Insurers ignoring electric cars

By Kev Kiernan

Insurance firms need to put more effort into providing services for the increasing number of people buying electric vehicles, according to a website report.

Most of the big insurers ignore the environmentally friendlier vehicles when it comes to providing car insurance services.

Drivers of the vehicles are having great difficulty in getting a simple quote for cover from insurers. The ones who do manage tend to be shocked at the exorbitant cost, said thegreencarwebsite.co.uk.

Two of the main price-comparison sites were unable to provide a quote to insure an electric car. Their online application forms have entries available for petrol or diesel-powered vehicles only, while engine sizes are requested in litres.

Thegreencarwebsite.co.uk said six of the 10 largest insurance companies in the UK offer no cover whatsoever for electric vehicles. The website said it enquired at each firm both on the telephone and online.

But website editor Faye Sunderland claimed: "Things will get better as electric cars become more prevalent on the road and premiums should start to come down."