Easy Guide to Insuring Your Electric or Hybrid Ride

Posted on: Jun 18, 2025 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Easy Guide to Insuring Your Electric or Hybrid Ride

Easy Guide to Insuring Your Electric or Hybrid Ride

Cars that use both power sources are the new wave of the future. Some use batteries for power, and others use a combination of petrol and batteries. They use less gas for travel. But getting insurance is a unique process. Getting car insurance in India for electric or hybrid models means knowing their quirks. Expensive batteries and expensive parts should be protected. It is necessary to have deals that are suitable for modern expenses. This guide makes choosing electric car insurance in India or hybrid car insurance clear. Below you will find easy ways and useful tips.

Why Car Insurance for Hybrid and EVs Is Different?

These are quite different from petrol cars. Buying batteries alone costs hundreds of thousands. A broken battery can cost you lakhs for repairs. It is hard to find the components for electric motors. Fixing them is more complex and often more expensive. Standard car insurance may not cover these. You need vehicle insurance for EVs with battery clauses. Hybrid car insurance should include both electric and petrol parts. This type of farming is very costly because sensors or controllers cannot be bought cheaply. Insurers set electric car insurance in India premiums based on these risks. Make sure the plans you look at provide battery replacement and technology protection.

Being aware of risk and IDV is essential in an insurance career.

Insurers use a lot of questions to identify any risks. How many kilometres are you planning to drive? Where do you usually park your car: in a garage or outside on a road? Have you got a safe charger? Riding in congested areas causes batteries to run out faster. Battery life is reduced by fast charging. You are less likely to suffer theft when parking in a gated garage. Set your car’s market price as the Insured Declared Value (IDV) under the sum insured option. IDV is the maximum the insurer pays if your car is a total loss. Too low an IDV means less payout. Too high means pricey premiums.

Choosing Coverage Type

In India, you can get third-party or comprehensive insurance. Third-party coverage covers the effects of any damage you cause to others. The duty covers the basic rules needed by law. However, you do not get coverage for your hybrid or EV. Both kinds of losses are included in these comprehensive plans. If you have an EV and a battery cover add-on. Hybrid car insurance must treat the electric motor and petrol engine separately. Own-damage is for accidents, fires, thefts and floods. You should get a battery protection rider if the battery issue isn’t caused by an accident.

The network should have well-connected garages and repair shops.

EVs and hybrids are not yet well-understood by every mechanic. Check if the insurers offer electric car repair services through certified garages in their network. Approved centres provide trained technicians and the correct tools. Going to any garage other than the authorised one may make your new car warranty invalid. Do not go to any other centre than the ones approved. Search online for comments about how good EV garages are. Some insurers let you get your car fixed without paying in advance at these centres. You will pay for the deductible, and the insurer sends the remaining money to the authorised garage.

Telematics and Eco-Driving Discounts

It’s a device or an application that monitors your driving. The system measures speed, braking and acceleration. Driving safely can help your battery work longer and reduce the risk of accidents. Using this information, insurers can give better rates to safe drivers. Telematics can be used in EVs to count the number of times the battery is charged. Individuals who avoid using rapid charging get special deals. If you drive with a steady speed of less than 80 km/h, your premium may decrease. Telematics-based EV insurance plans reward green driving.

Processes connected to Underwriting & Documentation

Buying hybrid or electric car insurance means extra paperwork. The battery type, size, model and whether it has been replaced before need to be provided to insurers. Give customers receipts for battery or motor swaps. Let the buyer know about any changes, for example, faster charging or a new battery pack. Failing to mention details in your initial claim may result in that claim being rejected later. Having evidence from battery records is important. They demonstrate that you looked after your car. People are asked for this information when they file a claim. When documentation is clear, it takes less time for approvals to happen. Keep copies of every invoice and service record electronically.

Claims Process

Claiming a hybrid or EV usually goes smoothly if you have all the information. The very first thing to do after an accident is to call your insurance company. If the crime is major or involves theft, lodge a report at your nearest police station under the First Information Report (FIR). You can use the insurer’s mobile app to take pictures of minor injuries and damage. Your car is examined by a surveyor to ensure the battery, electric motor and petrol engine (if hybrid) are all in good working order. Their test check for any loss in capacity or damage from overheating. Send the survey team your repair bills and maintenance records afterwards. Your approved network garage resolves the problem with the car. You will pay for the deductible before the insurance covers the rest. The leftover issues are handled by the insurer.

Top Tips for Hybrid and EV Insurance

• Research plays a central role. Read blogs and watch videos about EV insurance plans.

• Attach yourself to online communities with EV users. Get insights into common experiences people have with insurance claims.

• Share all the car’s information with insurers when filling out forms.

• Always make sure the crew is aware of any engine adjustments or battery changes.

• Get your car serviced at authorised garages only.

• Keep your safe driving habits to keep your bonus active.

• See if the government gives any benefits.

Government Incentives and Impact on Insurance

EV insurance in India is driven by rules made by the government. IRDAI sets guidelines for electric car insurance in India and hybrid plans. It makes sure that third-party rates are set at a minimum level. The types of coverage people buy help insurers establish the cost of main and additional policies. IRDAI provides data on how fast insurance companies settle their claims, so you can see which companies are better. It is now common for states to have mobile apps for reporting accidents online. Photos and information about your crash can be uploaded to speed up your claim process.

Conclusion

Hybrid and electric car insurance is a new world with its own rules. You have to deal with batteries, electric motors and complex systems. Make sure the policies have a part for EVs and plug-in hybrids. Get useful add-ons, for example, battery protection and zero depreciation. Only work with specialised EV and hybrid garages in your area. Adopt telematics so that you pay less and your batteries last for longer. Recognise what IDV means and adjust it according to the real value of your car. Check the prices of different companies to pick the cheapest plan. Having records of your battery maintenance is useful. Look for your EV cover now to be sure you get the one that fits.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

• Electric Vehicle Battery Health Report

• Electric Vehicle vs Plug-in Hybrid: Which is Right for You?s