How a shift to electric vehicles is expected to impact your car insurance

Charging bays are seen at the new Electrify America indoor electric vehicle charging station in San Francisco, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Eric Risberg

TORONTO — Drivers may see higher premiums for their electric vehicles as the insurance industry adjusts to the shift from gas-powered cars to electric alternatives, a new report suggests.

The price tag of EVs and higher costs for repairs are likely to be key factors that could drive Canadian auto insurance higher in the coming years, similar to a trend seen in the U.K., the report published by Morningstar DBRS on Monday shows.

EVs are computers on wheels and batteries are central to their operations, said Victor Adesanya, co-author of the report and vice-president of insurance at Morningstar DBRS' Global Financial Institutions Group.

"If the battery gets damaged, the potential for the car to be replaced is very high because they are very difficult to repair and are quite expensive," he said in an interview.

While EVs can have lower maintenance costs compared with gas-powered cars, expensive repairs and a lack of skilled technicians can drive up overall costs — in turn, affecting insurance claims.

"Insurance is a one-year contract," Adesanya said. That means every year upon renewal, the insurance company re-evaluates premiums based on their experience with theft, cost of repairs, inflation and claims.

But high insurance premiums for EV owners are not yet an issue in Canada — partly because of the slow uptake among drivers.

Zero-emission vehicles accounted for 8.9 per cent of light-duty car sales in 2022, up from 5.6 per cent in 2021, according to Transport Canada's analysis of S&P Global Mobility data.

As more people transition to EVs, Adesanya said insurers will adjust to the trends and could increase premiums.

So far, insurers have sometimes opted to fully replace an EV than pay for pricey repairs. As an example, the Morningstar DBRS report cited British Columbia insurance company ICBC's move to write off an EV because the cost to replace the battery would be the same as buying a new one.

However, EV owners are unlikely to see a rate shock, Adesanya said. Instead, increases will be more gradual due to government regulation.

Canada's auto insurance industry is highly regulated by provincial governments that review and approve requests for premium hikes.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 12, 2024.