Hybrid car insurance

Q: What other costs should I consider when buying a hybrid car?

Other costs to consider when buying a hybrid car include: Road tax – hybrids are no longer exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty. As of 1 April 2025, hybrids registered before 1 April 2017 must pay road tax based on their CO2 emissions, while hybrids registered on or after 1 April 2017 pay the standard rate of £195. Clean air zone charges – some cities have low emissions zones that vehicles with emissions exceeding the set limits will have to pay to enter. Hybrids can generally drive in these areas without payment, but it’s always worth double-checking the limits.

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What is hybrid car insurance?

Hybrid car insurance is cover that is suitable for hybrid vehicles.

Although they’re more complex than your average petrol or diesel cars, insurance providers recognise the advanced features and efficiency of modern hybrid vehicles.

Hybrid cars are now a common sight on UK roads, resulting in competitive car insurance quotes. Most standard car insurance policies should cover hybrid cars, but specialist options may also be available.

What level of cover do I need for a hybrid car?

Just like regular car insurance, you’ll have three levels of cover to choose from when insuring a hybrid car:

Third-party only

Third-party only – the minimum level of cover you need to legally drive on UK roads. It covers injuries to other people and damage to their property. It won’t cover injuries to you or damage to your hybrid car.

Third-party, fire and theft

Third-party, fire and theft – this provides third-party protection and also covers against damage or loss of your hybrid from fire, theft or attempted theft.

Comprehensive

Comprehensive – the highest level of cover. As well as third-party, fire and theft protection, it will also cover you and your car, even if you were at fault.

What is a hybrid car?

A hybrid car is a vehicle that runs on a petrol or diesel engine in combination with a battery-powered electric motor.

It can give you the best of both worlds. The combination of a combustion engine and an electric vehicle gives you plenty of driving range and performance while reducing your carbon emissions.

Hybrid mode (often the default setting) powers the car using the engine or the electric motor, or both. Fuel mode (sometimes called ‘engine drive’) reverts to the conventional way of motoring where the petrol or diesel engine directly powers the car, and can be helpful on longer journeys.

Hybrids should smoothly transition from one mode to the other, adapting your car to the type of drive you want, while optimising fuel economy.

Types of hybrid car

Self-charging hybrids

Self-charging hybrids don’t need to be plugged in for charging.
They use a conventional engine as their primary means of propulsion, but you get a mile or two of electric range, especially in urban or stop-start driving.
When braking or lifting your foot off the accelerator, energy goes to the battery to power the electric motor.

Plug-in hybrids

Plug-in hybrids also have a petrol or diesel engine, but combined with a larger electric battery that can deliver around 25-70 miles of range.
As you’d guess from the name, the battery pack can be recharged at a charging point, but there’s no range anxiety as the car simply switches to petrol or diesel mode until you can find a charging point.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of hybrid cars?

Advantages of hybrid cars

Fuel efficiency

Because hybrid cars can also run on an electric battery-powered engine, you can use less fuel when driving in the right mode. But you still have the flexibility of the conventional petrol engine, so you don’t have to worry about getting too far away from a charging point. Indeed, self-charging hybrids don’t need charging points at all.

Power and performance

As more manufacturers turn their focus to hybrid models, the market is becoming increasingly competitive. This means that power and performance are constantly improving with every new model launch.

Better for the environment

Hybrid cars produce less pollution, so they can help you reduce your impact on the planet. It also means they may qualify for cheaper road tax and may be exempt from clean air zone charges.

Disadvantages of hybrid cars

Expensive to buy

Hybrid cars can be more expensive to buy than petrol-only and diesel models, but they can be cheaper than pure electric cars.

Less boot space

Hybrids have a pack of powerful batteries to keep that electric motor going but take up valuable space in the car – often in the boot. This may mean reduced storage space – especially with plug-ins. But newer models are finding ways to minimise the problem and there are more and more hybrids now with decent boot capacity.

Expensive to repair

The dual engine and technologies used mean that hybrid cars can be more expensive to repair. As the technologies are continuously improving, it can also be difficult to find mechanics with the right level of expertise. And if you do find one, they may charge more than for conventional petrol or diesel cars.

Are hybrids more expensive to insure?

Hybrids are a common type of vehicle on our roads now, so insurance costs are competitive. But just like conventional fuel models, the cost of hybrid insurance depends on a number of factors, including:

The make and model of your car
What insurance group it falls into
Your personal circumstances – for example, your age, postcode, job, driving history and previous claims.

Parts and repairs tend to be more expensive than for conventional cars, so this may also affect the cost of your hybrid car insurance premium.

What our expert says...

“Hybrid cars offer a great compromise between efficiency, performance and flexibility. And going green doesn’t have to cost the earth. Compare with us and find the right price for your hybrid car insurance.”

Amy Rootham, Insurance expert

How much does hybrid car insurance cost?

The cost of your car insurance will be based on your risk profile, and the likelihood of you making a claim.

Insurance providers will also consider the value of your car, how expensive it would be to repair or replace, and how many miles you drive.

While price is an important factor, it shouldn’t be your only consideration when searching for the best car insurance for you. The cheapest hybrid car insurance might not be the right one for your needs – which is why it pays to shop around and compare a range of quotes.

Here’s how much our customers typically pay for their car insurance across all vehicle types:

£593³

for comprehensive car insurance

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³ 51% of our customers were quoted less than £592.26 for their comprehensive car insurance in June 2026.

What optional extras can I get with hybrid car insurance?

Optional extras provide additional cover so you can tailor your policy to suit your needs. Just be aware that add-ons could bump up the price of your hybrid car insurance.

Premium comprehensive policies often include certain add-ons as standard. So, check the policy features before you splash out on extras.

Typical optional extras include:

Breakdown cover

Roadside assistance if your hybrid breaks down.

Courtesy car

A temporary vehicle (subject to availability) that you can use while your hybrid is being repaired as part of a claim.

Motor legal protection

Could cover legal expenses if you’re involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault.

Protected no-claims

Protects your no-claims discount so you won’t lose it in the event of a claim.

Key cover

Could cover the cost of replacing or reprogramming your keys if they’re lost or stolen.

Windscreen cover

Could cover the cost of repairing or replacing a damaged windscreen.

What are the hybrid car insurance groups?

The insurance group for your hybrid car depends on the make and model.

Hybrid cars often fall into the higher insurance groups because they have specialist parts and may need specialist repair. But that’s not always the case.

A higher insurance group usually means higher premiums. But it’s not the only factor in deciding the cost of your hybrid car insurance premiums. See 'Are hybrids more expensive to insure?' above.

Find out the insurance group of your hybrid car.

What do our customers say about our car insurance comparison service?

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Ron - 21/09/2026

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Rob - 21/09/2026

Came up with competitive car insurance which I accepted.

MG - 12/09/2026

What do I need to get a hybrid car insurance quote?

To start comparing insurance quotes for your hybrid car, you’ll need to tell us about...

Your car

Either the registration number or the car’s make, model and age.

How you use your car

For leisure and commuting only, or for work too? Tell us how many miles a year you drive and where you keep your car at night.

Your driving history

Any accidents, insurance claims and driving convictions from the past five years, plus details of any no-claims discount.

Additional drivers

Details of any additional drivers you want to add to the policy.

Your details

You'll also need to provide a few personal details, including your name, age, address and profession – unless you’ve compared with us before.

FAQs

What other costs should I consider when buying a hybrid car?

Other costs to consider when buying a hybrid car include:

Road tax – hybrids are no longer exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty. As of 1 April 2025, hybrids registered before 1 April 2017 must pay road tax based on their CO2 emissions, while hybrids registered on or after 1 April 2017 pay the standard rate of £195.
Clean air zone charges – some cities have low emissions zones that vehicles with emissions exceeding the set limits will have to pay to enter. Hybrids can generally drive in these areas without payment, but it’s always worth double-checking the limits.

Do I need specialist insurance for a hybrid car?

Most standard car insurance policies should cover your hybrid car. But there are an increasing number of specialist policies out there for hybrid and other eco vehicles – and you might find they offer you a better deal.

That’s why it’s a good idea to compare hybrid car insurance and ensure you get the best quote for your needs.

Are hybrid cars cheaper to run?

In most cases, you’ll use less fuel driving a hybrid car, so you should save at the petrol pump.

This is especially true if you mostly use your car for shorter journeys close to home, as you’ll be able to run largely on electric.

However, the electric charge won’t last forever, and hybrid cars sometimes have poorer fuel efficiency when running on petrol or diesel. So, if you mostly make long journeys, this could potentially end up being more expensive. Hybrids can also be more expensive to repair.

Can I get hybrid learner insurance?

There is such a thing as ‘hybrid learner insurance’, but it’s not usually anything to do with hybrid cars. It usually refers to a type of car insurance policy for learner drivers.

This ‘hybrid’ policy is a combination of learner insurance and full insurance. It covers you for learning to drive in your own car and afterwards, when you’ve passed your test.

You’ll still need learner insurance if you learn to drive in an electric or hybrid car. Just be aware that most hybrids have an automatic transmission. If you take your test in one, you’ll be issued an automatic licence. This means you won’t be legally allowed to drive a car with a manual transmission.

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Reviewed 17 Jul 2026 bySam WilsonInsurance expert

Sam Wilson is Head of Commercial Finance at Compare the Market and one of our core insurance experts on motor, home, van, motorbike and pet insurance products.

With over seven years at Compare the Market, Sam has a detailed understanding of how customers shop for insurance, what drives differences in premiums, and how small changes — such as shopping around at renewal or reviewing cover — can make a meaningful difference to what people pay.

Sam regularly comments in national and trade media on insurance costs, value for money and consumer savings, helping people understand how to get a good deal without focusing on price alone.

Methodology

¹Correct as of June 2026.

²Based on Trustpilot ratings (July 2026).