How much does it cost to insure an electric car?
The emergence of EVs brings the need for electric car insurance. Buying car insurance for EVs needs research and understanding to determine what you can expect in costs and how it will differ from traditional car insurance.
Free Car Insurance Comparison
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Schimri Yoyo
Licensed Agent & Financial Advisor
Schimri Yoyo is a financial advisor with active insurance licenses in seven states and over 20 years of professional experience. During his career, he has held roles at Foresters Financial, Strayer University, Minnesota Life, Securian Financial Services, Delaware Valley Advisors, Bridgemark Wealth Management, and Fidelity. Schimri is an educator eager to assist individuals and families in ach...
Licensed Agent & Financial Advisor
UPDATED: Dec 24, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our car insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different car insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about car insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything car insurance-related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by car insurance experts.
UPDATED: Dec 24, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our car insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different car insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Automobile insurance for EVs has a marginally higher cost than traditional car insurance due to the high costs of batteries, sensors, and the vehicles as a whole
- Car insurance for EVs is common and widely available
- Sales for EVs continue to increase exponentially in the United States and abroad
The electrical vehicle market in the United States is catching fire. Sales of electric vehicles saw a 160% increase in 2021 in comparison to the year prior.
If you are a new EV owner or considering the purchase of an EV, you may be wondering how insurance companies treat these vehicles. Electric cars are unique in their design, but insuring one of them, as you will see here, is not at all complex.
How much does it cost to insure an electric car?
Electric vehicles are often at the cutting edge of technology. EVs made up 26% of all new vehicle sales in the global automobile market in the first half of 2021 and the cost to repair these is astronomical. They have an expensive battery to power them, a multitude of sensors, and more.
The cost of car insurance for a given vehicle is going to have a basis in many factors. These factors include, but are not limited to:
- The type of car you drive, including its price
- Trim level, inclusive of extra features such as high-end audio, lane sensors, and more
- Safety features of the vehicle, including autonomous driving capabilities
- The type of engine, in this case, electric
Another reason it costs more to insure some electric cars is the rareness of these vehicles. Without as much data to go by, it’s hard for insurance companies to price coverage appropriately. Insurance is as individual as you are, and a multitude of variables will impact the premium.
Affordable car insurance is always available no matter what car you drive, it is just a matter of matching with the right insurance company.
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Are electric vehicles cheaper to insure than conventional cars?
You may think that it is cheaper to insure an electric car. After all, there are green credits and perks offered by many states for people who buy EVs. However, electric vehicles are slightly more expensive than traditional vehicles to insure.
One of the big reasons why EVs are more expensive to insure than traditional vehicles is their price point. These are usually expensive cars. Their battery also carries a high price tag — a replacement cost of, on average, $6,300.
Electric cars are also full of sensors, autonomous driving capabilities, and more. In many cases, these all require replacement instead of repair following damage. The replacement costs drive up the rates.
Who offers insurance for electric cars?
Insurance companies are all-in when it comes to insurance for EVs. All of the major players are quoting EV insurance and trying to meet the needs of clients.
The top insurance companies offering coverage include:
- Allstate
- Farmers
- Progressive
- Liberty Mutual
- Geico
As a consumer, the best thing to do is to compare quotes and coverage offerings from the various insurance companies. You can also make use of auto insurance quoting tools to get quotes instantly.
Do insurance companies offer discounts for electric vehicles?
Discounts for electric vehicle insurance are not common. Car insurance companies price their policies for EVs appropriately based on the replacement cost and anticipated cost of repairs due to their parts.
That being said, you do have the ability to get several other discounts when shopping for car insurance. Most car insurance companies will offer discounts for a variety of things, including:
- Driving age and positive driving history
- Low mileage use
- Positive student and grade history
- Having a vehicle parked in a garage
- Multi-policy discounts
Most people qualify for at least one of the above discounts, so make sure to ask your insurance agent about them.
Get Savings With Tax Breaks
You can qualify for a tax break for purchasing an electric vehicle. The Internal Revenue Service offers a tax credit for a Qualified Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicle. The credit will vary with the basis of the electric vehicle you purchase, and which manufacturer you purchase from. The credit starts at $7,500 per vehicle with a phase-out happening as the number of sales of a given vehicle surpasses 200,000 units.
Even though there are generally no specific discounts for electric vehicles, you can take advantage of other discounts to lower the insurance costs for your electric vehicle. Premiums will vary from one insurance company to the next, so it pays to compare costs between insurance companies.
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Case Studies: How much does it cost to insure an electric car?
Case Study 1: The Cost Factors
John recently purchased an electric car and was curious about the insurance costs. He contacted several insurance companies and gathered quotes to compare. He discovered that the cost of insuring his electric car was influenced by various factors, including:
- The make and model of the electric car
- The value of the car
- The driver’s age and driving history
- The driver’s location
- The desired coverage options
After careful analysis, John found that while insuring an electric car could be slightly more expensive than insuring a traditional car, it was still possible to find affordable coverage options.
Case Study 2: Insurance Providers and Coverage
Sarah, another electric car owner, decided to explore different insurance providers to find the best coverage for her vehicle. She compared quotes and coverage offerings from various insurance companies, including:
- Allstate
- State Farm
- Progressive
- GEICO
- Liberty Mutual
By conducting thorough research and utilizing auto insurance quoting tools, Sarah was able to find an insurance provider that offered tailored coverage for her electric car.
Case Study 3: Discounts and Tax Breaks
Mark, an environmentally conscious individual, was interested in potential discounts for electric car insurance. Although discounts specifically for electric vehicles were not common, he discovered that insurance companies offered other types of discounts, such as:
- Multi-vehicle discounts
- Good driver discounts
- Safety feature discounts
- Bundling discounts (e.g., combining car and home insurance)
Mark also learned about the tax break offered by the Internal Revenue Service for purchasing an electric vehicle. This tax credit varied based on the vehicle’s basis and the manufacturer, providing potential savings on both the car purchase and insurance costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are electric vehicles cheaper to insure than conventional cars?
No, electric vehicles are slightly more expensive to insure than traditional cars due to their higher price point, expensive battery, and replacement costs for damaged sensors and other components.
Who offers insurance for electric cars?
All major insurance companies offer insurance for electric vehicles. To find the best insurance for your electric car, compare quotes and coverage offerings from various insurance companies using auto insurance quoting tools.
Are there any discounts available for electric car insurance?
Yes, some insurance companies offer discounts for EV owners. These discounts can vary depending on the company and your location. Some possible discounts include a green vehicle discount, an EV owner discount, or a discount for using a charging station. Be sure to ask your insurance provider about any available discounts.
What types of coverage do I need for my electric car?
Like any other vehicle, you need liability insurance to protect yourself from damages caused to others in case of an accident. You may also want to consider collision coverage and comprehensive coverage, which can protect you from damages to your own car, including damage caused by weather, theft, or vandalism. Make sure to speak with your insurance provider to determine the best coverage options for your electric car.
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Schimri Yoyo
Licensed Agent & Financial Advisor
Schimri Yoyo is a financial advisor with active insurance licenses in seven states and over 20 years of professional experience. During his career, he has held roles at Foresters Financial, Strayer University, Minnesota Life, Securian Financial Services, Delaware Valley Advisors, Bridgemark Wealth Management, and Fidelity. Schimri is an educator eager to assist individuals and families in ach...
Licensed Agent & Financial Advisor
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about car insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything car insurance-related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by car insurance experts.