Searching for your next new car can be a challenge, but one of the things that could help you make your decision is how easy or cost-efficient it’ll be to insure.
Deciding whether to get an eco-friendlier electric vehicle (EV) or gas fuelled car can be tough, especially when you’re perhaps more accustomed to standard gas vehicles. But, to help you along the way, we’ve put together some points to see what the main differences are between when you insure electric car, and a gas-fuelled one.
Read on to find out more.
The standard policy
Gas
A standard car insurance policy for your gas-powered car is fairly straightforward, although there are many different routes you could go down in order to find the best one for you.
Depending on how long you’ve been driving, the make and model of your car, and how much coverage you want, could impact the cost of your premium. However, looking at certain policies like telematics insurance or multi-car insurance, for example, could help you personalize your coverage to get the best deal for you.
Electric
Electric insurance is a little different, as owning an EV – whether it be fully electric, hybrid, or plug-in hybrid – will require you to have a specific policy that caters to this. You’ll need to make sure your roadside assistance and breakdown cover will include a tow to the nearest charging port is covered, as well as insurance for your own charging port.
There are lots of different elements to consider when insuring your EV, which is why you’ll need specialist insurance.
Maintenance
Gas
Gas-powered vehicles, whilst cheaper to buy and insure initially, can cost a lot to maintain, as there are lots of moving parts that have the potential to break or suffer wear and tear.
This could mean that, in addition to having to refuel frequently, you’re more susceptible to breakdowns and may need to take your car to the garage more frequently.
Electric
EVs are made up of fewer moving parts, and therefore the chances of breakdowns are reduced. In addition, the power steering and improved center of gravity (thanks to the battery being placed in the middle of the vehicle) could help lower the risk of you being involved in an accident, and therefore will mean the maintenance required on your car is reduced also.
Rewards and incentives
Gas
To put it simply, there aren’t many rewards for insuring your gas-powered vehicle, as it’s simply something you have to do in order to drive it. The coverage you opt for may vary, saving you money based on your driving habits and how much you want to protect your car. But, aside from this, insurance for gasoline cars remains pretty straightforward, once you’ve found the deal that’s right for you and your vehicle.
Electric
With EVs, you’ll likely find more rewards and incentives because, as previously mentioned, they can be more expensive to buy and insure initially. Whilst you’ll likely save money on gas and maintenance in the long run, insurance providers may still go above and beyond to reward you for making the eco-friendlier choice.
They’ll do this by offering discounts based on mileage and the type of car you’ve bought, for example.
You might also find that there are other incentives, such as being able to drive solo in the carpool lane, thanks to the Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) programme, and being able to apply for local rebates and the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP), for example.
What’s the difference?
It’s clear there are plenty of differences between insuring electric and gas vehicles, and of course, which one you choose is ultimately down to your personal preferences and lifestyle. However, it’s important to always weigh up your options and stay open-minded to change, because you could find a better deal, more incentives, and environment-friendlier choices that benefit you, those around you, and future generations.
