More cables and more electronics: compared with a combustion-engine vehicle, insurance for electric vehicles should primarily cover marten damage and damage caused by lightning strikes. Contrary to all prejudices, electric cars do not statistically have a higher fire risk than combustion-engine vehicles. However, extinguishing an electric car is more complex, which is why appropriate insurance cover is important in this respect. The heart of the electric car – the cost-intensive battery – is in many cases insured by the manufacturer and does not need to be covered separately. However, the charging cable or, for example, the home wallbox are not covered – these require additional insurance. It is also necessary to think about insurance cover for towing or transporting an electric car in the event of a breakdown, which differs significantly from the process with a combustion-engine vehicle and has a higher likelihood of damage. As with vehicles with combustion engines, fully comprehensive insurance offers the right protection for an electric car with its special damage risks – the insurance costs are generally cheaper overall than for combustion-engine vehicles.
In fact, electric car insurance can be cheaper than insurance for combustion-engine vehicles. The expensive assistance systems in electric cars and a more battery-friendly driving style reduce accidents and thus damage, which explains the price difference. Many insurers also offer special discounts for electric cars. It is important to note that the costs may vary depending on protection and components. It is therefore advisable to get various offers and check the scope of services with regard to battery protection.
The battery is the heart of every electric vehicle. If it fails, this can be expensive. Damage can be caused by marten bites, short circuits during charging or overvoltage damage due to lightning strikes. Some insurance policies cover this damage up to a defined limit, while others may limit this amount to a low level, which may not be sufficient. In most cases, the battery is covered either directly by the fully comprehensive insurance or by an additional component. Partial comprehensive insurance covers, for example, fire damage, while fully comprehensive insurance covers damage to the battery caused by an at-fault accident or vandalism. Overall, the scope offered by car insurers varies greatly here. It is therefore advisable to obtain detailed information in advance.
The battery can be insured against the following damage, among other things:
- Fire
- Overvoltage and lightning strikes
- Short-circuit
- Theft
- Hacker attacks
- Consequential damage due to animal bites
Fully comprehensive insurance covers all these contingencies. In some cases, this even includes the charging accessories and permanently installed wallboxes as well as costs resulting from special transport or storage of the battery.
Drivers of electric cars are also well protected in the event of a breakdown abroad in Europe, also in the event of an empty battery. As with combustion-engine vehicles, contracts for special breakdown assistance and mobility guarantees can also be taken out directly with the car insurance company for electric cars. Before concluding the contract, it is important to consider which contract components are worthwhile that go beyond the manufacturer’s mobility guarantee. This avoids unnecessary double insurance.