49 % more expensive than thermal: electric cars insurance becomes a nightmare

Buying an electric car has never been so encouraged – fiscally, politically, morally. But between the planed ecological bonuses,The ZFEs that multiply And The gradual exclusion of thermal vehiclesthe transition takes on the appearance of a forced race. Latest obstacle: insurance, which becomes a new chasm for electric drivers, as revealed by a vast American study by the Insurify comparator.

Auto insurance for electric cars explodes: France is not safe

In the United States, the average annual cost to ensure an electric car reached $ 4,058, 49 % more than for a thermal vehicle. A massive gap, which is explained by a series of factors perfectly transposed to the French context: higher repair cost, shortage of spare parts, extended immobilization time, lack of skilled labor, and technical complexity of batteries.

This graph, from the comparator data Insuriffycompare the annual insurance premiums for several electric vehicles (in dark blue) in the face of their thermal counterparts (in light blue). Result: the gap is systematic and often massive. A Tesla Model X costs almost $ 4,800 to ensure, against $ 2,900 for an Audi Q3. Same logic for the Hyundai Ioniq 5, VW ID.4 or Kia Ev6, whose premiums often exceed $ 3,000 per year.

The causes are structural: more expensive repairs, more fragile components, shortage of parts, and lack of qualified technicians on these still young platforms. In terms of insurers, we compensate for this risk by increased bonuses, while waiting for the ecosystem to become more mature … and more competitive.

Electric vehicles are not more accident -causing, But they are more expensive to repair. According to Mitchell, the post-use repairs of an EV cost 22 % more, and require almost double hours of labor. In question: the omnipresence of ADAS sensors, cameras, and especially the battery – which, at Tesla in particular, is structural and therefore extremely expensive to replace.

In France, this phenomenon is confirmed. Insurers, cautious in the face of a still young and not very standardized technology, apply a risk premium. Official figures are rare, but comparators note average increases of 20 to 35 % for electric models, especially in high -end segments (Tesla, BMW IX, Kia Ev6, etc.).

The French paradox: bonus on one side, hidden costs on the other

The French government has hammered that electricity would be more economical for use: less fuel, less maintenance, less emissions. However, in fact, the invoice increases. The ecological bonus was restricted in 2024excluding many cheap Chinese models. Approved VE repairers remain few, especially in rural areas, and repair times explode. Consequence: insurers have these uncertainties on bonuses.

Even the manufacturers suffer. AXA, in Switzerland, temporarily suspended the insurance of certain electric models in 2024, pointing to their fragility. If it seems distant, the economic model is the same. And if the costs do not drop, the whole transition threatens to seize.

And now ? A two -speed adoption

While the Millennials and the Gen Z represent the majority of EV buyers, according to Insuriffythe increase in premiums is likely to slow down their commitment. In France, these generations are already turning to LOAs of electric city cars (Spring,, E-208,, Twingo e-tech), whose monthly payments sometimes include insurance. But excluding supervised leasing, the total cost of possession becomes a trap, far from the promises of a green future.

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