From 2028, a charge of £0.03 per mile for battery electric cars and £0.015 per mile for plug-in hybrid cars will be introduced. This will increase annually in line with the Consumer Price Index.

Electric car insurance

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What is electric car insurance?

Electric car insurance is a type of policy designed for electric vehicles (EVs). It covers many of the same things as standard car insurance, but with a few differences for more tailored protection. 

What’s included in electric car insurance depends on the policy and the level of cover you choose. But a policy that’s designed for electric cars could include things such as: 

  • Recovery in case you run out of charge when you’re out and about 

  • Cover for accessories such as your charging cables 

  • Extensive cover for your car battery. 

Is EV insurance different from other types of car insurance?

Not really. You’ll still be choosing between the same cover levels and the same wide variety of policy extras. And you’ll use the same process if you need to make a claim.

Here are the three main levels of car insurance that you can choose from...

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Car icon
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How much is electric car insurance?

Our customers typically pay less than £587 for their EV cover4.

However, as with other types of car insurance, the price of insurance for electric cars depends on a range of factors, including:

  • The value of your car

  • The insurance group your electric car is in

  • The level of cover you choose

  • Your age - young drivers typically pay £1,340 for their car insurance4, compared to drivers over 50 who pay £3693.

  • Your postcode

  • Your driving and claims history - people who have made a claim in the past five years typically pay £623 for their car insurance, compared to £600 for those who haven't4.

  • Your annual mileage

  • Where you park your car overnight.

Is car insurance cheaper for electric cars?

Electric cars can be more expensive to buy and repair, which can impact the price of your premium.

However, as shown below, premiums for electric cars are typically very similar to those for petrol vehicles.

Electric car premiums4

Petrol car premiums4

Diesel car premiums4

£587

£593

£633

There are now more affordable electric cars on the market, and used electric vehicles are more commonly available.

As more people switch to greener vehicles, the infrastructure for electric cars is improving and expanding too.

The increasing popularity of EVs means you could have more options when you shop around for EV car insurance – potentially resulting in a more competitive deal.

What cover extras are available with electric vehicle insurance?

You’ll find many of the optional extras that are available for petrol and diesel cars are also available for electric cars.

However, there are a few special options to consider when insuring an electric car. Common add-ons can include:

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Battery cover

Electric car insurance policies normally include cover for a car battery if it’s damaged in a fire or accident.

When you compare policies, look for ‘battery cover’ and check whether the policy covers owned or leased batteries, or both. If you’re not sure what’s included in a policy, speak to the insurance provider.

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Electric car breakdown cover

Breakdown cover designed for electric vehicles should also include recovery to the nearest charging point in case your electric car runs out of battery.

Some electric car recovery services even come equipped to charge you on the spot so you can continue your journey as soon as possible.

Energy shaped symbol

Portable charging cables cover

Check that your policy covers you in case your charging cables are lost or stolen from your car or while in use, out and about. This should normally be included as standard in UK EV car insurance cover.

Some policies may cover your wallbox charger too, so check if this is important to you. If not, you may be able to cover it on your home insurance.

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Electric charger liability cover

This could cover you if someone trips over your charging cable in a public place and gets injured.

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Personal accident cover

Personal accident cover could provide compensation if you, your partner and even your passengers are killed or seriously injured in a car accident.

Car with legal contract

Motor legal protection

Also known as legal cover, motor legal protection could cover your legal expenses if you need to take legal action against another driver, or if another driver brings a claim against you.

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No claims discount protection

If you choose to add on no claims discount protection, you can make a claim without it affecting any years of discount you’ve built up.

Car keys

Courtesy car cover

Adding courtesy car cover to your policy means you can get a temporary car to use if yours is stuck in the garage for repairs after an accident.

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European cover

All UK car insurance policies include the minimum third-party cover required to drive in Europe. But if you want more comprehensive cover abroad, you may need to upgrade your policy.

You may also choose to add on European breakdown cover, in case you need roadside recovery on your trip.

Always check your policy terms

It’s worth noting that comprehensive policies may include some of these cover ‘extras’ as standard. So, it’s worth comparing different cover levels to see if you could save overall by choosing a different policy.

Always make sure you read the terms carefully, so you understand exactly what’s covered and what’s not.

Do all insurance providers offer electric car cover?

Most of the mainstream car insurance providers offer electric car insurance. As the demand for EVs grows, more will follow suit. This greater competition means comparing electric car insurance is one of the best ways to get a cheaper quote.

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What are the benefits of owning an electric car?

There’s plenty of incentives to go electric...
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What else should I consider when buying an electric car?

Here are a few things to consider when deciding whether to buy an electric car:

Electric car batteries: should you buy or lease?

If offered by the car’s manufacturer, leasing the battery can lower the upfront cost to buy the car.

If performance drops below a certain amount – normally 60-75% – the battery is usually replaced or repaired for free by the manufacturer.

Just be aware that you’ll have to agree to certain stipulations made by the manufacturer, and you’ll need to budget for paying the lease each month. Selling the car on at a later date may be more complicated too.

Electric car range

Electric cars don’t always have the same range on a single charge. If you regularly make long journeys, but want to transition to a greener vehicle, a hybrid car may be a better option.

Charging at home

To charge your car at home, you’ll need to install a charging unit. The government offers grants of up to £350 to help with installation costs. However, this scheme is only available for flat owners and those in rented accommodation who have dedicated off-street parking at their property.

Costs vary depending on the brand and type installed, but you can expect the charger and installation to cost around £800-£1,500.

Charging point locations

Are there plenty of charging points in and around your local area or places you visit often? Check out the Zapmap tool to see what coverage is like near places you frequently drive to.

Mileage charge from 2028

As part of the 2025 Autumn Budget, the government announced a new mileage tax for electric vehicles.

From 2028, a charge of £0.03 per mile for battery electric cars and £0.015 per mile for plug-in hybrid cars will be introduced. This will increase annually in line with the Consumer Price Index.

How can I get the best car insurance for my electric car?

Finding the best car insurance for your electric car means getting the level of cover you want at a price that works for your budget.

The cost of electric car insurance is based on various factors such as the risk you pose as a driver, where you live, where you keep your car at night, your age and even what job you do.

However, there are ways to reduce your premium, including:

  • Restricting your annual mileage: the less time you spend on the road, the less likely you are to make a claim

  • Increasing your voluntary excess: the higher your excess, the lower your premium is likely to be – just make sure you could afford to pay the revised excess amount if need be

  • Paying annually rather than monthly: the typical cost for people paying annually is £509, compared with £734 for those paying in monthly instalments4.

  • Parking your EV in a safe place overnight such as a secure garage or private driveway. People who park on their driveway typically pay less than £333 for their car insurance, compared to £691 for those who park on the street4.

  • Only paying for the cover you need: there’s no point paying for optional extras that aren’t really useful to you

  • Avoiding auto-renewal: it’s a good idea to do an electric car insurance comparison to see if you could find a better deal elsewhere. You could save £485 when comparing quotes with Compare the Market.3

For more tips, check out our guide on saving money on your car insurance.

See if you can save money on electric car insurance by comparing insurance quotes for your electric car with us.

It only takes a few minutes to compare a wide range of insurance providers to see if you can find a policy that’s right for you.

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Amy Rootham

What our expert says...

“The electric car market has gained pace in the UK in recent years, with electric cars accounting for a growing proportion of new car sales. And we can expect to see this shift accelerate as we approach the government’s ban on new petrol and diesel cars.

"As mechanics gain experience working on electric cars and parts become more available, we should see repair costs go down. That’s a good omen for those who may have been put off choosing an electric car by the cost of insurance.”

Amy Rootham, Insurance expert

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FAQs

Is there road tax on electric cars?

As of 1 April 2025, electric car owners are no longer exempt from paying road tax. The rate you’ll pay depends on when your electric car is registered:

  • Electric cars registered between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2025: these pay the standard rate of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), currently £200.

  • Electric cars registered after 31 March 2025: these pay the lowest rate of VED for the first year, currently £10. They pay the standard rate of VED from the second year on.

  • Electric cars registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017: these pay the lowest chargeable band of VED for vehicle of this age, currently £20.

  • If you buy a new electric car registered after 1 April 2025 that costs over £50,000 (which many do), you’ll have to pay the Expensive Car Supplement. You must pay this additional rate – £440 at the time of writing – for five years from the start of the second licence.

From 2028, a charge of £0.03 per mile for battery electric cars and £0.015 per mile for plug-in hybrid cars will be introduced. This will increase annually in line with the Consumer Price Index.

What is the difference between hybrid and electric?

An electric car only uses a battery-powered motor to drive, while a hybrid uses both an internal combustion engine (petrol or diesel) and a battery-powered motor.

Electric car charging points are still less accessible than petrol stations in some areas, so a self-charging hybrid may still be a more convenient option. (Some hybrids, known as plug-ins, need charging points.)

In terms of car insurance, hybrid car insurance is different from insuring an electric car. We can help you compare that too.

Can I get a government grant to buy an electric car?

No, but there is an EV chargepoint grant. This provides funding of up to 75% towards the cost of installing electric vehicle smart chargepoints at certain types of domestic properties (typically flats) across the UK.

See more about the scheme on GOV.UK.

What is EV insurance excess?

There are two kinds of car insurance excess:

  • Compulsory excess – this is set by your car insurance provider. If you make a claim on your policy, you’ll have to contribute this amount to your claim.

  • Voluntary excess – you choose how much to pay, on top of the compulsory excess. By offering to pay a higher excess, you can get a cheaper premium. But be sure you can afford to pay both the compulsory and voluntary excess if you need to.

Can I add additional drivers to an electric vehicle insurance policy?

Yes, you can add additional drivers. These are called named drivers.

Adding a named driver could even save you money. According to our data, people who add a named driver typically pay £535 when adding a named driver to their policy, compared with £700 for those who don’t.4

If you want to add a named driver, just be careful to avoid fronting. Fronting is when you claim to be the main driver of a car, when it’s actually the additional driver who does the majority of the driving. This is a form of insurance fraud and you can be prosecuted for it.

What happens if I’m leasing the battery on my electric vehicle?

Leasing is very uncommon these days. But if you do have a leased electric car battery, you’ll need to make this clear to your insurance provider when you take out a policy. That’s so they can make sure any claims are paid out correctly.

For example, if your car is stolen or written off and it’s covered by your policy, your payout could cover the value of the car minus the battery. The payout for the battery will go to whoever owns it.

What if someone trips over my charging cable?

It’s a good idea to make sure liability for any accidents or injury is covered by your car insurance policy, especially if your car is going to be charged on a busy street.

To prevent anyone from tripping, you can buy a raised cable protector to make it more visible to pedestrians.

Are electric cars manual or automatic?

All new EVs are automatic, as they are powered by an electric motor and don’t require gear changes to control speed in the same way as petrol and diesel cars.

A few manufacturers have made electric cars that mimic a manual transmission to preserve a more engaging driving experience. However, these are typically aimed at a niche market.

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Amy Rootham
Reviewed 22 Jul 2026 by Amy Rootham Insurance expert

Amy helps make sure you get the best value when choosing insurance. Thanks to more than four years’ experience at Compare the Market, she understands what people look for, working closely with insurance providers to offer you deals and services that are fair, easy to understand and right for your needs.

Methodology

1 Correct as of June 2026.

2 Based on Trustpilot ratings (July 2026).

3 Based on 51% of customers who compared quotes for this type of policy in June 2026.

4 Based on 51% of customers who compared quotes for this type of policy in June 2026.