A thorough physical inspection of a used EV takes thirty to forty-five minutes before the test drive.
Done properly, it tells you everything the online checks cannot condition, history consistency, and whether the vehicle matches what was advertised.
Here is the complete sequence.
Before you start
Inspect in daylight paint defects and bodywork repairs are nearly invisible in poor light.
The vehicle should be cold a warm car masks starting behaviour and certain electrical faults. Bring a torch, a tyre tread gauge, and your printed MOT history.
Exterior
Work clockwise from the front.
Look along each panel from a low angle for paint ripples or colour differences signs of filler or respray.
Check door shuts for repainted surfaces.
Measure tread depth on all four tyres and check the four-digit age code on the sidewall.
Inspect wheel arches and the underside for damaged orange high-voltage cabling.
Charging port and cables
Inspect the charging port with a torch no corrosion, bent pins, or debris.
Test the locking mechanism.
Check all charging cables are present, inspect the full length of each cable, and test both connectors.
Missing or damaged cables are a direct negotiating point.
Interior
Let all warning lights extinguish after startup any that remain are faults.
Test every function of the touchscreen methodically: climate, navigation, media, charging settings, camera feeds.
Check seat and carpet condition against claimed mileage. Look for damp smells or water marks at floor level.
EV-specific checks
Inspect all ADAS sensor locations for damage.
Check for flood damage signs water marks on sills, grit in low areas, corrosion on electrical connectors.
Confirm software version.
Raise the manufacturer app de-linking with the seller now.
