariff.
Are used electric cars a good buy?
They can be. Batteries are holding up well, and there’s plenty of choice. Check the battery’s health and warranty, and the car’s history, before you buy.
How long do EV batteries last?
Many will outlast the car’s other major parts: on average they lose about 2.3% of capacity a year, and most come with an eight-year or 100,000-mile warranty.
Is it cheaper to run an electric car?
At home, yes: around 2p to 8p a mile against around 18p for petrol. On public rapid chargers it can cost more.
- SMMT: new car registrations, September 2026
- SMMT: used car sales, Q2 2026
- Ofgem: energy price cap, October to December 2026
- Zapmap: EV charging statistics
- GOV.UK: Electric Car Grant
- Our used EV sales 2026 report
- The ultimate guide to buying a used electric car
- EV charger types: a complete guide
- ULEZ and clean air zones: a complete UK guide
Look up a used electric car’s range, battery and charging details with our free electric vehicle check.