Electric Car Insurance
Electric car insurance in Ireland can catch people off guard. Not because electric cars are treated as a completely different product, but because they change the risk profile that insurers are pricing. EVs may not cause more accidents, but they can raise claim severity. This is due to battery issues, specialist repairs, and a greater chance of write-offs.
What Is Electric Car Insurance?
In Ireland, electric car insurance follows the same legal structure as standard car insurance, but it applies to a different type of vehicle risk. EVs don’t crash more often than petrol or diesel cars. But when they do, claims can be pricier. This is due to battery issues, special repair needs, and a greater chance of a write-off.
Electric car insurance isn’t a separate product – it’s standard motor insurance applied to a different vehicle risk profile.
This guide explains how Irish insurers assess electric vehicles, which areas of cover tend to matter most for EV owners, and the key factors that influence pricing.
Why Do Electric Cars Need Special Insurance?
Electric cars will primarily need the same insurance benefits as traditional car insurance, but will also require specialist cover as they have different types of risk associated with their use.
High Repair Cost – The battery is the most expensive component of the car and requires more expensive repair by a highly qualified technician. Damage to the EV’s battery can also lead to the car being written off, which is not the case with petrol or diesel cars.
Specialist Repair Coverage – Electric vehicles are typically equipped with advanced driver assistance systems and high-voltage components which may require recalibration after even a minor tip.
Battery Related Fire And Damage – EVs and PHEVs have lithium ion batteries which present a risk of battery fire that generates extremely intense heat, a different risk from a petrol or diesel car. The battery is also covered for accidental damage, fire and theft, depending on your level of cover.
Collision Risk – The silent operation of EVs can mean that there is a slightly higher risk of collision with pedestrians or other road users such as cyclists.
Charger Cover – Your wall charger and charging cable also need to be covered against fire, theft, and damage. As there is a risk of someone tripping over your charging cable on a public footpath, there is liability cover for this event.
Breakdown Assistance – Charging an electric vehicle introduces the risk of needing specialist breakdown assistance if you run out of charge, and electric vehicles are far less likely to be repairable ‘on the road’ meaning that they may require towing. This raises breakdown and claims costs more than for regular vehicles.
How Insurers Price Electric Car Insurance in Ireland
Although electric car insurance is often offered with a ‘green discount’, premiums are typically in the region of 10% to 12% higher than those for equivalent petrol or diesel cars.
High performance electric cars (e.g. Tesla) can incur even higher premiums (sometimes double those of petrol/ diesel cars) due to their rapid acceleration and higher repair costs.
When repair costs near or exceed an insurer’s economic repair threshold, vehicles are more likely to be deemed total losses. They factor this risk into how they price and offer policies.
What Factors Affect EV Insurance Costs?
Electric car insurance can be affordable in Ireland but it may require more thought and consideration than traditional car insurance, such as smart vehicle choice and availing of relevant discounts.
Engine power, acceleration and the top speed of your electric vehicle will all feed into the insurance group rating of your electric vehicle. Ireland uses a 1-50 scale, and where a small petrol car may be a 10 on the scale, a Tesla Model 3 could be as high as 48-50.
Electric vehicles generally have a higher purchase price and also depreciate differently to petrol or diesel cars. Like petrol or diesel cars, the newer and more expensive the model, the higher the insurance premium.
The total write-off value for electric cars is still high. Even a small tip can result in a write-off, which affects insurance premiums. The higher cost of parts and labour for repairs also leads to higher premiums.
Having lower mileage (less than 10,000 km per year), especially doing ‘low range’ driving such as a commute can lead to a lower premium for electric car insurance.
If you have an occupation with high mileage or high stress, this can mean higher premiums for electric car insurance.
If you intend to use your car for your occupation, rather than social, domestic, and pleasure use, this is classified as business use and will cost more.
Driver age and experience affect whether insurers will cover electric vehicles. This is especially true for cars with higher performance or repair costs. Some insurers limit access to these vehicles for less-experienced drivers due to claims severity concerns.
Electric vehicles often need specialist repairs, high-voltage safety procedures, and approved repair networks. Limited parts availability and longer repair times can raise claim costs. This, in turn, affects how insurers price and offer cover.
Where and how you park and charge an electric vehicle can impact the risk of theft, vandalism, and liability from others. Off-street parking and private charging stations are assessed differently than on-street charging. Insurers consider this when pricing coverage.
Tips To Get Cheaper Electric Car Insurance
Choose your vehicle carefully
Your choice of electric vehicle will have an impact on the price you pay for your insurance. Insurers use a 1 to 50 scale to assess vehicle risk. For this reason, a Dacia Spring or Nissan Leaf will cost less to insure than a Tesla Model 3 or an Audi e-tron.
Stack your discounts
You can use several discounts to greatly lower your car insurance premium. You could receive an online discount of 10% to 15%. You might also get a ‘green’ or ‘eco’ discount. Plus, bundling policies like home and car insurance with the same insurer can save you more.
Shop around
Compare prices as all electric car insurance quotes will be tailored to driver factors and vehicle factors, and prices will vary. Benefits that come as standard and those that cost extra also vary between insurers. Using a comparison site, like Compare Insurance, helps you check policy features and prices from top electric car insurers. It also lets you get to know the market better.
Be clear about how & where you use your EV
If you drive less or use your car mainly for fun or errands, mention this when buying insurance. In the same way, tell a potential insurer if you have secure off-street parking with a lockable wall charger for your EV on your driveway to get a lower premium.
Electric Car Insurance FAQ
This depends on the level of cover. Third party only covers other road users but does not cover the electric vehicle or its battery. Third party, fire and theft covers your battery for fire and theft.
Under comprehensive policies, accidental damage involving the battery is usually covered. This reflects the high replacement cost of EV batteries and the increased likelihood of a vehicle being written off if battery damage occurs.
No. Battery degradation refers to the gradual loss of battery capacity over time and is considered wear and tear. This is not usually covered by electric car insurance.
Towing to the nearest charging point or to an approved repairer may be included in specialist ev breakdown assistance which comes as standard with some comprehensive policies.
This depends on your policy. Under many comprehensive electric car insurance policies, wall chargers and charging cables may be covered for theft, fire, or accidental damage, subject to policy terms and limits.
Yes, electric cars can be towed but they may need a flat bed towing truck rrather than standard roadside repair. Towing to a charging point or an approved repairer may be included under specialist breakdown assistance, depending on the policy.
If an EV runs out of charge, specialist breakdown help can offer a quick recharge. This lets you reach the nearest charging point or arrange for recovery if needed. Availability and limits depend on the insurer and the level of cover in place.
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