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Used buying guides

Used electric and hybrid car buying guides

More and more secondhand car buyers are looking at hybrid and electric models these days. Our buying guides help you avoid the pitfalls and buy the right one

As more and more manufacturers announce new hybrid and electric cars and governments announce moves to end the sale of combustion-engined vehicles, it's inevitable that more and more of the cars on the secondhand market will be powered either fully or partially be electricity.

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It's a big change, but it shouldn't be a major worry for those who either can't afford or would prefer not to buy a brand-new car. Hybrid and electric technology is well proven, and pure-electric cars in particular tend to be more reliable and cheaper to run than their petrol and diesel-fuelled counterparts, as they have much fewer moving parts that can go wrong.

Manufacturers also guarantee the batteries in these cars for a long time – typically eight to 10 years – so the second or third owner can be confident they won't face a big unexpected bill should they no longer hold a charge as they should. Electric and hybrid car technology has evolved fast in recent years, though, so it's to be expected that you may have some questions before taking the plunge and buying one.

For general electric-car queries applying to both new and used cars, be sure to visit our frequently asked questions and charging sections, and scroll down below for our detailed buying guides on specific electric and hybrid models.

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Richard is editor of DrivingElectric, as well as sister site Carbuyer.co.uk, and a regular contributor to Auto Express. An electric and hybrid car advocate, he spent more than five years working on the news and reviews desk at Auto Express and has driven almost every new car currently on sale.

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