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Electric car insurance

Electric cars are increasing in popularity, and with more insurers offering cover you should be able to find a policy to suit you. We compare a small number of specialist insurers who offer specific cover for electric cars. If they offer you a quote we'll show you the providers who specify 'electric cars' in their policies, and the specific cover on offer. You may also see prices from standard car insurance companies, but these policies may exclude damage to charging cables, or batteries. 

Read on to find out more about insuring your electric car, or if you just want to get a quote, click on the 'Get a quote' button to get started. 
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Do all insurers offer electric car insurance?

Electric cars are increasing in popularity. And as we get closer to the 2030 deadline for all new cars to be electric, you should find more insurers offering cover.

This means you should be able to find cover for your electric car on a standard car insurance policy. But you might find that the group of insurers that offer these policies is smaller than for a petrol or diesel car.

But standard car insurance might not cover everything you want it to, like damage to your charging cables, for example.

This is where specialist insurance comes in. Currently, we only have a small number of insurance providers offering specialist electric car insurance.

On our results page, you’ll know if it’s a specialist electric car insurance policy as it will specify it's for 'electric cars'. We’ll then tell you what specific cover that provider offers.

What level of insurance cover do I need for my electric car?

You can choose different levels of car insurance, as you would with a petrol or diesel car.

You should get the same level of cover and be able to choose from third-party, third-party fire and theft and comprehensive insurance policies. You might also be able to get black box insurance if you want it.

Most insurers will also offer breakdown cover policies for electric cars.

Breakdown companies employ trained mechanics so they can offer electric car owners the same level of cover as those with petrol or diesel cars. Some companies will cover you even if you run out of battery power.

What does electric car insurance cover?

Insurance for electric cars typically covers everything standard car insurance does, depending on your policy type. But the cover they can provide for electric cars may differ, like for:

  • Battery
  • Charging cables
  • Adaptors
  • Wall boxes

Some policies include extras like accident liability cover, as cables on your drive can be a trip hazard. Alternatively, providers like ByMiles use smart technology in your car to base your policy price on the miles you drive.

As an example of what electric car insurance can cover, here are the benefits of an electric car insurance policy offered by one of the insurance companies we work with:

  • Free recovery to the nearest charge point UK-wide if you run out of battery power
  • Cover for charging cables, adaptors and wall boxes in case of accidental damage, fire and theft
  • Accidental damage, fire and theft cover for your battery
  • Lifetime guarantee on repairs (some restrictions apply)

What extras can I get for my electric car insurance cover?

Electric cars require some equipment that petrol and diesel cars don’t, including charging cables and wall boxes.

There’s also the battery – some insurers cover battery failure as standard, but other policies can require you to buy this as an add-on.

Batteries for electric cars are expensive, so some manufacturers can lease you the battery, rather than making you buy it. This makes it cheaper to buy an electric car.

But your electric car insurance should cover your battery, even if it's leased.

When you take out the policy, insurers will want to know if you own or lease the battery. This allows them to pay the right party for any damage to the battery if you make a claim.

We don’t ask you this when getting your quote, but your insurer may contact you to check once you’ve decided on an electric car insurance policy.

You can add public liability cover, in case someone trips over your charging cable, for example.

How much is electric car insurance?

Our data shows the average cost of insuring an electric car is £510* a year

But insurers consider a range of factors when calculating the price, including:

  • The type of car you’re insuring
  • Where you live
  • Your occupation
  • Your age

So it’s worth getting a quote to see how much electric car insurance would cost you.

For a closer look at how car insurance is calculated, see our guide.

*From Confused.com data, based on the average purchased premium, of comprehensive electric car policies. December 2022 - February 2023.

Are electric cars expensive to insure?

Electric cars have only been on the market for a few years so generally, they’re more expensive to buy - which can make them more expensive to insure.

They can also be more expensive to repair than standard cars as their parts are typically less readily available.

Plus, they can require specialist servicing, which also can increase the cost of electric car insurance.

But this doesn't necessarily mean you'll pay more for insurance than for petrol or diesel car cover.

Electric cars have fewer parts that can fail, so in some instances, they're cheaper to insure than fuel cars of the same value.

They tend to have top-of-the-range safety features, too, so insurers may see them as a safer option to insure, meaning lower insurance costs.

You can also save money if your electric vehicle runs solely by a battery that is charged from an external source. These types of vehicles are exempt from road tax which is great news for bringing the overall costs down.

Confusingly though, you still have to tax your car, even if it's zero-rated and there's no tax to pay.

You can read more on this by visiting our how to get cheaper car insurance guide.

What are the benefits of owning an electric car?

  • Electric cars are more environmentally friendly than petrol or diesel cars
  • There’s no road tax for electric vehicles
  • You don’t pay a congestion charge in London or other cities like petrol and diesel vehicles
  • It’s cheaper on a cost-per-mile basis to run an electric car than petrol and diesel cars
  • There are some grants for some low-emissions vehicles, such as motorbikes, vans and taxis.

What’s the difference between a hybrid and an electric car?

The key difference between electric cars and hybrid cars is how they’re powered.

Electric cars run on one power source, while hybrid vehicles use both a petrol or diesel engine and an electric battery.

Electric cars have various benefits, but their range can be an issue if you want to drive long distances. Plus, charging them can be a problem if you can’t do it at home and they're more expensive to buy than hybrid or petrol/diesel cars.

Hybrid cars are more efficient than petrol and diesel cars, and if you can’t charge your vehicle it can run on traditional fuel.

But they're not as environmentally friendly as electric cars and they can take a long time to charge. They also have a limited electric range.

Can I compare quotes for hybrid car insurance?

You don't have to buy dedicated hybrid car insurance through us as most standard car insurers cover hybrid cars. But you can compare standard car insurance to find the best deal.

What do I need to get a quote?

To get a quote for electric car insurance, you’ll need to provide your personal details, including your:

  • Age
  • Occupation
  • Address

You’ll also need to provide full details of the car you want to insure, including any modifications that have been made to it.

Finally, you'll need to decide which level of insurance cover you want – fully comprehensive, third-party only, or third-party, fire and theft.

Need more help?

What insurance group will my electric car fall into?

Just like a diesel or petrol car, the car insurance group your car falls into will depend on the make and model.

Many electric cars have specialist parts and are expensive to repair, so you can expect to find electric cars among the higher insurance groups.

Generally, the higher the group, the more your car insurance will cost.

But that’s just one of the factors insurers think about when calculating insurance premiums. You can find out what group your electric car is in by visiting the Thatcham group checker.

To give you an idea, we’ve summarised the groups for 5 of the top selling electric cars in the UK.

The groups shown cover all specifications and years of each model:

Make and Model Group
Nissan Leaf
19 - 16
BMW I3
21 - 29
Renault ZOE
14 - 23
Tesla Model S
50
Volkswagen E-Golf
15 - 26

How much does it cost to recharge an electric vehicle at home?

Exactly how much you pay to charge an electric car at home will depend on your battery and the tariff you are on with your electricity supplier.

According to Podpoint, it costs about £15 to fully charge a 60kWh electric car, which will last around 200 miles.

But some energy suppliers do offer dedicated tariffs for drivers of electric cars, which may bring the cost down.

Are there free charging points in the UK?

Yes, there are some, but most are not free.

Some of the major supermarkets offer free charging in their car parks while you do your shopping.

Research by Zap Map in November 2022 shows the availability of free charging points varies across the UK. Scotland has by far the most free electric charging points, thanks to support from Transport for Scotland.

You can also use our EV charging point map to find out where your nearest charging point is.

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What our electric car insurance expert says

Most standard car insurance policies should cover your electric car, but that might not be the best move. Choosing a tailored electric car policy can give you additional benefits like cover for batteries and charging cables.

After buying car insurance, 96% of Confused.com customers would recommend us (based on 144469 Reviews.co.uk respondents - as of 31/05/23). Read our reviews