New EV sales figures get reported constantly. The used side gets ignored, and it's the side most people will actually buy from. Here's what share of used listings is electric or hybrid, by state.
| State | Electric + hybrid share | |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 6.3% | Highest |
| California | 6.2% | |
| Oregon | 5.0% | |
| Oklahoma | 0.9% | |
| Missouri | 0.8% | Lowest |
Hawaii above California is the surprise
California is the state everyone associates with electric cars, and it's second. Hawaii edges it, for reasons that have nothing to do with policy.
Hawaii is an island. The longest drive available to anybody is short enough that range anxiety — the single biggest objection to an EV — barely exists. Petrol is also expensive there because every gallon arrives by ship. Cheap-to-run cars with limited range are simply a better fit for the geography than they are almost anywhere else in the country.
Oregon at 5.0% completes a west-coast sweep that reflects a decade of incentives and charging investment.
Under 1% is not a market
Missouri at 0.8% and Oklahoma at 0.9% mean roughly one used EV per hundred and twenty listings. For a buyer that isn't a small selection, it's effectively nothing — no comparable models to price against, no local specialists, and a service network that hasn't had a reason to develop.
The used market lags new sales by three to five years, which is how long it takes for a car to come off lease or finish its first ownership. So this map is showing you where EVs were being bought new around 2020, not where they're being bought now. The low states will fill in — but slowly, and from a base near zero.
The buying opportunity nobody mentions
Thin supply cuts both ways. In a state with 0.8% share, a used EV is hard to sell because the local buyer pool doesn't exist. Sellers there know it, and price accordingly.
If you have home charging and a predictable commute, a low-share state is where used EVs are cheapest relative to what they are. The car doesn't care about the state average; it cares about whether you can plug it in overnight.
The risk is the same thing in reverse — if you need to sell it on, you're selling into the same thin market at the same discount.
What to check before buying a used EV
Battery health, not mileage. An EV's value is concentrated in its pack, and pack degradation depends far more on charging habits and climate than on the odometer. A car that lived on daily rapid charging has aged differently from one trickle-charged at home.
Rapid charging capability isn't improving the way you'd expect. We looked at that in electric range peaked in 2019 — newer isn't automatically faster or longer-legged.
Check the history like any other car. EVs get flooded, salvaged and retitled exactly like petrol cars, and flood exposure on a high-voltage vehicle is considerably worse news. A VIN check shows title brands and registration states before you commit — particularly relevant if the car has been shipped in from another state to reach you.
Frequently asked questions
Which state has the most used electric cars?
Hawaii, where 6.3% of used listings are electric or hybrid, narrowly ahead of California at 6.2% and Oregon at 5.0%. Missouri at 0.8% and Oklahoma at 0.9% are the lowest.
Why does Hawaii beat California on EV share?
Geography. The longest available drive on an island is short enough that range anxiety barely applies, and petrol is expensive because every gallon is shipped in. Limited-range, cheap-to-run cars fit the state better than almost anywhere else.
Are used EVs cheaper in states with low adoption?
Often yes. With a thin local buyer pool, sellers price to move. If you have home charging and a predictable commute that's an advantage — but resale in the same market carries the same discount.
What should I check on a used electric car?
Battery health above mileage — pack degradation depends on charging habits and climate more than the odometer. Also check the title history, since flood damage on a high-voltage vehicle is considerably more serious than on a petrol car.
Denis Kataev is a serial solopreneur and the founder of ForCar. With 15+ years in software engineering and 10 years in SEO, he builds data-driven products end to end — backed by a sharp eye for design. At ForCar he mines proprietary vehicle datasets, turning raw numbers into buying advice you can actually trust.
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