Buying an EV

Where can I buy an EV?

When it comes to buying a new EV, you’ll get the car directly from a dealership. There, you’ll typically have one of the following financing options:

• Leasing

• Personal Contract Purchase (PCP)

• Hire Purchase (PCP)

• Buying outright

Some employers offer the option of leasing a new car through the Salary Sacrifice scheme. It’s a tax efficient way to lease an EV because the monthly payments are deducted from your gross salary, so pre-tax and National Insurance.

You can also buy an EV second hand from a used car dealer, a private seller or through auction. Like with any used car, the condition of an EV that had a previous owner won’t be perfect. Depending on the age and previous use of the electric car, you can expect to see some wear and tear, such as scratches to the bodywork.

How much does an electric car cost?

The average cost of a new electric car sits at around £50,000 according to data from BookMyGarage. EVs generally range from just over £8,000 up to £130,000 and more depending on the specifications of the car and any upgrades you choose.

The Citroën Ami is currently the cheapest electric car available, with prices starting from just £7,695. It’s a compact, two-seater EV made for short, inner-city journeys.

The lowest-priced five-seater EV on the market is the MG4, starting from £26,996. This is a full size car offering a standard 51kWh battery and options to upgrade capacity up to 77kWh.

Electric car battery lease

Some carmakers like Renault used to offer two battery options for electric cars: full purchase and battery leasing. When you buy a second hand EV with an existing battery leasing agreement, the battery will be transferred over to you with a new agreement or the option to buy it outright.

Back in the day, when EV technology was still in its infancy, the option to lease meant you could change the battery every few years to avoid early signs of degradation. Today, electric car batteries are more reliable. They offer decent ranges and fast charging times, removing the need to renew your battery every few years to maintain good performance.

EV warranty

Most manufacturers offer an 8-year or 100,000-mile EV battery warranty, whichever comes first. Some manufacturer warranties will only cover the battery during complete failure, others will repair or replace it if the capacity drops below 70% warranty period

There are providers offering warranty for used cars and to extend coverage beyond the manufacturer’s warranty. What is covered can vary, including a range of mechanical and electronic components. Always check the policy papers to make sure you understand inclusions and exclusions.

Electric car maintenance, service and repair

Electric car MOTs

EVs do require MOTs, just like traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. However, the frequency of these tests is generally the same for both types of vehicles. Not all garages may perform MOTs on EVs (yet), so ensure you choose a certified and qualified facility for this purpose.

Electric cars, just like ICE cars, are required to go through and pass an MOT every year to legally drive on UK roads. In year one and two after the car is first registered, it’s exempt from mandatory MOT testing.

You should be able to take your electric car to any MOT test station to carry out an annual test. If your tester is unfamiliar with your EV, they may ask you to show them how to operate your car. An official MOT centre can’t turn you away, because they don’t have experience testing a car like yours.

How often should I service an EV?

This depends on your car’s model and make. As a general rule, you should service an EV every 1–2 years or every 18,000–25,000 miles, whichever happens first.

We suggest you refer to the recommended service intervals provided by the manufacturer to ensure you keep your EV in top shape.

Not every garage is qualified to service electric cars, so it’s worth checking they have a specialised mechanic on hand before you book.

If your electric car is still under warranty, you want to make sure the garage you use is dealership-approved or only uses genuine parts to keep your warranty.

Are electric cars more reliable than petrol or diesel cars?

In theory, electric cars should be more reliable than petrol or diesel cars. ICE cars have many moving parts that need to be maintained to keep the engine running. Think pistons, valves, pumps, spark plugs and so on, whereas an EV motor only has a rotor in place of all of these parts. With little to no maintenance required, there’s less opportunity for a crucial component to fail and take your car out of action.

Most of the time, if an EV has a fault, it'll be related to a software issue which is easier to fix than a mechanical issue. Electric cars allow you to troubleshoot most software issues ‘over the air’, so through software updates or by restarting – just like you would with a computer. This makes the majority of software-related issues easily fixable on your own (and for free) or with the help of the manufacturer’s customer support.

Electric car insurance

The cost of insurance for EVs can vary, but it's not always more expensive than insuring a regular ICE car. Factors such as the EV model, your driving history, and where you live can impact your premiums. Shopping around and comparing insurance quotes is essential to find the best rates.

Most mainstream insurers provide cover for electric cars now, offering a good variety of coverage options and price ranges to compare.

While it’s easy enough to find insurance for an electric car, they cost more on average to insure than a comparable petrol or diesel car. Reasons for higher insurance premiums are the specialist parts required for repairs, the generally higher list price, and increased risk of accidents associated with the faster acceleration of EVs.

EV breakdown cover

There are no differences in breakdown cover for EVs and ICE cars. You’ll find that most popular providers like the RAC or AA simply include electric cars in their standard breakdown cover at the same price as petrol and diesel cars.

Do EVs pay road tax?

Fully battery electric vehicles are currently the only type of vehicle that don’t pay road tax. Although partially battery-powered, most plug-in hybrid and full hybrid cars still pay up to £120 in the first year and £170 per year from the second year after registration.

However, the road tax exemption for electric cars will change in April 2025 when EVs:

• Registered before April 2017 will pay £20 per year after the changes come into effect.

• Registered on or after 1 April 2017 will pay £10 in the first year of the road tax changes and £180/year from the second year.

Electric car grant

To incentivise the uptake of electric cars, particularly among people who would traditionally be less likely to consider driving an EV, the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) offers an EV chargepoint grant of up to £350.

The money is intended to help people owning a flat or living in a rental property with the cost of buying and installing a chargepoint.

How much does it cost to install an electric car charger at home?

Installing an electric car charger at home can be cost-effective, and in many cases, standard installations don't come with extra charges. Check our Solo page for more details on home charging options.

Charging at home has many benefits. It’s much cheaper than using public chargers and more convenient, as you can charge more quickly than using a 3-pin plug socket whenever you’re parked up at home.