New research looking at over 40,000 accident-damaged vehicles reports that EV owners could face repair bills almost 20 per cent more expensive than petrol or diesel vehicles.

The report, compiled overseas from data collected by British fleet management and repair coordination firm AX, discovered that, along with higher repair costs, EV repairs also took longer to complete.

The data revealed that repair costs for non-fault accidents were 19.2 per cent higher for EVs than they were for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, including petrol, diesel, and hybrid powertrains.

The newest information aligns with data released in February by the Association of British Insurers (ABI), which also showed higher costs and longer delays for EVs.

1

AX’s report indicated that along with the higher cost of repair, owners faced 8.7 per cent longer wait times for accident repairs to be completed. ABI’s earlier report showed a slightly higher gap for both, calculating repair costs as much as 25 per cent higher and wait times 14 per cent longer for EVs.

Repairs tabled in the AX report carried an average cost of £6363 (A$12,150) for EVs, compared to the lower £5338 (A$10,200) average for repairs to ICE vehicles. Repair duration averaged 25 days for EVs, but 23 days for ICE vehicles.

The AX report indicates that, despite being more mechanically simple in most cases, repairers often lacked the diagnostic and repair capabilities required to assess or repair damaged battery systems.

The default option was often battery replacement, driving up the cost of repairs and, in some instances, leading to a higher rate of write-offs.

To address the issue, analyst firm Thatcham Research released a guide designed to improve assessment and repair of electric vehicles in March 2026, with the aim of improving safe and economic repair outcomes across the lifespan of electric vehicles.