Opening
In June 2024, right before we bought the Fisker, I picked up a used Chevy Bolt. At $15k with only 18k miles, it seemed like the perfect commuter EV. A year later, it’s proven to be a dependable workhorse — but I also made one huge mistake that I’d warn anyone else about.
The Story
The Bolt wasn’t my first introduction. Back in December 2023, my dad bought a white one with just 6k miles for $18k. He loved it, and watching him drive it made me overconfident when I saw a grey one for sale.
The car I found was locked at 80% battery — common for lemon law buybacks — but I already knew from my dad’s experience that once the car hit 6k more miles, the full range would unlock. The dealership insisted “you can just set it yourself,” which wasn’t true, but I wasn’t worried.
Mine didn’t have heated seats or a heated steering wheel like my dad’s, but at that price I didn’t care. It drove nicely, had an EPA range of 260 miles, and compared to my Crosstrek’s 24 mpg and $500/month gas bill, it looked like a steal. I bought it on the spot.
Lessons / Challenges
The first lesson came with the used EV tax credit. There’s a $4,000 federal incentive on used EVs, and I assumed it would bring my Bolt’s effective cost down closer to $11k. What I didn’t realize was that the dealer had already factored that into the price as a “down payment.” You still have to apply for the credit and hope you qualify. Luckily I did, but many buyers don’t.
The second, and bigger, mistake? My Bolt doesn’t have DC fast charging (CCS). At the time, I figured I’d just trade it in after 5 months once the 80% battery limit lifted. Instead, I’m still driving it — stuck with a car that tops out at Level 2 charging. For my 180+ mile daily commute, it works, but it limits the Bolt as a “go anywhere” car.
On the bright side, the payment is only $260 a month, and the car itself has been rock solid. I’ve put 22k miles on it in a year, and besides the charging limitation, it’s been a great daily driver. My electricity bill is higher (around $360/month with charging), but still cheaper than gas.
Takeaways
The Chevy Bolt is one of the best cheap used EVs for commuting.
Lemon law buybacks with 80% battery locks will unlock after ~6k more miles — don’t let dealers confuse you.
Always double-check whether the car has fast charging before signing anything.
Watch out for dealer tricks with the $4,000 federal used EV tax credit.
Even without fast charging, the Bolt has been reliable and inexpensive to own.
Wrap-Up
I don’t regret buying the Bolt — it fits my long commute perfectly and saved me from gas station life. But if you’re considering one for road trips or flexible driving, make sure you get one with fast charging. Otherwise, like me, you’ll be stuck with a great city/commuter car that struggles as a true “go anywhere” EV.