As the UK moves towards a 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars, many UK drivers are making the switch to electric vehicles.
According to the latest Department for Transport figures, as of September 2025 there were over 1.7 million electric cars on UK roads. This means that about 5% of all cars in the UK are currently fully electric.
In this post, we’ll outline how electric vehicle insurance works, which is one of a number of factors you’ll have to consider if you’re thinking about going electric.
Is EV Insurance More Expensive?
Yes, insuring a fully electric vehicle will usually cost more than it does to insure a traditional petrol or diesel vehicle.
Why is EV Insurance More Expensive?
Insuring a fully electric vehicle can be more expensive than a petrol or diesel car for a number of reasons, including:
- EVs usually cost more upfront than other cars, which may automatically place them in a higher insurance group.
- It can cost a lot to repair or replace an EV’s battery. The higher cost of repairs will result in higher insurance premiums.
- Following an accident, you may need a specialist garage to repair your EV, and you may struggle to find skilled technicians in your area. Along with the cost of repairs, the complexity of repairs can also affect the price you pay for insurance.
How Does EV Insurance Differ From Petrol or Diesel Car Insurance?
Car insurance for electric vehicles can be functionally identical to car insurance for petrol or diesel vehicles. It’s still a case of choosing from three levels of cover: Third Party, Third Party with Fire and Theft, and Comprehensive. You can read our full guide to these three different levels of cover.
Like with other car insurance policies, you may also be able to choose additional optional extras for your policy, such as breakdown cover and legal cover.
There are some areas where cover for an electric vehicle might differ from cover for petrol or diesel cars. There may be a set amount of cover for your car’s battery, for example and there may also be cover for additional parts of charging equipment, including cables and ports.
If you’re thinking of installing a charging point at home, you may also have to consider how this will affect your home insurance policy.
Choosing Your First EV
If you are thinking of buying your first EV, here are some key considerations.
- Understanding the difference
First, it’s important to understand just how EVs differ from petrol and diesel cars. Read our guide to the pros and cons of EVs vs. petrol and diesel cars. - Grants and funding options
A good place to start when choosing your first EV is to research what sort of grants are available. In the UK, 28 EV models are eligible for the Electric Car Grant scheme, through which you could save up to £3,750 on the cost of a new EV. Take a look at which models are eligible for this grant. - Charging
Whatever electric car you choose, you’ll also have to think about how you’re going to charge it. Will you be able to charge it at home? If you don’t have a driveway, or if you rent your home, this may be impractical or even impossible. Take a look at the Zapmap, a UK-wide map of electric car charging points, to see how the infrastructure looks in your area. You could also talk to your employer about whether there will ever be EV charging points at your workplace.
Whether you are looking at buying your first EV car or a petrol or diesel car, we have put together a useful guide to key questions you should ask when buying a car.
Get Electric Vehicle Insurance From Insure 2 Drive
At Insure 2 Drive, we offer insurance for your electric vehicle. Get a free quote online now.
