How Much Does It Cost for an Electric Car Service?

Ellie Dyer-Brown, 1 month ago

5 min read

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FixMyCar discusses what to expect from an electric car service and how much it's likely to cost.

It often comes as a surprise to drivers that maintaining an electric car is far simpler than a combustion engine vehicle, despite the amount of cutting-edge technology found beneath the bonnet.

However, routine maintenance is still crucial in keeping an EV healthy. This guide explains what’s included in an electric car service and how much it costs.

Contents

How much does an electric car service cost?

What is checked during an electric vehicle service?


How much does an electric car service cost?

Typically, servicing an electric car costs between £100 and £300, depending on the vehicle's make, model and age. The average price on FixMyCar is £157.91.

Servicing an EV takes about three hours, so the labour rate of your chosen garage will also have a noticeable impact on the price. Labour rates tend to be higher in cities, often between £50 and £100 per hour, compared to £35 to £50 in rural areas where demand is lower.

Price by manufacturer

The table below shows how average prices vary by manufacturer.

MakeAverage price
Audi£201.97
BMW£184.42
Ford£221.67
Kia£162.14
MINI£163.20
Mercedes£171.78
Nissan£142.24
Peugeot£127.33
Renault£157.23
Skoda£206.67
Tesla£156.80
Vauxhall£151.81
Volkswagen£157.21

Does an electric car service cost more than an ICE car service?

Cost of servicing bar chart

The average price of an ICE service on FixMyCar is £203.06. For an EV, it’s just £157.91, which is £45.15 cheaper. 

It's the same story when you compare hybrid vs EV servicing, with a £19.23 price difference in favour of fully-electric vehicles.

However, not all garages are qualified to work on electric vehicles. You may have to travel further to find a qualified technician, which will cost more than driving to your local garage, reducing the overall savings.

Why does an electric car service cost less?

Servicing an EV is much easier than a combustion engine vehicle because there are fewer mechanical parts, meaning less work needs to be done. Fewer components need checking, and there is no engine oil to top up, no spark plugs to replace, and no fuel filter to change. It’s a quicker and easier process - great news for you, the driver, who receives a smaller invoice.


What is checked during an electric vehicle service?

Here is everything that will be checked during an EV service:

Let’s take a look at some of those checks in more detail.

Battery

ev battery
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One of the most important parts of an EV is the battery. The technician will plug it into a diagnostic computer, which flags any faults that require attention.

For example, a damaged cell in the battery will limit the car's performance. Rather than replacing the whole battery, the individual cell can be replaced for much less.

Tyres

EVs are considerably heavier than petrol and diesel cars, so the tyres work much harder to carry the extra weight. Their tread depth and condition will be checked for signs of wear.

Wiring

The high-voltage wiring will be inspected for signs of damage. Though they are well-protected and heavy-duty, the wire cables sometimes break.

Find out whether electric cars are easy to maintain in this guide.


How often do electric cars need servicing?

You should service your EV just as often as you would a regular petrol or diesel car to keep it in good shape. Many drivers book a service at the same time as their car's annual MOT.

Every car is slightly different, so it's worth checking your vehicle handbook to find out the manufacturer's recommended servicing schedule. Some examples are shown below.

CarService Schedule
BMW i3Condition-based servicing
Nissan LeafEvery 18,000 miles/every year
Polestar 2Every 20,000 miles/two years
Tesla Model 3Every 25,000 miles/two years
Volkswagen ID.3Every 18,000 miles/two years

Condition-based servicing makes life easy. It means your car's computer will monitor the condition of key components and alert you when something needs servicing.


How can I lower the cost of my service?

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Happy mechanic using tablet for car diagnostic service

The cost of servicing your car each year soon adds up, so it’s worth shopping around. 

At FixMyCar, we know how important it is to find a garage you can trust at a price you can afford. That’s why we’ve made it easy to compare prices and reviews online. Enter your registration, and we’ll send quotes from trusted local mechanics straight to your inbox.


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Written by Ellie

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Ellie is FixMyCar's Content Writer. She has over three years of experience writing about cars and regularly collaborates with automotive experts to provide trustworthy advice for drivers that is easy understand. Her work has been featured in Yahoo! Finance, iNews, The Daily Express and The Sun. She has a BA in English literature and an MA in creative writing from Durham University. Outside of work, Ellie follows F1 and eagerly awaits Ferrari's next era of dominance in the sport. She drives a Suzuki Swift.

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