Written by Mariah Posey – 6 min read – Edited By Amy Sims – Reviewed By Mark Friedlander
Consumers are increasingly choosing to purchase electric vehicles for various reasons, including fuel savings and attraction to environmentally friendly features. In determining whether an electric vehicle is the best choice for you, you will want to consider just how purchasing an electric vehicle differs from the purchase of a car with a combustible engine. One of these differences is insurance, and it will be important for you to understand how best to insure an electric vehicle.
Typically, you will pay more to insure an electric vehicle than a conventional automobile. This is primarily due to the higher electric vehicle purchase price and the fact that electric vehicles generally have higher repair costs.
How much does electric car insurance cost?
Although electric vehicles typically cost more to insure than their gas-powered counterparts, Bankrate analyzed premiums for several makes and models using data provided by Quadrant Information Services to provide insight into just how costs are affected when insuring an electric vehicle.
| Electric vehicle | Average 6-month premium | Average annual premium |
|---|---|---|
| Audi e-tron | $1,260 | $2,520 |
| Hyundai Ioniq | $891 | $1,782 |
| Fiat 500c | $732 | $1,463 |
| Ford Fusion | $837 | $1,674 |
| Ford Focus | $817 | $1,633 |
| Jaguar I-PACE | $921 | $1,841 |
| smart EQ fortwo prime | $779 | $1,557 |
| smart EQ fortwo pure | $747 | $1,494 |
| Tesla Model 3 | $1,142 | $2,283 |
| Tesla Model S | $1,901 | $3,802 |
| Tesla Model X | $1,662 | $3,324 |
| Toyota Prius | $870 | $1,740 |
These are just average rates. The amount you pay for your electric vehicle’s insurance will depend on a variety of individual rating factors.
Who provides electric car insurance?
Insuring an electric car is no different than covering a conventional vehicle. Electric car policies feature the same coverage options such as liability, bodily injury, collision and comprehensive coverages. Most national and regional auto insurers write policies for electric vehicles, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), including:
While several major auto insurers have started toeing into the waters of the electric/hybrid vehicle market by providing guides on the subject (see Allstate, Geico, Farmers and State Farm), you may have a hard time finding discounts for your electrical vehicle. While you can expect to save money by avoiding the gas station and possibly pocketing some tax incentives, many insurance providers are not yet offering any discounts for drivers who choose an electric vehicle.
That said, we found a couple who are. Some large carriers, including Travelers and Liberty Mutual, extend exclusive discounts to electric and hybrid car owners.
Tesla Insurance
In August 2019, electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla launched Tesla Insurance. Currently, Tesla only writes car insurance policies in California and Texas for all Model 3, Model S, Model X, Model Y and Roadster Tesla owners but has plans to offer coverage throughout the U.S. Tesla marketing claims the manufacturer launched the insurance program because of the company’s intimate knowledge of the vehicles’ technology and serviceability.
Tesla Insurance offers the same standard coverage as most other auto insurance providers, including bodily injury and property damage liability, collision and comprehensive insurance. Tesla also offers an Autonomous Vehicle Protection Package that includes autonomous vehicle owner liability, cyber identity fraud expenses, electronic key replacement and wall charger coverages. Although some insurance providers do not cover autonomous vehicles, the Stevens Institute of Technology report suggests the coverage could create an $81 billion opportunity for the insurance industry by 2025.
Current California Tesla owners can request an online quote and purchase a policy on the Tesla website. New owners who order a new Tesla can get a quote when their vehicle’s VIN becomes available in their Tesla account. In Texas, Tesla’s new insurance offering is based on telematics data, rewarding drivers with lower premiums for their safe driving habits.
Like most car insurance companies, Tesla Insurance offers multi-policy discounts. The company claims to offer rates to insure Teslas that are 20-30% lower than its competitors, but like all insurance companies, each driver’s final rate will be different based on individual factors. Some Tesla owners may get lower rates with Tesla Insurance, but others may pay more depending on multiple rating factors such as their location, age and driving history.
Tesla also offers discount programs. For example, if you use the autopilot feature, you could save money. Usage-based discounts are available in California but Tesla’s real-time driver behavior monitoring program is standard in Texas.
How to save on electric car insurance
If you decide to purchase an electric vehicle, you can save on insurance the same way conventional car owners do: avoid accidents and traffic violations. If you already have an electric car and are curious about finding more affordable rates, consider requesting quotes from several providers. You might get a better deal by switching to another company.
You can also take advantage of discount programs. Insurers offer all types of discounts for purchasing multiple policies, insuring more than one vehicle, remaining claims-free and taking a defensive driving course, among many others, according to the Triple-I.
Also, research local, state and federal programs that offer rebates or tax credits for having an electric vehicle. For instance, the California Clean Vehicle Rebate Project pays rebates up to $4,500 to Californians who purchase an eligible electric battery vehicle. The federal government offers tax credits up to $7,500 for purchasing certain makes and models of electric cars and SUVs.
What are the benefits of driving electric vehicles?
Owning an electric or hybrid vehicle has more benefits than you might think. Here are a few highlights:
- Energy independence: While you must rely on a charging station to recharge your vehicle’s battery, you can say goodbye to gas stations. With a home charging station, you can plug in your automobile when you get home from work and it will be ready to go the next morning.
- Lower environmental impact: Electric automobiles produce no tailpipe emissions. While driving an electric car will not eliminate your transportation carbon footprint, it will significantly reduce it. Additionally, hybrid electric vehicle models utilize either gasoline or battery energy and are a popular option for those not quite ready to fully commit to an all-electric car.
- Reduce inhaled emissions: Tailpipe emissions pollute both the environment and your vehicle’s interior to varying degrees, depending on factors such as the type of car you drive and its climate control system. Car emissions contain many dangerous carcinogens, including volatile carbon oxides, organic compounds and particulate matter. An electric car can help you avoid breathing in these emissions.
- Reduce fuel expenses: Typically, fueling an automobile with gasoline or diesel costs more than the electricity expenses of operating an electric vehicle.
- Extended battery life: Reports about electric car battery performance vary widely. However, based on predictive modeling conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, new technology has extended the life of some types of batteries up to 12 to 15 years. And research continues on ways to extend electric car battery life.
- Reduce maintenance expenses: With an electric vehicle, you do not need to worry about regular oil changes or periodically changing incidental parts such as fan belts, gaskets and radiator hoses. Some electric car owners have even reported driving their vehicles 70,000 miles or more on original brake pads.
Bottom line
All indications show the electric car market will continue to grow. They offer an environmentally friendlier way to get from one point to the next, quieter engines and none of the nasty exhaust fumes of conventional vehicles. Typically, electric cars require less regular maintenance and can go an astounding number of miles on original parts.
The sticker price of an electric car might set you back a little more, and you may pay slightly higher insurance rates. But you might be surprised. When you take the time to shop around, you can often find rates comparable to many conventional automobile makes and models. To achieve the lowest premium possible, ask agents about discount programs, including discounts specifically for electric vehicles.
Frequently asked questions
Do electrical vehicles cost more to insure?
Generally, electric cars are more costly to insure than conventional vehicles. Because electric vehicles are pricier to both buy and repair, insurance providers charge their drivers more for coverage. That said, the savings you earn on gas and tax incentives might more than make up for your policy’s extra cost.
Do insurance providers offer discounts for electric vehicles?
While many insurance companies have not yet extended discounts for environmentally friendly vehicles, both Liberty Mutual and Travelers cut a discount for drivers who choose hybrid or electric cars.
How can I find the cheapest car insurance for my electric vehicle?
First, remember that the cheapest car insurance may not be the best option to meet your specific needs. With that said, comparison shopping is the best approach to finding the right policy for you without breaking the bank. Always obtain a variety of quotes from reputable electric vehicle insurers, like those discussed here, and compare to determine the best policy for you.
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