Comparing Petrol vs. Electric Car Servicing Costs: A Comprehensive Analysis

Switching from a petrol, diesel, or hybrid car to an electric vehicle is a big decision that requires a shift in mindset. One of the key factors to consider when making this switch is the cost of servicing your car. Contrary to what some car dealers might tell you, electric cars are generally cheaper to service than traditional fossil fuel cars.

At The Car Expert, we have analyzed almost every new and near-new car on sale in the UK to provide you with the most comprehensive look at the average cost of servicing your car each year. Thanks to servicing cost data exclusively supplied to us by Clear Vehicle Data, based on official manufacturer servicing charges, we have pulled together a detailed analysis of scheduled servicing costs for electric cars compared to petrol, diesel, and hybrid cars.

Our latest report updates the information we posted last year, showing that electric cars are still significantly cheaper on average to service than traditional fossil fuel cars. This is mainly due to the fact that electric cars have fewer moving parts that are likely to need repairs or wear out over time, reducing their maintenance costs.

Clear Vehicle Data provides us with servicing costs for every version of every new car over five years, covering various annual mileages and factors such as body style, engine, gearbox, trim level, and options package. This data allows us to generate specific running cost scores for new and used cars, which feed into our overall Expert Rating Index.

Our analysis reveals that electric cars are now around 29% cheaper to service over the first five years of ownership compared to petrol, diesel, or hybrid cars. While servicing prices for both electric cars and fossil fuel cars have increased in the last 12 months, the cost gap between them has marginally reduced. However, electric cars still remain significantly cheaper to maintain.

When comparing like-for-like models, we found that in the majority of cases, the electric version was cheaper to service than the petrol or diesel counterpart. For example, the Vauxhall Corsa Electric was 31% cheaper to maintain on average over the first three years of ownership compared to the petrol Corsa. Similarly, the Audi Q6 e-tron was 17% cheaper to service annually than the petrol or diesel Audi Q5.

In summary, while there are various expenses involved in running a car, servicing is a significant cost that can be compared across different models. Our analysis shows that electric cars continue to be a cost-effective option when it comes to servicing, with an average saving of 29% over the first five years of ownership. If you are considering making the switch to an electric vehicle, be sure to factor in the potential savings on servicing costs when making your decision.