Cazoo Alternatives for Getting an Electric Car in the UK (2026 Guide)
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Cazoo was once one of the UK's most recognisable automotive brands - a direct-to-consumer used car retailer that promised home delivery within 72 hours. After going into administration in 2024, the brand was acquired by MOTORS and relaunched in April 2025 in an entirely new form.
Today, Cazoo alternatives for getting an electric car in the UK aren't just a matter of finding a different used car marketplace. The right option depends significantly on whether you're a private buyer, an employed driver, or an employer looking to offer a structured benefit.
This guide covers the main alternatives by purchase method, sets out where each fits, and explains why employed drivers may find that electric car salary sacrifice through The Electric Car Scheme is a structurally stronger choice than anything available through a used car marketplace.
What Is Cazoo?
Following its relaunch, Cazoo now operates as a classified advertising and search platform for used cars and vans. It lists over 250,000 vehicles from dealerships across the UK, with coverage including:
Electric and hybrid models across a broad price range
Filtering by make, model, price, mileage, and fuel type
HP and PCP finance enquiries arranged through individual dealers
An AI-powered vehicle recommendation tool and a mobile app rated 4.8/5 on the Apple App Store
Key Takeaways
Cazoo aggregates 250,000+ used vehicle listings from UK dealers
HP and PCP finance are available via individual dealers on the platform
No new cars, leasing, or salary sacrifice available through Cazoo
No Income Tax or National Insurance savings on any Cazoo purchase
What Are The Main Ways to Get an Electric Car in the UK?
Before comparing Cazoo alternatives, it helps to understand what the distinct options deliver and where each sits structurally.
Outright Purchase
Buying a used or new electric car outright with cash or savings means you own the vehicle immediately, with no monthly payments and no finance obligation. The key trade-offs are:
Full depreciation risk falls to you as the owner
Capital is tied up for the duration of ownership
No Income Tax or National Insurance relief on the purchase
Cazoo, Autotrader, and MOTORS are all designed for this route
HP and PCP Finance
Hire Purchase (HP) and Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) are the two most commonly used car finance structures. Here's how they differ:
HP: Fixed monthly payments until you own the car outright
PCP: Lower monthly payments with a larger optional balloon payment at the end - you can own the car, return it, or use equity toward a new deal
Both are available through dealers listed on Cazoo
Neither involves any Income Tax or National Insurance saving
The main difference between PCP and salary sacrifice is structural: PCP payments come from net income, with no tax advantage at any point.
Personal Contract Hire (PCH)
Personal leasing means paying a fixed monthly sum to use a car for a set term, then handing it back - you never own the vehicle. The main limitations for employed drivers are:
Costs typically exclude insurance and servicing
There's no tax relief on PCH payments for private individuals
Payments come from fully taxed income
The same gross cost produces a higher net outlay than salary sacrifice on the same vehicle
Electric Car Salary Sacrifice
Electric car salary sacrifice is a different mechanism entirely and doesn't appear on Cazoo or any used car marketplace. It's an employer-administered benefit where an employee gives up a portion of their gross salary in exchange for an all-inclusive electric car lease. Because the payment comes from pre-tax income, the combined Income Tax and National Insurance saving is substantial.
The Key Figures For 2026/27:
BiK rate: 4% for fully electric vehicles
Typical employee savings: 20–50% versus a personal lease on the same car
Package inclusions: insurance, servicing, maintenance, breakdown cover, and road tax
No large upfront payment and no personal credit check in most cases
Electric car salary sacrifice is the most tax-efficient route for an employed UK driver to access an electric car in 2026.
Key Takeaways
Outright purchase and HP/PCP offer no Income Tax or NI relief
PCH payments come from taxed income with no pre-tax advantage
Salary sacrifice uses pre-tax deductions for maximum tax efficiency
BiK for electric cars is 4% in 2026/27 - well below petrol/diesel rates
Cazoo vs Salary Sacrifice: A Direct Comparison
| Feature | Cazoo | The Electric Car Scheme |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle type | Used cars only | New and used EVs (200+ models) |
| Finance options | HP and PCP via dealers | Salary sacrifice (pre-tax) |
| Income Tax saving | None | Yes — deducted pre-tax |
| Employee NI saving | None | Yes |
| Employer NI saving | N/A | Yes — on reduced gross salary |
| BiK tax | N/A | 4% for 2026/27 |
| Typical saving vs standard lease | None | 20–50% (illustrative) |
| Insurance included | No | Yes — fully comprehensive |
| Servicing and maintenance | No | Yes |
| Breakdown cover | No | Yes |
| Charging savings | No | Yes — via The Charge Scheme |
| Employer Protection | N/A | Complete Employer Protection from day one |
| Cost to employer | N/A | No net cost |
| Credit check required | Yes (HP/PCP) | Not usually |
Cazoo Alternatives by Use Case
Not every driver is looking for the same thing. Here's how the main alternatives stack up depending on what you need.
Best Alternatives for Used Car Search
For private buyers, the three strongest alternatives to Cazoo for used car search are:
Autotrader: The UK's largest used car marketplace, with broader inventory than Cazoo and well-established price guidance tools
MOTORS: Cazoo's parent company, operating its own marketplace in parallel - if you're searching through Cazoo, you're already within the Motors ecosystem
Cinch: A more curated selection with a fixed-price, no-haggle model and home delivery, suited to used EV buyers who want a streamlined experience
For any of these platforms, the structural limitation is the same: buying a used EV through a marketplace means paying from taxed income, with no Income Tax or National Insurance relief.
Best Alternatives for Personal Leasing (PCH)
Personal Contract Hire brokers aggregate deals from multiple leasing companies, allowing side-by-side comparison of monthly costs, initial payments, and contract terms across a wide range of new electric vehicles.
For private individuals who want a fixed-term lease on a new EV without the commitment of purchase, these platforms offer a useful starting point. The key limitation remains: PCH payments come from net income, with no tax advantage. For employed drivers, salary sacrifice on a comparable vehicle will almost always produce a lower effective monthly cost.
Best Alternative for Employed Drivers: Electric Car Salary Sacrifice
For UK employees, the most important Cazoo alternative to understand is electric car salary sacrifice - not because it competes with Cazoo directly, but because it operates on a different financial basis that no used car marketplace can replicate.
Through a salary sacrifice scheme, your employer leases the car on your behalf and deducts the cost from your gross salary before Income Tax and National Insurance are applied.
The Financial Case In Practice:
A higher-rate taxpayer sacrificing £500/month typically saves £180–£220 per month before BiK liability
Over a three-year lease term at that level, the total saving typically reaches £6,500–£7,900 versus paying from take-home pay
The package is fully all-inclusive: insurance, servicing, maintenance, breakdown cover, and road tax are all bundled in
There's no equivalent all-inclusive structure on any used car marketplace
Use the salary sacrifice calculator to model your own savings based on your salary and chosen vehicle.
Key Takeaways
Used car marketplaces offer no tax relief on purchase or finance
Personal leasing brokers suit private individuals only - no NI saving
Salary sacrifice delivers 20–50% typical savings for employed drivers
All-inclusive packages are unavailable through any retail alternative
The Electric Car Scheme: The Leading Specialist Alternative
The Electric Car Scheme is the UK's leading dedicated electric car salary sacrifice provider and the most comprehensive alternative to buying or financing a vehicle through a marketplace such as Cazoo.
Named Best Salary Sacrifice Provider 2025 by Car Sloth and rated Excellent on Trustpilot with a 4.9 TrustScore, it operates as a multi-funder broker - sourcing vehicles from a network of leasing companies to deliver the best available prices across every budget, with access to 200+ electric vehicles, including new and used EVs.
Complete Employer Protection from Day One
Complete Employer Protection removes the main barrier to offering an EV salary sacrifice scheme.
Key Features:
Employers are fully protected from day one - covering redundancy, dismissal, and long-term sickness
Resignation is covered after an initial three-month period
No excess to pay and no usage caps
No other provider offers the same level of protection
This means businesses can offer the scheme confidently at any scale, without taking on residual financial risk from mid-lease departures. The scheme is free to set up, and employer National Insurance savings on reduced gross salaries mean it's typically cost-neutral or net positive for the business.
The Charge Scheme: Salary Sacrifice for EV Charging
The Charge Scheme is the only salary sacrifice solution for ongoing EV charging costs, and it's available through The Electric Car Scheme.
What The Charge Scheme Covers:
Home charging, workplace charging, and public charge points - all via a single app and payment card
Employees typically save 20–50% on charging costs, with most drivers saving £400–£900 per year
The saving extends the total financial advantage of salary sacrifice well beyond the vehicle itself
Employers can offer The Charge Scheme at no net cost to the business
New And Used EVs
The Electric Car Scheme covers both brand-new electric cars and a growing used EV range, with used cars available for delivery in as little as 14 days.
The Advantages of Used EVs Through Salary Sacrifice:
Lower P11D value reduces both the monthly sacrifice amount and the BiK liability
Delivery available in as little as 14 days
Same all-inclusive package as new vehicles, including insurance and breakdown cover
The most affordable route into electric driving for employees on lower salaries
This bridges the gap between the affordability of the used market and the tax advantages of salary sacrifice - something no used car marketplace can replicate.
Key Takeaways
Complete Employer Protection covers all major exit scenarios from day one
The Charge Scheme saves employees £400–£900 per year on charging
Used EVs available with delivery in as little as 14 days
No net cost to employers - NI savings typically offset scheme costs
Which Option Is Right for You?
The right Cazoo alternative depends on your employment status and what you're trying to achieve. Here's how the options break down:
Private buyers comparing used cars: Cazoo, Autotrader, and Cinch all offer strong inventory and dealer access
Private individuals wanting a new EV on a fixed-term lease: PCH brokers allow side-by-side deal comparison
Employed drivers paying tax at 20% or 40%: Electric car salary sacrifice is structurally the most cost-efficient route
Employers considering a scheme: The Electric Car Scheme is free to set up, with Complete Employer Protection from day one
For employed UK drivers, the combination of pre-tax deductions, a 4% BiK rate for 2026/27, and an all-inclusive package means you're effectively paying for your vehicle with money that would otherwise go to HMRC - a financial position no used car marketplace can match. Use the salary sacrifice calculator to model your own savings, or book a demo if you're an employer ready to offer the scheme.
Key Takeaways
Private buyers: Cazoo, Autotrader, and Cinch suit used car search
Personal lease comparison: PCH brokers offer new EV deal aggregation
Employed drivers: Salary sacrifice delivers the lowest real monthly cost
Use the salary sacrifice calculator to model your personal savings
Cazoo Frequently Asked Questions
-
Yes. Following its administration in 2024, Cazoo was acquired by MOTORS and relaunched in April 2025 as a used car search marketplace.
It now aggregates listings from over 5,000 UK dealers, with more than 250,000 vehicles available including a large selection of used electric cars. It's no longer a direct-to-consumer retailer, and it doesn't offer new cars, leasing, or salary sacrifice.
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No. Cazoo doesn't offer salary sacrifice, leasing, or any employer benefit scheme. It's a used car search and comparison platform that connects buyers with dealers, supporting HP and PCP finance enquiries through third-party dealers.
For salary sacrifice, you need a dedicated provider, such as The Electric Car Scheme.
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For employed drivers, electric car salary sacrifice is typically the lowest-cost monthly route to a new or used EV.
Payments come from gross salary before Income Tax and National Insurance, with BiK tax at 4% for 2026/27. Employees typically save 20–50% compared to a personal lease on the same vehicle, and the package includes insurance, servicing, and breakdown cover with no large upfront payment.
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Yes. The Electric Car Scheme offers used EVs through salary sacrifice, with delivery available in as little as 14 days.
A lower P11D value on a used vehicle means a reduced monthly sacrifice amount and a lower BiK liability, making it a particularly cost-effective option for employees who want the tax benefits of salary sacrifice at a lower monthly cost.
See the used electric car salary sacrifice range for current availability.
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The Benefit-in-Kind rate for fully electric vehicles is 4% for 2026/27. It increases incrementally each year, reaching 9% by 2029/30 - still well below the maximum 37% rate that applies to high-emission petrol and diesel cars in 2026/27.
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An employer offers a salary sacrifice scheme as an employee benefit. The employer leases the car on the employee's behalf; the employee gives up a portion of gross salary to cover the cost before tax. Both parties benefit: the employee pays less Income Tax and National Insurance, and the employer saves on Employer National Insurance Contributions on the reduced gross salary.
The Electric Car Scheme is free to set up, and Complete Employer Protection from day one eliminates the financial risk of employees leaving mid-lease.
Cazoo in 2026 is a capable used car search marketplace - a useful tool for private buyers comparing vehicles across a wide dealer network and arranging HP or PCP finance. For employed UK drivers, however, the comparison doesn't end there.
Electric car salary sacrifice operates on a different financial basis entirely: pre-tax deductions, a BiK rate of 4% for 2026/27, an all-inclusive package, and employer-level protection combine to deliver a monthly cost that no retail or marketplace alternative can match. The Electric Car Scheme adds The Charge Scheme on top of that, extending the tax saving to every charge point the driver uses. For any employed driver weighing up their options in 2026, the salary sacrifice route merits a direct cost comparison before any other decision is made.
Calculate your savings with the salary sacrifice calculator, or book a demo if you're an employer ready to offer the scheme.
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Last updated: 30/03/2026
Our lease pricing is based on data collected from The Electric Car Scheme quote tool. All final pricing is inclusive of VAT. All prices above are based on the following lease terms; 10,000 miles pa, 36 months, and are inclusive of Maintenance and Breakdown Cover. The Electric Car Scheme’s terms and conditions apply. All deals are subject to credit approval and availability. All deals are subject to excess mileage and damage charges. Prices are calculated based on the following tax saving assumptions; England & Wales, 40% tax rate. The above prices were calculated using a flat payment profile. The Electric Car Scheme Limited provides services for the administration of your salary sacrifice employee benefits. The Electric Car Scheme Holdings Limited is a member of the BVRLA (10608), is authorised and regulated by the FCA under FRN 968270, is an Appointed Representative of Marshall Management Services Ltd under FRN 667174, and is a credit broker and not a lender or insurance provider.
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