CoverMapIs electric car insurance more expensive?
Not always. Two large comparison sites published 2026 averages that point in opposite directions:
| Source and period | Electric | Petrol | Diesel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confused.com, March–May 2026 | £607 | £733 | £732 |
| MoneySuperMarket, June–August 2026 | £552 | £506 | £532 |
Source: Confused.com – Electric car insurance (updated 22 Jun 2026); MoneySuperMarket – Electric Car Insurance Index (5 Oct 2026). Average annual premiums.
The figures differ because each site measures its own customers over a different period, and the mix of drivers and cars varies. Neither shows EVs costing hundreds of pounds more than petrol or diesel cars on average.
For wider context, the ABI says the average motor premium across all fuel types was £564 in 2025, 9% lower than in 2024.
The model matters more than the fuel
Which? reported Go.Compare data for January–March 2026 (drivers aged 25+). The cheapest EVs to insure had median premiums close to the cheapest petrol cars:
| Electric car | Median annual premium |
|---|---|
| Fiat 500 | £278 |
| Mini Cooper | £304 |
| Dacia Spring | £333 |
| Peugeot E-208 | £349 |
| Tesla Model X | £785 |
| Porsche Macan | £837 |
| Porsche Taycan | £861 |
Source: Which? – The cheapest electric cars to insure in 2026 (23 Jul 2026), Go.Compare sales 1 Jan–31 Mar 2026.
The cheapest car of any kind in that data was the Mazda MX-5 at £263, only £15 less than the Fiat 500. Which? noted that Fiat 500e drivers in the data averaged 3,736 miles. MoneySuperMarket’s separate index puts the Renault R5 as the cheapest EV it tracked (£417.64) and the Jaguar I-Pace 400 SE as the most expensive (£921.59), based on January–May 2026 data.
Insurance groups explain much of this. Admiral says EVs are grouped like any other car, based on cost, availability of parts and how easy they are to repair. Confused.com lists the Renault ZOE in groups 14–25, the Skoda Enyaq in 22–38 and the Tesla Model S in group 50. Our car insurance groups guide explains how groups are set.
Why can EVs cost more to insure?
Insurers price on expected claim costs, and EV repairs can be more expensive. MoneySuperMarket says this is because EV repairs are more complex, components are more expensive and technicians need special training.
Repair costs and repair times
Thatcham Research found in July 2023 that battery electric vehicle claims were about 25.5% more expensive than for petrol or diesel equivalents, and repairs took about 14% longer. These are the most recent primary Thatcham figures we found; Insurance Business reported in July 2026 that Thatcham says EV repair costs have since fallen 10.7% as repairers have gained experience.
Batteries and write-offs
The high-voltage battery is the most expensive single part. Thatcham’s 2023 report put replacement costs at £14,200 to £29,500 and said that after one year of ownership a replacement battery can cost more than the used car is worth. That makes it more likely a damaged EV is written off rather than repaired.
Damaged EVs also need careful handling. Thatcham said quarantine adds at least £60 per claim, damaged cars must be kept 15 metres from other objects for at least 48 hours, and space that holds 100 petrol or diesel cars can safely quarantine only two EVs.
In March 2026 Thatcham published an EV Blueprint setting out eight practical requirements to help stop repairable EVs being written off because of costly battery replacement, with the aim of supporting more affordable premiums. Thatcham chief executive Jonathan Hewett said the EV transition “cannot succeed if EVs become economically unviable to insure and repair”.
Wider repair costs
The ABI says insurers paid £11.9 billion on 2.5 million motor claims in 2025, including £7.5 billion for vehicle damage. It points to modern cars’ sensors, cameras and high-value components, which apply to petrol and electric cars alike.
What should electric car insurance cover?
Confused.com notes that specialist EV policies typically include battery and charging equipment cover, while some standard policies may not. Here is what three insurers say they include, checked October 2026:
| Feature | Admiral | LV= | Churchill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery (accidental damage, fire, theft) | Yes | Yes, including leased batteries | Yes, owned and leased (theft and accidental damage) |
| Charging cables | Yes | Yes, plus adaptors | Yes |
| Home charger / wall box | Fire from an EV-related fault covered by car policy | Yes, tethered and untethered | Yes |
| Someone trips over your cable | Covered if you took reasonable steps | Charger liability included | Yes, at home or away |
| Recovery if you run out of charge | Included, per LV=’s comparison | To nearest charge point, no excess | Not stated |
Source: Admiral – Electric car insurance guide (Jul 2026); LV= – Electric car insurance (comparison correct as of 11 Aug 2026); Churchill – Electric car insurance. Check the policy wording for limits and exclusions.
Leased batteries
Some EVs are sold with the battery leased separately. Admiral says you must tell your insurer if your battery is leased, because it “changes the correct payout if your EV is written off”. LV= and Churchill both say they cover leased batteries. Churchill adds that battery repair or replacement is considered “up to the write-off point”.
Home chargers: car or home insurance?
The line can be blurry. Admiral says a fire caused by a fault in your home’s electrical wiring falls under home insurance, while a fault related to the EV is covered by car insurance. LV= and Churchill say they cover home chargers and wall boxes for accidental damage, fire and theft. If you’ve had a charger fitted, it’s worth checking both your car and home policies so you know which one responds.
Running out of charge
LV= offers recovery to the nearest charge point in the UK if you run out of charge, with no excess and no effect on your no-claim discount. Its comparison table says the AA and Admiral also include this, while Direct Line and esure don’t; that is LV=’s own comparison.
How many electric cars are on UK roads?
EVs are now a large share of new car sales, which gives insurers and repairers more data and experience. SMMT figures show:
- 2025: 473,348 new battery electric cars were registered, 23.4% of the 2,020,520 total, against a 28% mandate target.
- September 2026: 99,201 battery electric cars, a 28.3% share of 350,536 registrations.
- January–September 2026: 454,947 battery electric cars, 26.2% of the market, below the 33% mandated for 2026.
Plug-in hybrids took a further 17.0% of the market in September 2026. If yours plugs in, it’s worth checking how a policy treats charging cables.
Ways to keep EV insurance costs down
- Check the insurance group before you buy. Small EVs such as the Fiat 500, Dacia Spring and Peugeot E-208 were among the cheapest EVs to insure in Which?’s 2026 list.
- Give an accurate mileage. Your estimate feeds into the price, so base it on what you really drive.
- Compare what’s included, not just price. Battery, cable, charger and run-out-of-charge cover differ between insurers.
- Use your no claims bonus. It applies to EVs as to any car; see our no claims bonus guide.
For cover levels and the other factors that affect your price, see our main car insurance guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it more expensive to insure an electric car?
It depends on the data. Confused.com found EV drivers paid £607 on average in March–May 2026 against £733 for petrol, while MoneySuperMarket found £552 for EVs against £506 for petrol in June–August 2026.
What is the cheapest electric car to insure?
In Which?'s report of Go.Compare data for January–March 2026, the Fiat 500 had the lowest median premium among EVs at £278, followed by the Mini Cooper at £304 and the Dacia Spring at £333.
Why do electric cars cost more to repair?
Thatcham Research found in 2023 that EV claims were about 25.5% more expensive and repairs took about 14% longer. High-voltage batteries cost £14,200–£29,500 to replace, which can lead to write-offs.
Does car insurance cover my EV battery?
Many EV policies do. Admiral, LV= and Churchill say they cover the battery for accidental damage, fire or theft. LV= and Churchill include leased batteries, and Admiral says you must tell it if your battery is leased.
Is my home charger covered by car or home insurance?
It can be either. Admiral says a fire from your home's wiring falls under home insurance, while an EV-related fault is covered by car insurance. LV= and Churchill say their car policies cover home chargers.
What share of new cars are electric?
SMMT says battery electric cars were 23.4% of new registrations in 2025 and 26.2% in January–September 2026.
Sources
- Confused.com – Electric car insurance (updated 22 Jun 2026)
- MoneySuperMarket – Electric Car Insurance Index (5 Oct 2026)
- Which? – The cheapest electric cars to insure in 2026 (23 Jul 2026)
- Thatcham Research – Risks to BEV adoption if repair and insurance concerns aren't addressed (Jul 2023)
- Thatcham Research – New EV Blueprint launched (Mar 2026)
- Insurance Business – Do electric cars cost too much to insure? (7 Jul 2026)
- ABI – £11.9 billion paid out in 2025 to support motorists (11 Feb 2026)
- SMMT – UK new car market breaches two million (6 Jan 2026)
- SMMT – Record electric car market powers bumper September (5 Oct 2026)
- Admiral – Electric car insurance: what you need to know (Jul 2026)
- LV= – Electric car insurance (Aug 2026)
- Churchill – Electric car insurance