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When money is tight, many people take steps to save wherever they can. This can include everything from adjusting the grocery budget to looking for deals on everyday items. It can even mean buying automotive parts from third-party sellers on the internet. But when it comes to Electric Vehicle (EV) batteries, which you shouldn’t try replacing yourself, the problem with buying from eBay is that you just don’t know what you’re going to get.

Unlike a new EV battery made by one of America’s car brands, there’s no guarantee that any discounted EV batteries on eBay have actually been verified by any manufacturer. This means they may not meet original safety or performance standards. Plus, any EV batteries purchased online could contain improperly matched cells, or unknown repairs, making them dangerous to use. Improper alignment with an EV’s battery management system can create dangerous conditions, including fire, or explosion. Because of these issues, it’s hard to know if an EV battery purchased online is safe or even authentic.

Even if an EV battery sold on eBay isn’t counterfeit, there’s often no way to know how well it will perform over time. EV battery packs sold through secondary markets often don’t include any verified information regarding prior use or degradation. This makes it hard to know the battery’s remaining capacity or overall lifespan. Since EV batteries have different chemistry, voltage, and balancing, confirming true vehicle compatibility can be nearly impossible.

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If you’ve bought an EV battery on eBay, taken the steps to properly maintain it, and still run into a problem, the platform does have a money back guarantee that can help. This guarantee allows you to file a claim if the battery was misrepresented by the seller. So, if the battery was poorly refurbished, you can get a refund. But you only have 30 days, and some restrictions do apply. eBay does not cover items over the long-term however, which means you may be unable to get help once the 30 days have passed.

It’s best to know the warning signs of a scam on eBay before you purchase an EV battery. If the price is too low, that’s an immediate red flag. If a seller is listing the battery for a short time, that’s also suspicious, as it may be a tactic to prevent them from getting caught. If you suspect a seller isn’t being honest about an EV battery, you can report them directly to eBay. That way, you can keep your money and look for other alternatives.

There are plenty of websites where you can purchase an EV battery, but you’ll need to take the same precautions as you would when shopping on eBay. When in doubt, contact the dealer you bought your EV from to get their recommendations on what to do next. They may be able to give you some information that can help.