Susan Difford Insurance Expert

What the experts say…

"Insuring an electric vehicle (EV) requires specialised knowledge to ensure comprehensive coverage and cost-effectiveness. Start by selecting a policy that includes battery protection, as EV batteries are expensive to repair or replace. Look for insurers offering coverage for charging equipment to safeguard your investment."

– Susan Difford, Founder of Clean Green Compare

A guide to electric car insurance

Electric cars are becoming more popular with each passing day. With manufacturers making more affordable models and UK infrastructure getting better with each passing year, many people are choosing to make the switch to electric and finding the cheapest UK electric car insurance can be difficult.

With greener vehicles becoming ever popular, you should consider EV car insurance cover designed specifically for pure electric vehicles so you can rest assured knowing your cover will keep your electric vehicle running.

So whether you’re considering a Tesla or already having fun in your Audi E-tron , you can put your mind at ease knowing your cover will keep your EV running!

If you’re looking for the cheapest electric car or EV insurance, then you’re in the right place. To get quotes now, simply click the green quote button. If you’re not certain which type of cover is best, then read on for more information about the different types of cover that are available as well as some of the most frequently asked questions people have about electric car insurance.

Did you know?

You can easily tailor your electric car policy so it includes only the cover you need.

Types of electric car insurance

Third party only 

Third party only insurance is the minimum level of cover you’ll need to drive an electric car legally in the UK. It provides protection for other motorists if you’re involved in a collision and are the party to blame. It won’t provide any protection for your own vehicle but does make it road legal.

Third party, fire and theft

Third party, fire and theft provides some protection for your own vehicle as well as making it road legal. You’ll be covered for damage that happens as a result of fire as well theft of your car.

Comprehensive

Comprehensive insurance offers the most protection for your vehicle. It will be covered for fire and theft as well as collisions, even those that you’re at fault for.

Additional cover options

Charging equipment

A very useful type of additional cover you can get with an electric car policy is for charging equipment. This will cover charging cables, adaptors and wall boxes for fire, theft and accidental damage.

Battery cover

You can also get cover for the battery in your electric car, even if it’s leased separately. It will be covered for accidental damage, fire and theft.

European cover

If you plan to drive your car overseas, then you can get cover so you’re able to drive in some European countries. Be sure to check with your insurance provider to see which countries are covered and the level of cover you can get.

New locks and keys

If your keys were lost or stolen, then the replacement costs would be covered.

Did you know?

When you get quotes online, there’s no pressure or hard sell. You simply choose the policy that’s best for you.

Types of Green Cars

Many people assume that the term ‘green cars’ refers only to electric vehicles but this is not the case. There are actually a few different types of green cars that work in different ways in order to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels. Below is a guide to the different types of green vehicles that are currently on the market to help you choose a green car.

Plug-in hybrid car

A plug-in hybrid car combines a regular petrol or diesel engine with a battery-powered electric motor. As the name suggests, plug-in hybrid cars can be plugged into mains in order to provide longer electric-only journeys. Plug-in hybrid cars are perfect for driving in urban settings since they enable you to drive on electric power only for up to 30 miles, helping to drastically reduce emissions and help you save money in fuel consumption. Another big benefit of plug-in hybrid cars is that they’re exempt from tax due to their low emissions.

Hybrid car

A hybrid car also has a petrol or diesel engine as well as a battery-powered electric motor. Unlike a plug-in hybrid, a hybrid car’s electric motor cannot be charged at the mains; instead it is charged by energy that’s captured when the vehicle brakes, or sometimes from the engine. Hybrid cars are another type of vehicle that are great for driving in urban areas. This is because they can run on electric power only for a good distance and when the vehicle is at a standstill, the engine is switched off, helping to cut down emissions and fuel consumption. Hybrid cars are considered a very economical choice, which is why a growing number of companies are now investing in hybrid cars.

Electric car

An electric car is the lowest emission car type that you can get. Unlike hybrids and plug-in hybrids, an electric car is powered purely by an electric motor. This means there are zero fuel emissions, making it a perfect environmental car. As well as the money you save in fuel costs and positive effect that driving an electric car has on the environment, they are also very enjoyable to drive. They’re extremely quiet and provide a smooth driving experience that many people find to be preferable to a petrol or diesel car.

Jargon Buster

If you’re in the market for a green car then it’s extremely useful to know what some of the most common terms mean. Below is a useful glossary of green car terms explained.

Auto stop-start

This is a common feature on green cars where the engine turns off when the car is at a standstill.

Bio-diesel

Diesel that has oil derived from plants.

Bio-ethanol

Petrol that contains oil derived from plants

Bluetec

A technology that provides a way of cleaning emission from diesel engines that was developed by VW and Mercedes.

CO2 air conditioning

A form of air condition that reduces air pollution

Direct injection

Fuel that is injected into the cylinder for more efficiency

Displacement on demand

Cylinders are shut down when the car is cruising

Down-sizing

Smaller engine sizes without a compromise on power

E85

A form of biofuel

Electric vehicles (EVs)

A car that runs solely on an electric motor with zero tailpipe emissions.

Electronic power steering (EPS)

A form of power steering where the hydraulic pump is removed, cutting fuel consumption.

Fuel cells

Cells that have no emissions at all.

Gas-to-liquid (GTL)

Gas that is converted to liquid and then mixed with diesel.

Homogenous charge

A form of petrol engine that works like a very clean diesel engine.

Hybrid car

A car that has a battery-powered electric motor in addition to a petrol or diesel engine.

Hydrogen fuels

Hydrogen fuel has zero emissions making it an ideal power source in theory.

Lithium-ion Battery

A type of battery that’s expected to be widely used in green cars in the near future.

LPG/CGN

Liquid Petroleum Gas and Compressed Natural Gas. Both used as alternatives to standard petrol.

Mild Hybrid

A type of electric motor that provides assistance to the engine but cannot power the car alone.

Particulates

The black soot that’s emitted from diesel engines.

Plug-in hybrid

The same as a hybrid car except it can also be charged at the mains

Regenerative braking

Where the brakes charge the battery that powers the electric motor of a hybrid car

Super caps

Capacitors that provide a boost to the engine over short periods.

Turbocharger

Boosts engine power with the added benefit of cutting fuel consumption.

Well-to-wheel

A way to measure the complete environmental impact of any given type of fuel.

Get electric car insurance quotes now

If you’re ready to get your tailored electric car insurance quotes now, then simply click the green button below. After you’ve provided the necessary information, you’ll be able to look through quotes from a range of providers and find your cheapest insurance for electric cars!

Don’t have your registration number? No problem, click here.

Electric Car Insurance FAQs

How much does it cost to insure an electric car in UK?

The cost of insuring an electric car in the UK will depend on a few different factors. These include –
  • Your age
  • Your driving experience
  • The value of your car
  • The repair costs of your car
  • The level of cover you take out

Do you need insurance for an electric car?

Yes, you’re required to have insurance for an electric car just as you would with a standard petrol or diesel car. You can choose from the usual insurance options, such as third party; third party, fire and theft; and comprehensive. You can also get electric car specific cover, such as battery cover and charging equipment cover.

Why is electric car insurance high?

Electric car insurance is often more expensive than insuring a regular petrol or diesel car. This is because there’s less data available on the repair costs, so insurers want to cover themselves. The good news is that the cost of electric car insurance is coming down all the time as more data becomes available and they become easier to repair. That’s why its always a good idea to compare electric vehicle insurance

Are electric car batteries covered by insurance?

Most insurance providers will provide cover for your battery as well as the car itself. Whether or not this is included as standard will depend on the insurance provider. Batteries are typically covered for fire, theft and accidental damage. You can also get cover for charging equipment, including charging cables and wall boxes.

Why is Tesla insurance so high?

Tesla insurance is high mostly because of the higher costs of repairing Tesla cars when compared to other models. You can help to cut down on the price of Tesla insurance by getting a third party only policy. This will mean your own vehicle won’t be covered but it does help to reduce the cost of your cover.

Do electric cars get stolen?

Although electric cars do get stolen, it’s not nearly as common as with regular cars. This is because a lot of newer electric cars have security features that make it much harder for thieves to target them. This includes things like pin to start ignitions and disappearing door handles. A bigger problem with electric cars is theft of charging cables. This risk can be mitigated by making sure you don’t leave your car unattended while charging. You can also get cover for charging cables.

Do you qualify for a government grant for an Electric Vehicle?

Yes, certain types of electric or low emission  vehicles can apply for this type of grant. The grant is put towards the price at which dealerships will sell their low-emissions car to customers. For example, if you are looking to buy a new electric vehicle and it’s £35k or less – then that vehicle qualifies with a maximum value granted by the UK Government of £2,500. You can find the full list of grant eligible vehicles on the UK government site.

Is a Tesla expensive to insure?

It will depend on the exact model of Tesla you have as well as the insurance provider you get cover from and the level of cover you take out. A comprehensive Tesla policy usually is more expensive than insuring other types of electric cars, everything else being equal.

Are electric cars classed as automatic?

Yes, the vast majority of electric cars on the market are automatic. Because there’s no gearbox, electric cars cannot be stalled like manual petrol cars, so there’s no gearbox and they drive like an automatic car. The fact that electric cars are automatic makes them much simpler and safer to drive since you don’t have to worry about changing gears.

Do electric cars increase your electricity bill?

Although having an electric car does increase your electricity bill if you have a charging station at home, they still usually work out significantly cheaper than running a petrol or diesel car. It’s also worth considering that the maintenance costs with electric cars are significantly cheaper too.