Used Electric Cars Proven Safer Than Petrol and Diesel Models in Comprehensive Inspection Analysis
A major new analysis of pre-purchase vehicle inspections has revealed that used electric cars are significantly safer buys than their petrol and diesel counterparts. The data, compiled from 240,000 inspections conducted by leading firm ClickMechanic, shows a stark contrast in fault rates between different powertrain types.
Electric Vehicles Show Remarkably Low Fault Rates
The inspection data demonstrates that electric vehicles consistently outperform traditional combustion engine cars when it comes to reliability. Just 1.51 per cent of the 7,365 electric cars examined received a "poor" rating, indicating serious faults. This compares dramatically with the 7.48 per cent poor rating applied to all petrol and diesel models checked in the survey.
Seven electric vehicle models achieved perfect zero per cent poor ratings, meaning no faults whatsoever were discovered during inspections. These exemplary performers included the BMW i4, BMW iX, BMW iX3, Kia EV9, MG5, Polestar 2 and Volkswagen ID.3.
Luxury SUVs and Traditional Models Show Higher Risk
At the opposite end of the spectrum, luxury SUVs and certain conventional models demonstrated concerningly high fault rates. The BMW X5 recorded the worst performance with a 26.4 per cent poor rating, followed by the Citroen Relay van at 23.7 per cent, Mercedes-Benz C-Class at 21.1 per cent, BMW 3 Series at 21 per cent, and Ford Focus at 20.6 per cent.
Even the worst-performing electric vehicle in the survey, the Tesla Model 3 with a 6.77 per cent poor rating, remained comfortably below the average poor rating for all petrol and diesel cars examined.
Industry Expert Highlights Market Variation
Andrew Jervis, CEO of ClickMechanic, commented on the findings: "Our inspection data highlights how much variation there can be between different models on the used market. Some newer electric models are performing strongly in our checks, while certain older, more complex vehicles are showing significantly higher rates of serious faults."
Jervis further revealed concerning statistics about the used car market generally, noting that 15 per cent of Brits have sold a car with a fault, and 4 per cent admitted not informing buyers about potential problems. "Our research shows that millions of faulty cars are still changing hands each year and not all issues are being disclosed," he stated.
Growing Trend Toward Professional Inspections
The data indicates a growing awareness among used car buyers about the importance of professional inspections. According to ClickMechanic, 27 per cent of used car buyers now pay for pre-purchase inspections, with this figure rising to 44 per cent among younger buyers and reaching 50 per cent among Londoners – the highest rate for any region in the country.
"In many cases, an inspection not only identifies serious faults but gives buyers leverage to negotiate hundreds of pounds off the asking price," Jervis explained, highlighting the practical benefits of professional vehicle assessments.
Electric Vehicle Market Continues Strong Growth
The inspection findings come as the used electric car market experiences substantial growth. Latest figures from automotive industry trade body SMMT show that used electric car sales surged by 45 per cent in 2025, contributing to total second-hand car sales increasing for the third consecutive year. The total number of used car transactions reached 7,807,872 in 2025, reflecting continued strong demand in the pre-owned vehicle market.
This comprehensive inspection analysis provides valuable insights for consumers navigating the used car market, particularly as electric vehicles become increasingly prevalent in second-hand sales channels.
