Learn more about insuring your electric car on National EV Day

September 7 is National Electric Vehicle Day. Electric vehicles are expected to make up 21% of cars on the road this year. While EVs are environmentally friendly and much easier on gas, there’s a few things to keep in mind when getting your new vehicle insured.

On average, EVs cost up to $44 more per month to insure than gas-powered vehicles. The most expensive models to insure are Tesla’s Model Y and Model 3.

There’s a few reasons for the cost differences, including the scarcity of repair shops, more expensive repairs, and the expertise involved in replacing electric batteries.

You may run into a few issues when filing a claim, though this is mostly due to EVs’ relatively new arrival in the market.

• It can be harder to fine a garage certified at repairing your EV.
• Repair shops qualified to work on EVs may have longer-than-usual wait times.
• Specialized repair shops may charge more, leading to longer debates about costs with your insurance company.

If you’ve got questions about your coverage or an issue with your insurance company, the OIC’s Consumer Protection team is here to help. Here’s a few recent EV-related cases our Consumer Protection team has worked on:

We worked with a consumer in Renton who’s EV was rear-ended. The accident turned a chip into a crack, which necessitated a full roof replacement. After an initial claim denial by the insurance company, our office helped get the decision reversed — and the consumer was paid more than $3,000 to have the roof replaced.

A driver contacted our office after his insurance company refused to pay for having their electric truck repaired at a certified shop. The company argued that a shop four hours away — in another state — could have done the work for a cheaper rate. Our office contacted the company, which then issued a supplemental payment of nearly $4,000 for vehicle repairs.

Contact our office here. www.insurance.wa.gov/get-help-insurance-problem-or-question