EV vs Gas Car Insurance: The Real Cost Difference
Do electric cars really cost more to insure than petrol ones? A clear side-by-side comparison of what drives the price, and when an EV can actually be cheaper.
Short answer: an electric car usually costs a bit more to insure than a comparable petrol car — but the difference is smaller than many people fear, and it depends heavily on the exact model and insurer. Insurance is also only one piece of the running-cost picture.
Let’s compare them fairly.
Why the EV number is often higher
The premium gap comes down to a few well-understood factors (we cover these in depth in why EV insurance is so expensive):
- EVs typically cost more to buy, so they cost more to replace.
- Repairs need specialist shops and trained technicians.
- The battery is expensive, raising the worst-case claim.
Where the EV wins
Insurance is not the whole story. On the other side of the ledger, EVs usually cost less to run day to day:
- Energy is often cheaper per mile than petrol.
- Servicing is simpler — no oil changes, fewer moving parts, less brake wear thanks to regenerative braking.
So a higher insurance line can be partly or fully offset by lower fuel and maintenance bills.
Side-by-side: what to compare
| Cost area | Petrol car | Electric car |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance premium | Baseline | Often slightly higher |
| Fuel / energy | Higher | Usually lower |
| Routine servicing | Higher | Usually lower |
| Repair after a crash | Lower | Often higher |
| Depreciation | Varies | Varies by model |
The honest takeaway: compare total cost of ownership, not the insurance quote in isolation. An EV that costs a little more to insure can still be cheaper to own once fuel and servicing are counted.
How to get the fairest comparison
- Get quotes for the specific EV and the specific petrol car you are choosing between — averages hide big model-to-model differences.
- Ask each insurer about EV-specific discounts (telematics, low mileage, home charging).
- Add up energy + servicing + insurance for a real yearly figure.
If you already own an EV and just want the premium down, head to our guide on the cheapest way to insure an EV.
Frequently asked questions
Are electric cars more expensive to insure than petrol cars?+–
On average, yes — usually because they cost more to buy and repair. But the gap varies widely by model and insurer, and a well-chosen EV with the right discounts can come close to, or occasionally beat, a comparable petrol car.
Which is cheaper to run overall, EV or petrol?+–
Insurance may be higher on an EV, but fuel and maintenance are typically lower. To compare fairly, look at total running cost — energy, servicing, and insurance together — not insurance alone.
Do hybrids cost less to insure than full EVs?+–
Sometimes. Hybrids avoid the large battery-replacement risk of a full EV, which can make them slightly cheaper to insure, but they add complexity of two powertrains. It depends on the specific model.