You’re weighing up an EV and wondering: are electric cars cheaper to maintain? Mostly yes. UK data puts five-year servicing about 29% lower than petrol, though some studies show year one costing more.
For the bigger picture of owning one, read the wider guide to electric vehicles.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| UK five-year servicing total, petrol, diesel or hybrid (average) | £5,709 |
| UK five-year servicing total, electric (average) | £4,022 |
| EV servicing saving over five years | 29% |
| Share of like-for-like cases where the EV was cheaper to service | 95% |
| US service cost at three years, EV vs gasoline (average) | $514 vs $749 |
The figures come from UK research reported in May 2025 and a US study reported in October 2021. Prices and studies change, so check the source before you rely on them.
What the latest UK data shows
The clearest recent comparison comes from research by The Car Expert and Clear Vehicle Data, reported by EV Powered on 9 May 2025. It used manufacturers’ own service schedules for more than 600 new and nearly new models. Over five years, EV service costs averaged 29% lower than for petrol, diesel and hybrid cars.
The table below shows the average annual servicing cost in each of the five years, using the same research.
| Year | Petrol, diesel or hybrid | Electric | EV saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | £308 | £256 | 17% |
| Year 2 | £753 | £540 | 28% |
| Year 3 | £1,209 | £839 | 31% |
| Year 4 | £1,477 | £1,029 | 30% |
| Year 5 | £1,962 | £1,318 | 33% |
| Total after 5 years | £5,709 | £4,022 | 29% |
In 95% of cases, the EV was cheaper than its like-for-like ICE rival in the same study. The Vauxhall Corsa Electric came out 31% cheaper to service over the first three years than the petrol model, and 32% cheaper from years three to five.
Why do electric cars need less servicing?
Those behind the UK research said the simpler mechanical nature of electric vehicles was a significant contributor to the savings. EV Powered’s report lists the main reasons:
- Fewer moving parts.
- No oil changes.
- A lower number of components that require regular servicing.
The saving is spread across many small items. A US Department of Energy-commissioned study, reported by InsideHook, counted everything from oil changes to wiper blades to brake pads. A separate guide explains what is regenerative braking and how it works.
Repairs count alongside servicing. A fleet comparison from Allstar, published in February 2025, compared petrol and electric family cars from the same brand over the first three years. The electric versions did around 20% less distance, yet were still around 40% cheaper for servicing and repair, a figure that excludes body, damage and tyres.
The first-year catch in US figures
Not every dataset shows an instant saving. A study by Deepview True Cost, reported by InsideEVs on 29 October 2021, found EV owners paid more at first. Service cost averaged $123 at three months and $306 at one year, against $53 and $189 for gasoline cars.
At three years the picture flipped. The same InsideEVs report put EV service at an average of $514, against $749 for gasoline vehicles. Driven Car Guide’s coverage in November 2021 adds that EV owners typically spent $77 on maintenance alone in the first three years, against an average of $228 for petrol vehicles.
Driven Car Guide’s report says the study covered over 13 million vehicles and 400 models, drawn from 65 million service and repair orders. In the UK table above, year one already favoured the EV at £256 against £308. Different markets, years and methods give different year-one results, so treat each as a range rather than a promise.
InsideEVs summed it up as paying more in the first year of EV ownership but less by the third. If you plan to keep the car beyond three years, the later years matter more than the opening bill.
What the per-mile estimates add up to
A study commissioned by the US Department of Energy looked at scheduled maintenance. As InsideHook reported on 22 June 2021, the estimate was 10.1 cents per mile for light-duty gas vehicles and 6.1 cents for comparable battery electric vehicles.
Over a 200,000-mile life, that puts a gas car at $20,200 and an EV at $12,200, a difference of $8,000. These are 2021 US averages, and the same article warns that higher-end models, such as a Porsche Taycan against a Porsche 911, will see higher maintenance prices.
Where electric cars can cost more
The saving is an average, not a rule for every badge. In the UK study, the Volkswagen ID.3 was 45% more expensive to service than a petrol Mk8 Golf in the early years, and 22% pricier in years three to five, according to EV Powered.
Labour can also bite when something goes wrong. In 2021, We Predict’s chief executive James Davies said EV labour could be two or three times higher “at the moment” because diagnosis takes longer, as Driven Car Guide reported. He expected labour costs to come down once technicians share what they learn.
Long-term wear is still being measured. Allstar’s report says what happens at higher mileages with more wear is yet to be determined. A separate guide on how are ev batteries recycled covers what happens to a pack at the end of its life.
How to check the numbers for your own car
Averages help, but your own car decides your bill. Follow these steps before you rely on any headline saving:
- Find the manufacturer’s service schedule for the exact EV you are considering.
- Compare it with a petrol model of similar size and trim, ideally from the same brand.
- Price tyres, repairs and bodywork separately, because the Allstar comparison left them out.
- Ask the garage you would use what it charges for EV labour.
- Check the date of any study you read, since costs and methods change.
Servicing is one slice of the total. Allstar notes that funding, tax and insurance also shape the cost of ownership and vary by driver.
Frequently asked questions
Are electric cars cheaper to service than petrol cars?
Show answer
Usually, yes. UK research reported in May 2025 found five-year servicing averaged £4,022 for EVs against £5,709 for petrol, diesel and hybrid cars, and the EV was cheaper in 95% of like-for-like cases, according to EV Powered.
Is an EV more expensive to service in the first year?
Show answer
In a US study reported in October 2021, EV service averaged $306 after one year against $189 for gasoline cars, according to InsideEVs. The UK research reported in May 2025 had year-one servicing at £256 for EVs against £308 for petrol, diesel and hybrid cars, per EV Powered.
Do electric cars need no maintenance at all?
Show answer
No. They still have service schedules, and the UK research put the five-year average at £4,022 for an EV, as reported by EV Powered. The saving comes from fewer moving parts, no oil changes and fewer components to service.
Do these savings include tyres and bodywork?
Show answer
Not in every study. The Allstar comparison of servicing and repair, published in February 2025, excludes body, damage and tyres, so price those separately.
