Battery warranty by manufacturer
Almost every EV manufacturer offers a separate battery warranty that is longer than the standard vehicle warranty. The battery warranty typically guarantees a minimum state of health (SOH), usually 70%, within a set period and mileage limit, whichever comes first.
Here are the current UK battery warranty terms for the brands most commonly found in the used market:
Hyundai.10 years / 100,000 miles, 70% SOH guarantee. The longest warranty period of any mainstream brand. Covers the Kona Electric, Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 and the original Ioniq Electric.
Kia.10 years / 100,000 miles, 70% SOH guarantee. Matches Hyundai (same group). Covers the e-Niro, EV6 and Soul EV. Kia's standard vehicle warranty is also an industry-leading 7 years.
Tesla.8 years / 100,000 miles (Model 3 Standard Range), 8 years / 120,000 miles (Model 3 Long Range, Model Y), or 8 years / 150,000 miles (Model S, Model X). 70% SOH guarantee. Higher-mileage limits on long-range and premium models make Tesla competitive for high-mileage buyers.
Nissan.8 years / 100,000 miles, 70% SOH guarantee. Covers the Leaf (all variants) and Ariya. Note that early Leafs (2011–2017) had shorter original warranties, so check the specific model year. Nissan now offers a 6-year vehicle warranty on new models.
BMW.8 years / 100,000 miles, 70% SOH guarantee. Covers the i3, i4, iX and iX1. The i3 is particularly relevant in the used market, with early models now approaching the end of their warranty period.
Volkswagen Group (VW, Audi, Skoda, Cupra).8 years / 100,000 miles, 70% SOH guarantee across the group. Covers the ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, Audi Q4 e-tron, Skoda Enyaq and Cupra Born. All built on the same MEB platform with the same battery supplier.
Mercedes-Benz.8 years / 100,000 miles on most models, with some premium models offering up to 10 years / 155,000 miles. 70% SOH guarantee. Covers the EQA, EQB, EQC, EQE and EQS.
Stellantis (Peugeot, Vauxhall, Fiat).8 years / 100,000 miles, 70% SOH guarantee. Covers the Peugeot e-208 and e-2008, Vauxhall Corsa-e and Mokka-e, and Fiat 500e. All share the same e-CMP or STLA platform batteries.
Renault.8 years / 100,000 miles, 70% SOH guarantee. Covers the Zoe, Megane E-Tech and Renault 5 E-Tech. Note that some early Zoes had battery lease arrangements rather than outright ownership. Check this carefully on used purchases because it affects the warranty position.
MG.7 years / 80,000 miles. MG offers a generous vehicle warranty but the battery warranty has the shortest mileage limit of any major brand. If you drive more than about 11,400 miles per year, you'll hit the mileage cap before the time limit. Covers the MG4, MG5 and ZS EV.
BYD.8 years / 155,000 miles. BYD's Blade Battery (LFP chemistry) has the highest mileage limit on this list, making it one of the best warranties for high-mileage drivers. Covers the Dolphin, Atto 3 and Seal.
MINI.8 years / 100,000 miles, 70% SOH guarantee. Covers the MINI Electric (Cooper SE).
Does the battery warranty transfer to a second owner?
Yes, in almost all cases. Most manufacturers state that battery warranties transfer automatically to subsequent owners. The clock starts from the car's original registration date, not your purchase date. So if you buy a four-year-old car with an eight-year battery warranty, you have four years of coverage remaining.
Check with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. Some may require registration of the change of ownership. Keep the service records. A warranty claim is easier with a documented history.
What does the warranty actually cover?
Battery warranties typically cover manufacturing defects and capacity loss below the guaranteed SOH threshold (usually 70%). If your battery degrades below 70% within the warranty period, the manufacturer will repair or replace it.
What they generally don't cover: damage from accidents, water immersion, unauthorised modifications, or use of non-approved charging equipment. Normal degradation above the 70% threshold is not covered. A battery at 72% SOH after seven years is within spec and would not qualify for a warranty claim.
What happens when the warranty expires?
When the battery warranty expires, you're responsible for any battery issues. But this is less alarming than it sounds. Most modern EV batteries are engineered to last well beyond the warranty period. Real-world data shows typical degradation of about 2% per year for liquid-cooled batteries (see how much degradation is normal), meaning a battery at the end of an 8-year warranty might still have 80 to 88% of its original capacity.
Battery replacement costs have dropped a lot and keep falling. A full pack replacement for a Nissan Leaf currently costs around £5,000 to £8,000; for larger batteries in premium cars, £10,000 to £20,000. But full replacements are rare. Individual cell or module replacement is more common and much cheaper. The risk of needing a full replacement within 10 to 15 years of normal use is low.
Battery warranty and used EV buying decisions
When buying used, remaining warranty is a real differentiator. A 2020 Kia e-Niro has battery coverage until 2030 (10-year warranty). A 2019 Nissan Leaf has coverage until 2027 (8-year warranty). That gap matters if you plan to keep the car for several years.
Use our used EV buying checklist for everything else to inspect before committing, and check the individual model pages in our car catalogue for real-world range and efficiency at your speed and temperature.