Wave of Off-Lease EVs Expected to Reshape Used Car Supply Through 2026
Industry forecasts project off-lease EV returns to exceed 300,000 units in 2026, more than double the prior year, reshaping supply for both buyers and sellers of used electric vehicles.
The used car market is bracing for a significant increase in off-lease electric vehicle returns in 2026, with industry forecasts projecting volumes exceeding 300,000 units — more than double the prior year's total, as leases signed during the earlier EV adoption wave come due.
That influx is expected to give dealers more affordable electrified inventory to offer value-focused buyers, but it also has implications for anyone currently trying to sell a used EV privately: more supply generally means more competition among sellers, which can soften private-sale prices even as overall used-vehicle demand stays healthy.
EVs have also shown some of the steepest depreciation curves among vehicle types in recent model years, even as they tend to sell relatively quickly once listed. That combination — fast-moving but fast-depreciating — makes timing especially important for EV owners weighing whether to sell now or wait.
Anyone deciding between a dealer trade-in, an instant online offer, or a private sale for an EV can compare typical payout ranges for each channel with our Fast Cash Score tool.