Owners need to keep this in mind when insuring electric cars

Anyone who buys an electric car can take advantage of a whole range of subsidies. Subsidies from federal states, municipalities, energy companies and the KfW Bank support purchasing and leasing as well as charging stations and electricity tariffs. But one thing is left out here – car insurance.

Compulsory insurance for electric cars

When it comes to compulsory insurance, electric cars do not differ from combustion engines. By law, all cars in Germany must have motor vehicle liability insurance. It covers claims for damages against third parties that may arise due to the operation of a motor vehicle. The insurers’ offers generally do not differ in terms of drive types.

However, partial and fully comprehensive insurance does not have to be taken out. However, it makes sense to also protect yourself against damage to your own car. In terms of purchase costs, electric cars are often noticeably more expensive than comparable combustion engines, which is why most guides recommend taking out fully comprehensive insurance. But here too, insurers largely do not have any special policies. The proportion of electric vehicles on German roads is still relatively low. However, “usual” insurance coverage does not always fully cover the risks of an electric car. Vehicle owners must therefore pay close attention to the scope and services included in fully comprehensive insurance.

Special features of electric cars when it comes to insurance

Electric cars differ very much from conventional cars in their structure. For example, the battery has a completely different meaning in both types of drive. The batteries in electric cars are very valuable and fundamental to their functionality. This is why they need to be explicitly protected through insurance. Although the manufacturer still offers a multi-year guarantee on the components, this does not cover your own operating errors, for example. In order to protect yourself against all damage and even a battery fire, appropriate policies must be selected. However, this only applies to the owners of the batteries. If the batteries are only rented from the dealer, you do not have to cover any damage yourself.

Another special feature of electric cars is towing. Different risks await the owners here than with combustion engines. Anyone who decides to do so without thinking, Electric car Simply dragging it behind you is making a serious mistake. The movement of the axles generates electricity in the motor, which can cause lasting damage to the batteries if transported incorrectly. It’s even possible that overheating could cause a fire. Therefore, towing an electric car should always be carried out by a professional and covered by special insurance.

In purely financial terms, insurance for an electric car is generally not more expensive. The new drive option comes with both advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, insurers see electric car drivers as gentler road users. Environmentally conscious vehicle owners are less inclined to drive at high speeds and are more concerned about getting the longest possible range from the battery power. On the other hand, the new technology and its components also entail new risks of damage that cannot yet be precisely estimated. In addition, the very quiet electric drives are less noticeable in traffic, making them easier to ignore and potentially surprise other people. This could increase the risk of accidents. All in all, the insurance premium is not based on the type of drive. Therefore, you should pay less attention to the price and more to the range of services.

Editorial team finanzen.net