{"id":2467,"date":"2023-10-27T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-27T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businessyield.com\/ins\/?p=2467"},"modified":"2023-10-26T20:43:43","modified_gmt":"2023-10-26T20:43:43","slug":"electric-car-insurance-how-does-it-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businessyield.com\/ins\/car-insurance\/electric-car-insurance-how-does-it-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Electric Car Insurance: How Does It Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Electric cars, also known as Electric vehicles (EVs) have become more popular. And while the pricing of electric cars has found a balance between affordable and competitive, insurance costs are a separate consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While electric cars used to be much costlier to insure compared to their gas-powered counterparts, the gap has recently narrowed. Their popularity has surged over the past several years, and seeing an electric vehicle on the road is no longer a rarity. If you\u2019re thinking of making the switch yourself, this article breaks down what you should keep in mind when shopping for insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits of driving an electric vehicle<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether owning an electric vehicle is the right choice for you will depend on your personal circumstances. Here are six benefits of driving one you can consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Energy independence<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While you must rely on a charging station to recharge your vehicle\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, public charging stations are popping up more frequently all over the country which may make traveling with an electric vehicle easier than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lower environmental impact<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reduce inhaled emissions<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tailpipe emissions pollute both the environment and your vehicle\u2019s 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 may help you avoid breathing in these emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reduce fuel expenses<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Typically, fueling an automobile with gasoline or diesel costs more than the electricity expenses of operating an electric vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extended battery life<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Reports about electric car battery performance vary widely. However, based on predictive modeling conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory<\/a>, new technology has extended the life of some types of batteries up to 15 years. And research continues on ways to extend electric car battery life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reduce maintenance expenses<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much does electric car insurance cost?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The national average cost of car insurance is $2,014 for full coverage and $622 for minimum coverage. Data shows that, on average, full coverage EV insurance for a Chevy Bolt is actually slightly less than the national average. On the other hand, as luxury vehicles, full coverage insurance for a Tesla Model X is more than twice the national average. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Business Yield analyzed premiums for several makes and models using data provided by Quadrant Information Services to provide a point of reference for electric car owners. The following table lists the average minimum and full coverage premiums for some of the most popular electric models. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note that your personal rates may vary significantly based on personal rating factors like your location, age, driving record and credit history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Electric vehicle<\/th>Average full coverage premium<\/th>Average minimum coverage premium<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Chevy Bolt<\/td>$2,007<\/td>$611<\/td><\/tr>
Nissan Leaf<\/td>$2,024<\/td>$607<\/td><\/tr>
Tesla Model 3<\/td>$2,577<\/td>$605<\/td><\/tr>
Tesla Model X<\/td>$4,364<\/td>$803<\/td><\/tr>
Tesla Model Y<\/td>$2,804<\/td>$633<\/td><\/tr>
Toyota Prius<\/td>$2,117<\/td>$602<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Where can I buy electric car insurance? <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Drivers with electric vehicles follow the same steps to obtain EV car insurance as those with conventional cars. Electric car policies feature the same coverage options, such as liability, bodily injury, collision and comprehensive coverage. Most national and regional auto insurers write policies for electric vehicles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While most auto insurers will extend auto policies for electric vehicles, you may have a hard time finding discounts for your electric 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, we found a couple that are. Some large carriers, including Travelers and Liberty Mutual, extend exclusive discounts to electric and hybrid car owners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tesla Insurance<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tesla owners have a unique option for electric vehicle insurance. They may be able to purchase Tesla Insurance directly through the company’s mobile app. It offers all the same standard coverage options you would expect with a national carrier, plus a handful of endorsements that vary by state. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One potential endorsement is the Autonomous Vehicle Protection Package. This includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n