An electric car sells in the same way as any other registered car: the buyer registers it with the RDW, you receive the proof of transfer and the car is no longer yours. What differs is what buyers ask before they get that far. They want to know about the battery, the charging equipment and the software. This post lists those questions and how to answer them honestly. The paperwork is the same as for a petrol car and is explained in the guide on documents you need to sell your car.
What a buyer wants to know about the battery
The battery is the most expensive part of the car, so it is the first topic in most conversations. You do not need technical expertise. Buyers want facts you can show:
- Capacity and range. Say what the manufacturer states for the model and the battery size, and what range you see in normal use. Do not quote figures from memory that you cannot back up.
- State of health. Some models show a battery health reading in the menus or in the manufacturer’s app. Others need a garage to read it. A printed report from a garage is more convincing than a statement.
- Warranty. The battery may have a separate warranty from the car. Find the terms in the warranty booklet or the manufacturer’s app, and check whether they pass to the next owner.
- Charging habits. Say how you charged: mostly at home, at public fast chargers or a mix. State only what is true.
- Any battery faults or warnings. Tell the buyer about any message, repair or replacement. Our post on selling a car with engine problems explains why it helps to be open about known faults.
Never promise battery life or a number of years. You do not know it, and a statement you make can be relied on by the buyer.
Charging equipment
Gather everything that came with the car and everything you added:
- the charging cables for home and public charging
- the charging cards or app accounts that you need to remove from the car
- a wall charger, if you installed one and the buyer might want to buy it separately
- adapters, a bag or holder for the cable
A missing cable lowers the offer, since the buyer has to buy a replacement. Our post on what lowers the value of a car lists other missing items that have the same effect.
If you charge at home through a charging point in your own name, the contract and the card are yours. Do not hand over access to your charging account.
Software, accounts and personal data
An electric car is closely tied to apps and accounts. Before the handover:
- remove the car from your manufacturer account
- delete saved addresses and contacts from the infotainment system
- remove paired phones and any digital key
- cancel or transfer connected subscriptions, if the manufacturer allows it
- run a factory reset if the car offers one
Ask the buyer to confirm that they can add the car to their own account. Some functions are tied to the first owner’s account, so find out how your manufacturer handles this.
Mileage and the vehicle report
Buyers check the odometer, and the register of the RDW, the Dutch vehicle authority, gives them a way to check it. The owner or holder can request a vehicle report from the RDW for free, showing the registered readings and the RDW’s judgment. Buyers may ask you for it. See the RDW page on odometer readings. Having the report ready saves a round of questions.
The papers you need
The registration documents work as for any car. The RDW says to hand the buyer the registration card (kentekencard) and the complete registration code (tenaamstellingscode), and to check before you sell that the code matches the card. The steps are on the RDW page about selling a car. If the card or the code is missing, request a new one first.
Also collect:
- the service history and any software update records
- the latest APK report, if the car had an inspection
- the warranty booklet and the manual
- the invoices for tyres and repairs
Your road tax (motorrijtuigenbelasting) depends on the rules that apply to your vehicle. We do not state figures here. Contact the Belastingdienst for questions about the tax on your own car.
Photos that suit an electric car
Take the usual set of views listed in photos that help you sell. Add the dashboard with the battery level and the range shown, a screenshot from the battery health menu or app and the charging port. These photos answer the questions in the first message.
Selling to a buyer service
If you ask us for an offer, give the model, the battery size, the mileage and what you know about the battery. We reply with an offer, asking costs nothing, and the collection is agreed with you.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to prove the battery condition?
The RDW transfer does not ask for it. A health report from a garage or the manufacturer app makes your statements easier to believe, and buyers will ask.
Does the battery warranty pass to the buyer?
That depends on the manufacturer’s terms. Read your warranty booklet or ask the manufacturer before you promise anything.
Do I include the charging cable?
Yes, include all the cables that came with the car. A missing one lowers the offer.
Do I need to do anything special with the registration?
No. Transfer runs as for any other car, using the registration card and the full registration code.
What about my charging account?
Keep it. Remove saved cards and accounts from the car, and tell the buyer to set up their own.
The sell form is there when you are ready.
