Rapid depreciation was once one of the biggest drawbacks of buying an electric vehicle. It also created opportunities for used-car shoppers: EVs could lose value quickly, making them expensive to own but appealing bargains on the secondhand market.
Those bargains may be getting harder to find. Used electric vehicles are now rising in price and selling faster than gasoline-powered cars, according to a recent iSeeCars study.
Average asking prices for used EVs climbed 9.8% from September 2025 to September 2026. Prices for gasoline vehicles rose just 0.3% over the same period.
The study looked at more than 1.5 million used vehicles between one and five years old. It found that used EVs spent an average of 41.9 days on the market, compared with 54.8 days for gasoline cars.
The price gap has also flipped. A year ago, used EVs averaged $2,227 less than gasoline vehicles. By September 2026, they averaged $579 more—a swing of $2,806 in twelve months.
For shoppers set on a gasoline car, the figures may point to more room for negotiation.
A changing market
Used-car shoppers tend to look for the most vehicle they can get for their money. When gasoline was cheaper, EVs often needed a significant price advantage to draw buyers. That advantage has largely disappeared.
Higher fuel prices may be part of the reason. A recovery in EV demand after federal purchase incentives ended in 2025 could also be contributing to the shift.
Used EV asking prices were still lower year over year during the first three months of 2026. They moved into positive territory in April, then continued to post annual gains. September was the sixth consecutive month of increases.
Asking prices aren’t sale prices
There’s an important qualification: the study tracks advertised prices, not the amounts buyers ultimately pay. A 9.8% increase in asking prices doesn’t mean customers are paying exactly 9.8% more at dealerships. Dealers may accept less, though the consistent method does make year-over-year comparisons useful.
How long cars stay listed offers another clue. Used EVs spent 10.1% less time on the market than they did a year earlier. Gasoline vehicles, by contrast, took 19.9% longer to sell.
That extra time could give shoppers more leverage. In September 2025, gasoline cars spent an average of 45.7 days on the market. By September 2026, the figure had risen to 54.8 days.
For dealers, a vehicle that sits unsold ties up money and adds carrying costs. A car that has been listed for nearly two months may be a better negotiation prospect than one that arrived last week, especially if the dealership has several similar models.
That doesn’t make every gas-powered vehicle a bargain. The study averages together many makes, models, and price ranges. Still, shoppers who are open to gasoline cars may have reason to bargain firmly.
Check how long the specific car has been advertised, compare it with similar vehicles at other dealerships, and don’t assume the sticker price is final. A dealer with an aging vehicle in stock may be more flexible than the window price suggests.
Which EVs are selling fastest?
The overall numbers conceal big differences among electric models. The Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron was the fastest-selling used EV in the study, taking an average of 29.8 days to sell. The Toyota bZ4X followed at 33.3 days, and the Lexus RZ 300e averaged 34.3 days.
Tesla models saw some of the sharpest price increases. The Model S rose 22.5% year over year, the Model X increased 18%, and the Model 3 climbed 15.4%. Three Tesla models were among the five used vehicles with the largest price gains.
The average used Model 3 was listed for $28,931—nearly $3,900 more than a year earlier. Shoppers waiting for used Tesla prices to fall further may have to wait longer.
Some electric vehicles are taking much longer to sell. The Cadillac Escalade IQ averaged 128.7 days on the market, while the GMC Sierra EV took 93.2 days and the Chevrolet Silverado EV 89.1 days.
Those slower-selling electric SUVs and pickups could present opportunities to negotiate, though their prices place them in a different category from a typical family sedan.
Purchase price isn’t the whole picture
A used EV may still make financial sense even with a higher asking price. Charging at home can cost less than filling a tank, and electric vehicles avoid some routine expenses, such as oil changes.
But battery condition, warranty coverage, access to charging, insurance, and future depreciation all affect ownership costs. Gasoline cars have their own trade-offs: a lower purchase price doesn’t necessarily mean lower overall costs, particularly if fuel remains expensive.
For buyers considering either type of vehicle, the biggest advertised discount isn’t always the best value. And if you’re shopping for a gasoline car, pay attention to how long it has been sitting on the lot. A dealer who has been waiting for a buyer may have more reason to negotiate.
