Electric car insurance
More and more people are opting for electric cars, and it’s not just because they’re more environmentally friendly. They can also potentially help keep costs down as fuel prices creep up. Here’s how to search for a great deal on your electric car insurance.
What is electric car insurance?
Electric car insurance is a type of car insurance policy that’s designed specifically to cover electric vehicles (EVs). It covers many of the same things as regular car insurance but with a few tweaks and extras that can mean more tailored protection for electric car drivers.
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 like:
- Recovery in case you run out of battery 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.
Other than providing the extra cover you may need for things like your charging kit and battery, electric car insurance works in much the same way.
Here are the three levels of electric car insurance to choose from:
Third-party cover
Third-party only is the most basic level of cover and the minimum required by law. This covers the cost of other people’s damages or injuries, but you won’t be able to claim for damages to your own car or for your injuries.
Third-party, fire and theft cover
Third-party, fire and theft includes the same cover as basic third-party insurance, but also covers your own car against fire damage and theft.
Comprehensive cover
Comprehensive is the highest level of cover available. Comprehensive car insurance covers both damages and injuries to others, as well as covering you and your own car.
As electric cars become increasingly common, more people are trading-in their petrol and diesel vehicles for EVs. Although electric cars can be more expensive to insure, they’re typically cheaper to run, and as the UK gradually switches over to electric, we should see insurance costs go down. Electric car insurance can include useful extras for EV drivers, from battery cover to portable charging cables cover.
How much is electric car insurance?
As with other types of car insurance, the price of insurance for electric cars depends on several factors, including:
- The price of your car
- What insurance group your electric car is in
- The level of cover you choose
- Your age
- Your postcode
- Your driving and claims history
- Your annual mileage
- Where you park your car overnight.
If you’ve got your sights on buying an electric car, it’s worth checking its insurance group. In general, electric car insurance costs tend to be cheaper for models of cars in the lower insurance groups.
Is car insurance cheaper for electric cars? Or more expensive?
Electric cars have historically been more expensive to buy than petrol and diesel models and that can make them more expensive to insure. They can also be more expensive to repair, with spare parts harder to come by and specialist repairs commonly required. Repair costs can play a significant role in the price of your premium.
But there are now some more affordable electric cars on the market and an increasing number of used electric vehicles available to buy. And as more of us make the switch to greener vehicles, the infrastructure for electric vehicles is improving and expanding too.
As more mechanics gain experience working with electric vehicles and parts become more widely available, you should see that reflected in the cost of electric car insurance. The increasing popularity of EVs also means you can expect a greater choice when you shop around for EV car insurance – which could mean a more competitive deal.
Did you know…?Just under a fifth of all new vehicles registered in the UK in 2024 were electric vehicles, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). This is slightly less than the 22% target set by the UK government in its zero-emission vehicle mandate. Under the UK government’s commitment to transition to net zero, the target for sales of new electric vehicles is set to gradually increase until 2035, when all sales of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned. This means that going forward, we should see the market for electric car insurance expand dramatically. |
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. But there are a few special cover considerations to bear in mind when insuring an electric car. Add-ons can include:
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.
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.
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.
Electric charger liability cover
This could cover you if someone trips over your charging cable in a public place and gets injured.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 now offer electric car insurance. And as the demand for electric cars continues to grow, you can expect to see that number grow.
This is good news, as it means there are more providers competing. That makes comparing electric car insurance one of the best ways to get a cheaper quote.
Start comparingWhat are the benefits of owning an electric car?
There’s plenty of incentives to go electric:
Reduce your carbon footprint
Electric cars produce zero tailpipe emissions – which means there’s no exhaust to emit CO2, NOx or particulates. That makes them better for the environment than petrol or diesel cars.
They’re cheaper to drive
Charging an electric vehicle tends to be cheaper than the cost of refuelling a petrol or diesel car. Of course, these costs do all fluctuate, and the savings you could make may also depend on where and how you charge your EV.
You can usually get the best savings by charging your electric car at home. That’s especially true if you charge overnight and benefit from a ‘time of use’ energy tariff that charges you less for electricity in off-peak hours.
You can still also find some free charging points across the UK, in some car parks, supermarkets, attractions, hotels and workplaces.
Lower maintenance and servicing costs
Electric vehicles have fewer moving parts than petrol and diesel vehicles so there’s less potential for something to go wrong. You won’t need to pay for regular oil changes and there are fewer parts that will need replacing over time due to wear and tear.
No congestion and/or clean air zone charge
If you live in or work in one of the following cities, you’ll be pleased to learn that electric car drivers currently don’t need to pay the charge to enter the low-emission zone:
- London (and Congestion Charge until 25 December 2025)
- Birmingham
- Oxford
- Bristol
- Edinburgh
- Glasgow
- Aberdeen
- Dundee.
Clean air zones with charges may be introduced more widely across the UK in the future, so this is a benefit that could become even more useful over time.
Do bear in mind, though, that rules can change – for example, electric vehicles have to pay the London Congestion Charge as of 25 December 2025.
Free parking
Some local councils offer free parking spaces for electric vehicles. Others may offer cheaper or subsidised parking.
Quieter engines
Electric vehicles are much quieter than petrol and diesel engines – even though they have an audible running sound to increase safety for pedestrians. For drivers, though, a quieter engine means a more relaxed and enjoyable driving experience.
What else should I consider when buying an electric car?
Here’s a few things to consider when deciding whether to buy an electric car:
Electric car batteries: buy or lease?
Will you lease the battery, or buy it outright? Although it’s much less common with new electric cars, if offered by the car’s manufacturer, leasing the battery can lower the upfront cost to buy the car.
It can also give peace of mind that the performance of the battery is guaranteed for the life of the car. If performance drops below a certain amount – normally 60-75% – the battery is 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 may be more complicated too.
Electric car range
Consider how far you usually travel. Electric cars don’t always have the same range on a single charge as a tank of fuel. If you regularly make long journeys, but you 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 has grants available 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.
How can I get the best car insurance for electric cars?
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: this tends to be cheaper, as insurance providers often charge interest on monthly premium payments
- Parking your EV in a safe place overnight such as a secure garage or private driveway
- 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.
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.
Compare quotesWhat our expert says...
“The electric car market has really started to gain pace in the UK in recent years. Although only 3% of cars on UK roads were electric in 2023, electric cars account 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.”
- Rebecca Goodman, Insurance expert
Frequently asked questions
Is there road tax on electric cars?
From 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 £195.
- 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 £40,000 (which many do), you’ll have to pay the Expensive Car Supplement. You must pay this additional rate – £425 at the time of writing – for five years from the start of the second licence.
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 to your car insurance policy. These are called named drivers.
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.
