Title: Used electric car: how to check the battery | EREVergelijken Canonical: https://erevergelijken.eu/en/knowledge-base/tweedehands-elektrische-auto-accu-controleren/ Language: en Last modified: 2026-10-06 Source: EREVergelijken.eu (the ERE Team), CC BY 4.0 for the data Electric car # Buying a used electric car: how to check the battery How healthy is the battery of a used electric car? Which battery test is reliable, what the warranty covers, which RDW checks to run, plus a checklist. [By the ERE Team](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/about/) · Last checked October 6, 2026 · 7 min read In short - According to Milieu Centraal a battery usually loses about 2% of its capacity a year, but it varies per car; so have the battery measured before you buy. - A BOVAG and VER study found the Aviloo flash test and the Moba test give the most reliable picture; for warranty a manufacturer test is decisive. There is no official RDW battery certificate. - Battery warranty is usually 8 years or 160,000 km down to 70% capacity: an agreement between manufacturers, not law. Ask whether the warranty transfers to you. - A used car earns ERE just like a new one, as long as you charge at home with a charger that has an integrated MID meter. * * * ## Sources - [BOVAG - Study of the reliability of battery tests on used electric cars (18 December 2024): 185 test rounds on 24 makes and models, Aviloo flash test and Moba test most reliable, Bosch reasonable, 6.5% with a replaced battery, only garages can run the tests, manufacturer test decisive for warranty](https://www.bovag.nl/pers/persberichten/onderzoek-betrouwbaarheid-batterijtesten-tweedehands-elektrische-autos) - [Milieu Centraal - Buying a used electric car (usually about 2% capacity loss a year, temperature and cooling, test drive with a fast charge, battery warranty 8 years or 160,000 km down to 70%, differs per manufacturer)](https://www.milieucentraal.nl/duurzaam-vervoer/elektrische-auto/tweedehands-elektrische-auto-kopen/) - [Milieu Centraal - Charging an electric car (1x25A: up to 3.7 kW; 3x25A: 7.4 or 11 kW; home charger €1,300 to €2,200 including installation)](https://www.milieucentraal.nl/duurzaam-vervoer/elektrische-auto/opladen-elektrische-auto/) - [EU Regulation 2024/1257 (Euro 7), Annex II and art. 20: battery at least 80% up to 5 years or 100,000 km and 72% up to 8 years or 160,000 km; new types from 29 November 2026, all new cars from 29 November 2027](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/NL/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32024R1257) - [EU Battery Regulation 2023/1542, art. 13 and 77: battery passport with QR code for electric car batteries placed on the market from 18 February 2027](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/NL/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32023R1542) - [RDW (Dutch vehicle authority) - Tips when buying a vehicle (free plate check, “Tenaamstelling mogelijk?”, recalls; manufacturers not obliged to report them)](https://www.rdw.nl/kopen-of-verkopen/tips-bij-aankoop-van-een-voertuig) - [RDW - Checking the odometer (“Logisch”, “Onlogisch” or “Geen oordeel”; readings registered since 1 January 2014)](https://www.rdw.nl/uw-voertuig-en-uw-gegevens/informatie-over-uw-voertuig/kilometerstand-controleren) - [RDW - German odometer readings added to the register (27 January 2026): Belgian readings for imports from 13 January 2025, German from 3 February 2026](https://www.rdw.nl/nieuws/2026/rdw-neemt-ook-duitse-tellerstanden-op-in-kentekenregister) - [RDW - Checking a dealer’s vehicle report (online with document number and plate)](https://www.rdw.nl/kopen-of-verkopen/voertuigrapport-van-dealer-controleren) - [RDW - Looking up recalls (Overview tab, repair at the dealer free of charge)](https://www.rdw.nl/uw-voertuig-en-uw-gegevens/informatie-over-uw-voertuig/terugroepacties-opzoeken) - [Motor Vehicle Tax Act 1994 (Wet MRB), art. 23b: electric passenger car 70% of the rate in 2026, 2027 and 2028, 75% in 2029](https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0006324/2026-01-01) - [BPM Act 1992, art. 9 and 10: €687 BPM for an electric car in 2026; a depreciation applies to a used import](https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0005806/2026-01-01) - [RVO - SEPP (closed for good, applications up to and including 27 December 2024; in 2024 €2,000 for a used car)](https://www.rvo.nl/subsidies-financiering/sepp) - [RVO - Assessment of the trade-in subsidy for used electric cars (House of Representatives, 2026D45010): keep the car at least one year, opening Q4 2026 or otherwise Q2 2027](https://www.tweedekamer.nl/downloads/document?id=2026D45010) - [Taxence on the letter to Parliament on sustainable transport of 21 September 2026 (proposed €6,000 or €4,000, emission class 0 to 4, list price €12,000 to €60,000)](https://www.taxence.nl/?p=167634) - [NEa - Registering electricity (MID meter integrated in the charger since January 2026; always for private individuals, no transition year)](https://www.emissieautoriteit.nl/regelgeving/hernieuwbare-energie-voor-vervoer-eres/inboeken-hernieuwbare-energie-vervoer/inboeken-elektriciteit) - [NEa - Registering electricity for private individuals (2 February 2026): fixed renewable percentage of 50.5% in 2026](https://www.emissieautoriteit.nl/documenten/2026/02/02/inboeken-elektriciteit-particulieren) - [Energy for Transport Regulation (Regeling energie vervoer), art. 9 (kWh per the charge point’s meter; feeding back from the car doesn’t count) and art. 11 (conversion to ERE)](https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0041050) Short answer: with a used electric car, what matters most is how healthy the battery still is. According to Milieu Centraal a battery usually loses about 2% of its capacity a year, but that varies per car, so have it measured. A study by BOVAG and VER found that the Aviloo flash test and the Moba test give the most reliable picture. Also check the remaining battery warranty, run the free RDW plate check and see whether the car suits your connection at home. If you charge at home with a charger that has an integrated MID meter, a used car earns [ERE](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/knowledge-base/wat-is-ere-vergoeding-thuisladen/) too. At the bottom you’ll find a checklist for the viewing. ## How healthy is the battery? A battery’s condition is called its state of health (SoH): how much capacity is left compared with new. According to Milieu Centraal a battery usually loses about 2% a year. At that average a battery would have lost about 10% after five years, but the real figure differs per car and per use. So measuring beats estimating. According to Milieu Centraal, these points matter: - **Temperature.** Heat above 40 °C and cold below -10 °C are bad for a battery. - **Cooling.** A battery with active, liquid cooling stays in better condition than one with passive cooling. - **Fast charging.** Ask how often the car has been fast charged. ## Which battery test is reliable? There is no official RDW battery certificate: the RDW’s buying tips contain no battery check. Garages can test the battery, though. BOVAG and VER compared five battery test systems in 185 test rounds on 24 makes and models. | Test system | Outcome of the study | | --- | --- | | Aviloo flash test | The most reliable insight | | Moba test | The most reliable insight | | Bosch | A reasonable picture | | Mahle and Hella-Gutmann | Too little data for a verdict | What the study means for you: - **Only through a garage.** Only garages can run these tests; they are not meant for private use. Buying privately? Ask for a recent report or have the car tested at a garage first. - **Manufacturer test for warranty.** Where the factory warranty matters, BOVAG and VER advise always treating an official manufacturer test as the leading document. - **Replaced batteries happen.** In 6.5% of the tested cars the high-voltage battery had already been replaced. So ask about it. Milieu Centraal also recommends driving about 50 km and then fast charging, to see whether the charging time is right. ## Battery warranty: what is usual and what is law? Manufacturers have agreed among themselves to give 8 years or 160,000 km of battery warranty, whichever comes first. According to Milieu Centraal, it usually covers replacement if the battery drops below 70% of its original capacity within that period. It is not law, and the terms differ per manufacturer. Ask for them, and whether the warranty transfers to you as second owner. For new cars, the EU’s Euro 7 regulation sets a legal minimum: | | Usual factory warranty | Euro 7 minimum | | --- | --- | --- | | Status | Agreement between manufacturers | EU type-approval requirement | | Threshold | Replacement below 70%, up to 8 years or 160,000 km | At least 80% up to 5 years or 100,000 km, at least 72% up to 8 years or 160,000 km | | Applies to | Under the brand’s own terms | New car types from 29 November 2026, all new cars from 29 November 2027 | Euro 7 is not a consumer warranty and does not apply to cars already on the road; for a used car the manufacturer’s terms remain decisive. Batteries placed on the market from 18 February 2027 will also get a digital battery passport with a QR code. Most used cars won’t have one yet. More in the [buying guide](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/buying-an-electric-car/#battery-warranty). ## RDW checks: plate, odometer and recalls With just the number plate you can run a free plate check (kentekencheck) at the RDW, the Dutch vehicle authority. Look out for: - **“Tenaamstelling mogelijk?”** (can it be registered?). If this says “nee” (no), for example because the car was stolen or exported, you cannot register it in your name. - **Recalls.** These are under the Overview tab; repair at the dealer is free. According to the RDW, manufacturers are not obliged to report recalls, so ask as well. - **Odometer.** The RDW gives “Logisch” (logical), “Onlogisch” (illogical) or “Geen oordeel” (no verdict), based on readings since 1 January 2014. An import often gets “Geen oordeel”, but Belgian readings are included for cars imported from 13 January 2025, and German ones from 3 February 2026. - **Vehicle report.** A dealer’s RDW vehicle report can be checked online with the document number and plate; a private seller’s cannot. On tax: a used electric car pays the same road tax as a new one, 70% of the rate for a comparable petrol car in 2026, 2027 and 2028. If you import a car yourself, you pay BPM: the amount for a new electric car (€687 in 2026) minus a depreciation. See [car tax for an electric car in 2027](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/knowledge-base/autobelasting-elektrische-auto-2027/) and the [buying guide](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/buying-an-electric-car/#used). ## Charging: does the car suit your connection? How fast a car charges at home depends on its onboard charger and on your connection. On our [electric car pages](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/electric-cars/) you can see each model’s standard onboard charger, with its power and number of phases, and which home charger suits it. Watch the phases: a car that charges on one phase gets less power from a three-phase charger than the charger’s rating suggests. | Home connection | Charging power | Full charge takes | | --- | --- | --- | | Single-phase, usually 1x25A (often older homes) | Up to 3.7 kW | 10 to 20 hours | | Three-phase, 3x25A (many new-build homes) | 7.4 or 11 kW | 3.5 to 10 hours | Without a three-phase connection, Milieu Centraal says you can ask your grid operator for an upgrade; the cost depends on the cabling. Having a home charger installed costs about €1,300 to €2,200 including installation. Also check which cables come with the car and, if you want it later, whether the model supports [bidirectional charging](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/bidirectional-charging/). ## Subsidy for a used electric car There is no national purchase subsidy now. The SEPP subsidy has closed for good: applications ran up to and including 27 December 2024, and in 2024 it paid €2,000 for a used car. The government is working on a trade-in subsidy for lower incomes who scrap an old petrol or diesel car (emission class 0 to 4) and buy or privately lease a used electric car with an original list price of €12,000 to €60,000. The proposal is €6,000 or €4,000, depending on your income, and you must keep the car for at least a year. Opening is preferably at the end of 2026, otherwise in the second quarter of 2027. It is not a scheme yet; we track its status in the [buying guide](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/buying-an-electric-car/#subsidy). ## ERE: a used car earns just as much ERE is tied to the charger, not the car: under the Energy for Transport Regulation, the charge point’s meter reading is what counts. For private individuals that MID meter has had to be integrated in the charger since 1 January 2026, with no transition year; a separate meter or your smart meter doesn’t count. With such a charger every kWh charged at home earns 0.33269 ERE in 2026, however old your car is. Power your car feeds back doesn’t count. - **Not sure about your charger?** Do the [charger check](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/charger-check/), read the [MID checklist](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/knowledge-base/mid-meter-checklist-thuisladen/) or browse [ERE chargers by brand](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/ere-charger/). - **What does it earn?** Work it out with the [earnings calculator](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/earnings-calculator/). - **A lease or company car?** Read [who can claim the ERE](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/knowledge-base/ere-leaseauto-thuisladen/). ## Checklist for the viewing **At home, beforehand** 1. Free RDW plate check: “Tenaamstelling mogelijk?” says yes, and no open recalls. 2. Odometer verdict “Logisch”? For an import: is there a Belgian or German reading? 3. Onboard charger and phases on the [model page](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/electric-cars/): does the car suit your connection? **Ask the seller** 4. A recent battery test report (test, date, result), preferably from a test BOVAG and VER rate as reliable. 5. Has the battery ever been replaced, and how often has the car been fast charged? 6. Is the service history complete and have the software updates been done? 7. Manufacturer’s warranty: how many years and km are left, and does it transfer to you? 8. Which charging cables come with it? At a dealer: the RDW vehicle report, which you check online. **Test drive** 9. Drive about 50 km, then fast charge: is the charging time right? 10. Charge to full and see what range the car shows. **Before you sign** 11. No report? Have the battery tested at a garage; for warranty matters, a manufacturer test. 12. Want to earn ERE? Make sure you have a charger with an integrated MID meter. ## Frequently asked questions How much capacity does an electric car battery lose each year? According to Milieu Centraal, usually about 2% a year. How much it is for a particular car depends on things like temperature, cooling and use. A battery test at a garage therefore tells you more than an estimate based on age. Is there an official RDW battery certificate? No. The RDW has no battery check and no recognised battery certificate. Garages can test the battery, though; according to a BOVAG and VER study the Aviloo flash test and the Moba test give the most reliable picture. For a warranty claim a manufacturer test is decisive. Does the battery warranty transfer to the second owner? That depends on the manufacturer’s terms. The usual cover is 8 years or 160,000 km down to 70% of the original capacity, but according to Milieu Centraal that is an agreement between manufacturers, not law, and it differs per brand. Ask for the warranty terms before you buy. Does a used electric car earn ERE? Yes. ERE doesn’t depend on the age of the car but on the charger: the kWh come from the charge point’s meter. For private individuals the MID meter has had to be integrated in the charger since 1 January 2026. With such a charger every kWh charged at home earns 0.33269 ERE in 2026. Is there a subsidy for a used electric car? Not now. The SEPP subsidy has closed for good; applications were possible up to and including 27 December 2024. The government is working on a trade-in subsidy for lower incomes who scrap an old petrol or diesel car and buy or privately lease a used electric car. It has been announced but is not open yet. ## Read next Go deeper with these related guides from the knowledge base. - [What changes on 1 January 2027 for EV drivers](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/what-changes-in-2027/) [ Electric car ### Road tax, BPM and company-car tax for an electric car in 2027: what changes? Read article →](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/knowledge-base/autobelasting-elektrische-auto-2027/)[ Checklist ### Is my charge point MID-certified? What you need to do Read article →](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/knowledge-base/mid-meter-checklist-thuisladen/)[ Explainer ### What is ERE and how does the home-charging payment work? Read article →](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/knowledge-base/wat-is-ere-vergoeding-thuisladen/) ## Ready to compare providers? Compare earnings, terms and service across every relevant ERE provider. [View the comparison →](https://erevergelijken.eu/en/compare/) EREVergelijken.eu is independent: no provider pays for placement. The ranking follows a public methodology and includes all relevant providers.