Electric vehicle (EV) accident repairs cost 19.2% more and take 8.7% longer than internal combustion engine (ICE) equivalents, according to data from accident aftercare specialist AX.
The AX Repair Index, derived from 40,000 annual accidents, uses an ICE baseline score of 100 to evaluate sector trends. EVs recorded an overall score of 114. Over the past 12 months, the average EV repair cost reached £6,363 against £5,338 for ICE models, with workshop durations averaging 25 days compared to 23 days. Higher component costs, specific technical requirements, and mandatory calibration procedures drive the variance. This occurs as 2025 SMMT data shows UK BEV registrations rose 23.9% to over 473,000 units, securing a 23.4% market share.
Scott Hamilton-Cooper, Chief Commercial Officer of AX, said:
“The growth of electric vehicles is creating new opportunities and challenges for the accident repair sector. While the gap between EV and ICE repairs is narrowing as repairers gain experience and technology improves, our AX Repair Index shows that electric vehicles still place a greater overall burden on the repair process. This is partly due to more costly EV parts and because they usually require calibration even for small repairs.
“What’s important is that the industry continues investing in skills, equipment and repair capability. We have worked closely with our partners and 99% of our repair network is now accredited to work on electric vehicles, ensuring drivers receive the same high standards of service regardless of powertrain type.
We support the move to a predominantly EV car parc and our EV-for-EV guarantee has been hugely popular. As EV adoption grows, delivering a smooth customer journey will be essential for fleets, insurers and motorists alike.”
Source: AX