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In the event of an accident, the cost of repairing trams tends to be higher — because “there is little experience”, there are issues with the batteries, and access to parts is not as easy as it should be. And then, simply, insurance companies still don’t know enough about electric vehicles, and they charge us for this lack of information.
From the outset, one would expect a tram to be cheaper to use than a combustion car. The costs, on paper, are quite appealing: electricity tends to be cheaper than gasoline. There are fewer parts needing regular maintenance, and worries like oil changes disappear.
These arguments in favor of electric remain valid. The surprise usually comes later, when the first insurance simulation — and the value is higher than what you would pay for a comparable combustion car.
We recently learned that prices in 2026, for two reasons: greater number of cars in circulation, combined with rising repair costs. In part, insurers say, electric vehicles are to blame.
But after all, why are insurance costs for electric vehicles higher? According to, insurers look at several factorsincluding how much the car is worth and how complex and expensive repairs can be.
Most electric continue to be more expensive than equivalents with a combustion engine, meaning that the potential amount to be compensated rises from the outset.
After, there is the workshop side. Tram parts continue to be very specialized and the number of workshops with complete training to work these systems is still limited.
When a simple “touch” involves high voltage wiringsensors or the battery structurethe cost of bringing everything back within factory parameters quickly skyrockets.
Another element is missing from this equation: the history. Insurers know how much combustion cars cost them, on average, because they have decades of claims data to rely on. But electric vehicles simply haven’t been around long enough to provide this level of predictability.
When companies cannot estimate risk reliablyprotect themselves with higher premiums. It is not exactly something “personal” or a punishment; It is mainly the lack of information which ends up being incorporated into the price of each policy.
Why repairing an electric car is more expensive
Electric cars are designed around a battery systemand this single component changes how any collision is approached.
If a combustion car suffers a front impact, the workshop inspects the sheet metal, structure and suspension and begins repairs. On a tram, an impact in the “wrong” place may put pressure on the battery compartment. Technicians cannot simply ignore this possibility.
Mechanics are therefore obliged to follow a diagnostic process in depth before moving forward. If these tests reveal any type of risk within the pack of batteries, replacing the entire system is now on the table.
There are still much more advanced technology concentrated in trams, including hundreds of sensors that monitor battery statusthe systems semi-autonomous driving and regenerative brakingbetween others. A small touch in a parking lot can throw one of those sensors out of alignment — and Recalibrating it can be a time-consuming process..
Only certified technicians can perform most of these jobs and the supply of qualified labor remains short. While the car is parked waiting for repairs, the replacement car coverage It also adds costs.
The replacement parts themselves are another factor driving tram insurance premiums. Some builders only allow certain components to be installed in authorized centers and, in the case of Tesla, even headlights have to be supplied directly by the brand.
It won’t be expensive forever
Right now, the cost of repairing an electric vehicle remains higher than that of a combustion car, in part because repair shops still are learning to deal with these models.
Over time, this type of intervention should become routinewhich will help download invoices. When it comes to battery packs, the most recent generations now allow technicians to access individual modulesisolate the problem and repair only the affected section.
This time and cost reduction It should also influence what insurers expect to have to pay. And, as more electric cars are produced, parts will become more commonwhich will also help to reduce repair costs — and, subsequently, the price of insurance.
There is still the security chapter. The best electric cars on the market usually arrive equipped with the latest technologys automatic braking, lane keeping assistance and semi-autonomous driving systems, all designed to reduce the number of serious accidents.
Over time, insurers will have to start trusting more on these results. So the more familiar electric vehicles become to drivers, workshops and insurers, the less it should ultimately cost to insure them.
