Latest study shows EVs are getting cheaper to repair as they become the 'new normal'

EV repairs and repair costs are falling as electric vehicles become more common on the road.

A new German study shows that the gap between repairing an EV and an ICE car is smaller than it was only a year ago.

The trend reflects growing experience among repair shops and insurers who now handle electric vehicles more frequently.

The findings suggest shifts ahead for insurance claims, ownership costs, and the wider economics of running an EV.

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EV repairs will get cheaper

The German Insurance Association (GDV) reported that comprehensive insurance claims for electric vehicles were 20 to 25 percent higher than for ICE models last year.

GDV Deputy General Director Anja Käfer-Rohrbach said the decline reflects workshops and service providers gaining experience with EV-specific systems.

A broader model range and wider adoption are also giving service providers more practical experience, helping lower repair costs.

The study places these findings against the backdrop of rapid growth in electric vehicles.

Between 2021 and 2023, registrations rose sharply in Germany.

By early 2025, there were 1.65 million electric vehicles on the road, making up 3.3 percent of all registered cars.

That represents a fivefold increase in just four years. More EVs on the road means more EV repairs entering day-to-day operations, which is speeding up the industry’s ability to manage them.

Although EV repairs are still more expensive than those for ICE cars, the downward shift marks steady progress.

Repair costs are moving closer to traditional benchmarks, which has been one of the barriers to adoption.

Insurance claims to stabilize too

The impact extends to the insurance sector.

As electric vehicles account for a greater share of insurance claims, insurers are adjusting models that once placed heavy weight on higher repair costs.

With the difference shrinking, risk assessments are starting to shift.

This comes at the same time automakers are increasing electric vehicle production and regulators are pressing for lower emissions.

For buyers, lower repair costs matter as much as lower sticker prices.

The study suggests that if current trends continue, EV repairs could be in the same ballpark as repairs to gas cars.

Insurance claims may also stabilize, further easing the cost of ownership.

Analysts note this would strengthen the case for electric vehicles in markets where affordability and maintenance are deciding factors.

The GDV study shows that EV ownership is becoming more manageable.

EV repairs are still costlier than ICE repairs, but the gap is narrowing as repair costs fall, industry knowledge expands, and insurance claims adjust to new realities.

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