BVRLA, IMDA and EVA England launch free EV Retail Ready training for independent used-car dealers
The four-module online programme, backed by Lex Autolease, mfldirect, Octopus Electric Vehicles and Zenith, aims to give independent dealers the confidence to stock and sell used EVs as more reach the market.
BVRLA, IMDA and EVA England have launched EV Retail Ready, Transport+Energy reports, a new training programme giving independent dealers free practical support to confidently stock and sell used electric vehicles.
The industry-backed programme has been developed with support from Lex Autolease, mfldirect – the remarketing arm of Motability Operations – Octopus Electric Vehicles and Zenith.
EV Retail Ready is free to access and completed online at the dealer's own pace. It runs across four modules covering commercial viability, energy and charging, in-life costs, and the customer journey, and is expected to take up to two hours per individual. Delegates who complete the course are officially credited, and dealerships can receive wider accreditation once all consumer-facing staff have finished the programme.
Users of the programme also get access to the ClearWatt EV Explorer, which provides vehicle-specific information on batteries, charging and real-world range.
BVRLA chief executive Toby Poston said: "Independent dealers are a fundamental part of the transition to electric vehicles. More EVs are entering the used market every month and we need to make sure businesses across the sector have the confidence and knowledge to sell them successfully."
EVA England chief executive Vicky Edmonds pointed to the organisation's 2026 nationwide driver survey, which found that around a third of drivers had a positive handover experience, but 1 in 10 rated their handover experience as poor or very poor. She said this highlights that "consistency and education remain important."
IMDA Head of Business Gareth Angove welcomed the scheme, saying: "The IMDA is delighted to be involved in EV Retail Ready. Independent dealers now have a free tool that helps them understand EVs, sell them with confidence, and give customers the reassurance they're looking for."
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