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EV insurance in Canada: why quotes run higher
National broker averages put EV premiums about 36.8% above gas cars - $3,131 versus $2,289 a year. That gap is real in the calculator. It is not a quote for your postal code.
- more than gas
- 36.8%
- typical EV
- $3,131
- typical gas
- $2,289
- extra per year
- $842
What the average actually is
National average across quoted premiums. Some luxury/comparable-trim EVs can insure cheaper than an equivalent gas model - this is a general market average, not a per-model guarantee.
Our cost calculator defaults to these Surex national figures so the 10-year total is not missing a large line item. Drag the insurance sliders to your own broker quotes - the specific model, your driving record, the insurer, and where you live all move the number more than a national average implies.
Where the national average is least reliable
Insurance defaults are a national broker average. BC, Manitoba and Saskatchewan use public basic auto insurance (ICBC, MPI, SGI), and Quebec's public plan (SAAQ) covers bodily injury, so a national average built from private-market quotes is less reliable there. Get a quote for your province.
- British Columbia: basic auto insurance is provided by ICBC, so private-market quotes cover only optional coverage on top.
- Manitoba: basic auto insurance is provided by Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI), so private-market quotes cover only optional coverage on top.
- Saskatchewan: basic auto insurance is provided by SGI, so private-market quotes cover only optional coverage on top.
- Quebec: SAAQ covers no-fault bodily injury coverage (private insurers cover vehicle damage and liability).
Surex's published sample covers only four provinces, and the gap between EV and gas premiums differs a lot between them. The calculator uses the national figures everywhere; these are shown only so you can see how far one province can sit from the average:
| Province | EV / year | Gas / year | EV premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | $3,343 | $2,344 | $999 (43%) |
| New Brunswick | $2,769 | $1,705 | $1,065 (62%) |
| Nova Scotia | $3,009 | $1,609 | $1,400 (87%) |
| Ontario | $2,933 | $2,464 | $469 (19%) |
| National (used here) | $3,131 | $2,289 | $842 (36.8%) |
Why EV quotes run higher
Surex, the source of the average above, lists these factors:
- Higher replacement cost. EVs often cost more to buy than an equivalent gas car, so they cost more to replace after an accident.
- Battery replacement. A pack can cost so much that an insurer may write the vehicle off instead of repairing it.
- Limited claims data. Insurers have less history on EVs, which makes risk harder to price.
- Make and model, insurer, and driver. Higher-value or tech-heavy EVs price like luxury cars, and insurers differ widely.
Surex also notes that fewer technicians can repair EVs, and that green-vehicle discounts, lower theft rates and safety tech can pull premiums down. None of this is a per-model table - it explains the average, not a prediction for a Hyundai Kona versus a Model Y.
Related
Surex national averages last verified Oct 2026 against the dated source. Premiums are not financial advice - only a licensed broker can quote your household.