VW electric car used: ID.3, ID.4 and e-Golf guide
VW electric car used buying guide: ID.3, ID.4, e-Golf and e-up battery health, software versions, heat pump and residual values.
· 7 min read
A used VW electric car is one of the easiest EVs to sell in continental Europe: buyers know the brand, the dealer network is everywhere and the ID.3 and ID.4 have sensible ranges. The two things that decide your margin are the software version, because early ID cars had serious software problems, and battery health. Check both before bidding, and price against fast-moving current values.
Which VW electric cars are on the used market?
The VW electric cars you will see in used stock are the ID.3 hatchback, the ID.4 SUV and its coupé sister the ID.5, plus the older e-Golf and e-up. The ID models use VW's MEB platform, shared with the Skoda Enyaq, Cupra Born and Audi Q4 e-tron.
| Model | Built | Usable battery | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| e-up | 2013–2023 | 18.7 kWh gross early; 32.3 kWh from 2019 | City car; later version has about 260 km WLTP range and up to 40 kW DC |
| e-Golf | 2014–2020 | Smaller early pack; larger pack from the 2017 facelift | Conventional Golf with electric drive; simple and well built |
| ID.3 | 2019 on (deliveries from September 2020) | 45 kWh (Pure), 58 kWh (Pro), 77 kWh (Pro S) | Built in Zwickau; facelift in 2023 with better interior materials |
| ID.4 / ID.5 | 2021 on | Mainly 52 and 77 kWh | Family SUV; rear- or all-wheel drive |
For most retail buyers, the ID.3 Pro with 58 kWh and the ID.4 with 77 kWh are the sweet spots: enough range for daily life and motorway trips, at prices that have come down a long way.
Why do VW ID software versions matter?
VW ID software versions matter because early ID.3s and ID.4s were delivered with immature software, and a car still on an old version can behave like a different, worse car. The ID.3's launch was delayed into September 2020 by software errors, and many early cars ran version 1.x or 2.x with bugs in infotainment, driver assistance and charging.
In 2022 VW called around 200,000 ID.3 and ID.4 cars in Europe into workshops in a voluntary service action to bring them to a uniform software level and fit a new 12-volt battery, before rolling out ID.Software 3.0 over the air. The workshop update was split into two packages taking roughly 7.5 and 4.5 hours.
For a dealer this means:
- Check the software version in the infotainment menu or via a VW workshop.
- Confirm the service action was done. A car that missed it may need a long workshop visit before sale.
- Check that over-the-air updates work, which also tells you the connectivity module is healthy.
- Test the 12-volt battery, a common cause of warning messages and no-start complaints on early cars.
A 2020–2021 ID.3 with current software is a much better car than the same model on version 2.x. Price the update time in if it is missing.
For car dealers
Know your margin before you buy
MyCarDealer compares any car from an auction or listing with the market in your country and shows the net margin after VAT, transport and costs – and the maximum bid.
Request accessAre used VW ID.3 and ID.4 models reliable?
Used VW ID.3 and ID.4 models are mechanically reliable, and most problems have been software, 12-volt and minor electrical faults rather than motors or batteries. Points to check on every car:
- Battery state of health. VW guarantees 70% of original capacity for 8 years or 160,000 km. Get a health report and note how much warranty is left; our EV battery health check guide explains the methods.
- Heat pump. It was optional on many ID models and makes a real difference to winter range. Buyers in Scandinavia, Austria and mountain regions pay more for it, so check the specification.
- Charging. Test AC charging and a DC rapid charge before sale.
- Rear drum brakes on ID.3 and some ID.4 versions can seize if the car stands for long, and the brakes are rarely used because of regenerative braking. Check them during preparation.
- Touch controls on steering wheel and climate: not a fault, but some buyers dislike them; later cars improved them.
Is a used e-Golf still worth stocking?
A used e-Golf is worth stocking at the right price, because it is simply a Golf with an electric motor: familiar to drive, well built and easy to sell to buyers who do not want a futuristic EV. Its weaknesses are a smaller battery, slower DC charging than an ID.3 and an age that puts many cars near or past the end of their battery warranty.
According to listings tracked by MyCarDealer in October 2026, 2017–2020 e-Golfs had a median asking price of €13,700 across 46 listings in the European countries we follow, with a median of 83,000 km. Supply is now thin, which helps: an e-Golf in good condition with a battery report sells to commuters and second-car households.
The e-up, built until 2023, sells to the same kind of buyer in cities. Its 2020–2023 cars had a median of €13,980 across 127 listings, with Germany at €14,499, the Netherlands at €15,000 and Italy at €12,300.
How quickly do VW EVs depreciate?
VW EVs depreciated quickly in their first years, mainly because of price cuts on new models, the end of Germany's purchase subsidy in December 2023 and large numbers of lease and company cars returning at once. Values have since settled at levels where buying is attractive.
According to listings tracked by MyCarDealer in October 2026:
| Model | Years | Listings | Median price | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ID.3 | 2020–2021 | 427 | €19,500 | 86,900 km |
| ID.4 | 2021–2022 | 615 | €25,950 | 79,200 km |
By country, ID.3 medians ranged from €18,000 in Italy and €18,990 in the Netherlands to €20,400 in Germany and €20,990 in Belgium, with Sweden (€20,029) and Czechia (€20,159) in between. ID.4s were close together in the Netherlands (€25,950), Germany (€25,990), Czechia (€25,664) and Sweden (€25,820), lower in Italy (€23,800) and Spain (€24,890), and clearly higher in Belgium (€32,997) and Austria (€26,990). The Belgian figure stands out and is worth checking car by car before you rely on it.
The Netherlands supplies by far the most used ID models, which makes it a natural sourcing market for dealers elsewhere in Europe.
Which VW electric car is the best buy?
The best used VW electric car for most dealers is the ID.3 Pro (58 kWh) with current software and a heat pump, because it has the widest buyer pool at an accessible price. The ID.4 with the 77 kWh battery is the best family choice, and the e-up and e-Golf suit budget and city buyers.
If you stock MEB cars from several brands, compare them with each other: a Skoda Enyaq or a Cupra Born uses the same hardware. See our guides to the used Skoda Enyaq and used Cupra models.
How to price a used VW electric car
Price a used VW electric car from current listings with the same battery, software generation and heat-pump status, then work backwards to your maximum bid: realistic retail price, minus VAT, preparation (software update, brakes, tyres), battery report, transport and target profit. Because EV values move quickly, keep stock time short and review prices weekly.
MyCarDealer values each car from live listings in your country, calculates your margin after VAT and costs, and shows where the same car sells for more; you can test it with a free valuation. For the wider picture, read used electric cars for dealers.
Frequently asked questions
Are used VW ID.3 and ID.4 models reliable?
Mechanically yes. Most problems on early cars were software bugs and weak 12-volt batteries, which VW addressed with a workshop service action in 2022 and later over-the-air updates. Check the software version and battery health on every car.
Is the ID.4 worth buying used?
Yes, for family buyers. The ID.4 with the 77 kWh battery offers good space and range, and 2021–2022 cars had a median asking price of €25,950 in October 2026 in the countries tracked by MyCarDealer. Check for a heat pump and current software.
What is the cheapest electric car from Volkswagen?
On the used market, the e-up and the e-Golf are the cheapest VW electric cars, with 2017–2020 e-Golfs and 2020–2023 e-ups both around €14,000 in October 2026. Among current models, the ID.3 is VW's entry electric car.
What is the best VW electric car?
For most buyers, the ID.3 Pro with 58 kWh, current software and a heat pump. Families are better served by the ID.4 with the 77 kWh battery.
Why did the ID.4 sell more slowly than expected?
Early ID models suffered from software problems, high prices compared with Tesla and Chinese rivals, and controls that some buyers disliked. Later software and price cuts improved things, but used values took the hit.