Electric vs Petrol
Servicing
How much does it cost to service an electric car?
CheckFuelPrices Editorial
Expert Written • 4 industry sources
Servicing an electric car typically costs between £100 and £200 per year, compared to £150–£300 or more for a equivalent petrol or diesel vehicle. EVs have far fewer moving parts, which means less routine maintenance and lower long-term servicing bills.
Typical EV Servicing Costs
Annual service cost:
A standard annual EV service costs roughly £100–£200 at most franchised dealers and independent EV specialists. The exact price depends on the make, model, and mileage.
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No oil changes:
Electric cars have no engine oil, oil filter, or timing belt, so several of the most common — and costly — petrol and diesel service items simply do not apply.
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Government cost analysis:
GOV.UK research confirms that EV maintenance costs are materially lower than those of internal combustion engine vehicles over a comparable ownership period.
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What an EV Service Actually Covers
Tyres and wheels:
Tyres, wheel alignment, and tyre rotation are checked at every service. EVs are heavier than equivalent petrol cars, so tyre wear can be slightly higher.
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Brake fluid:
Brake fluid still needs replacing periodically — typically every two years — regardless of how much brake pad wear there is.
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Reduced brake wear:
Regenerative braking does most of the slowing work, so EV brake pads and discs last significantly longer than on petrol or diesel cars — often twice as long.
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Battery health check:
Dealers will usually run a battery health diagnostic to check capacity and cooling systems, which is not something petrol cars require at all.
How EV Servicing Compares to Petrol
Fewer parts to replace:
An EV drivetrain has around 20 moving parts versus 2,000+ in a petrol engine, which translates directly into fewer things to wear out or replace.
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Lower lifetime servicing cost:
Over a typical ownership period of five years, EV owners can expect to spend considerably less on servicing and unplanned repairs than petrol or diesel drivers.
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Running cost savings stack up:
Servicing savings combine with lower fuel costs to make EVs cheaper to run overall, though upfront purchase prices remain higher than many petrol equivalents.
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Keeping Your Overall Running Costs Down
Charging cost matters too:
Electricity costs vary considerably depending on whether you charge at home, at work, or on public rapid chargers. Home charging remains the cheapest option for most drivers.
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Compare fuel savings with CheckFuelPrices:
If you're weighing up switching from petrol or diesel, CheckFuelPrices shows live fuel prices near you so you can calculate exactly what you're currently spending on fuel versus what you'd pay to charge an EV.
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Sources
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