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Daily Mirror
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Big blow to EVs after survey brands them 'more unreliable than fuelled cars'
British motorists that have switched to eco-friendly EVs have been snubbed after a damming new survey found they are 'more unreliable' than traditional petrol and diesel cars Brits whizzing around in electric vehicles (EVs) have been left red-faced after being snubbed in a major survey. The eco-friendly cars suffered a significant setback in the UK after new data found they are more likely to break down compared to petrol, diesel and hybrid cars. According to the latest What Car? Reliability Survey of almost 30,000 car owners, EVs recorded the highest breakdown rate of all fuel types, with 16.8 per cent of EV owners reporting one in the past two years. This is notably higher than the rates for vehicles powered by fossil fuels, with petrol at 10.7 per cent, hybrid at 14. per cent, and diesel at 15 per cent. The survey, conducted in association with MotorEasy, found 11 per cent of respondents had experienced a breakdown in the past two years in total, with EVs standing out as the most likely to leave drivers stranded. Only 25 per cent of EVs were fixed on the spot, compared with 40 per cent of petrol cars. Conversely, 40 per cent of EVs required towing to a garage, while the recovery rate for petrol vehicles was a much lower 30 per cent. I drove 242-miles from UK seaside town in an electric car and it was hell The survey backs up comments made by the AA 's chief executive Jakob Pfaudler, who warned it was a 'common misconception that EVs break down less frequently than petrol and diesel vehicles'. Back in April he said: "Currently, at least, that is not the case. The breakdown rate is, in fact, slightly higher for electric vehicles than for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles." Diesel vehicles, while having a slightly lower breakdown rate than EVs, were still reported as the most likely to develop faults overall, with 31 per cent of owners reporting they experienced an issue in the past year. This is up from from 50 per cent in 2022 — suggesting that there has been some progress in diesel reliability over the past few years. There is some good news for EV owners however. The electric-powered cars were rated as the second-best fuel type for being fixed for free, with owners revealing 89 per cent of the issues reported were rectified at no cost, while a mere three per cent had to pay more than £1,500 to get their cars back on the road. The findings sparked debate within the automotive community, with some EV advocates questioning the survey's methodology and pointing to alternative data. Ben Nelmes, chief executive of the consultancy New Automotive, suggested that the UK's MOT failure rate might be a better indicator of reliability, noting that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) generally have a lower MOT failure rate than petrol and diesel cars of similar ages — aside from three-year-old vehicles, where the rates were almost identical. Ginny Buckley, chief executive of EV advice website Electrifying argued that the survey contradicts data from Start Rescue. She also highlighted that when EVs do break down, the issues are often minor and cheaper to repair thanks to the simpler engineering and fewer moving parts in EVs, rather than costing an arm and a leg like the mechanical failures common in older ICE vehicles. Ginny said: "The What Car? survey flies in the face of data from companies like Start Rescue, who last year reported that EVs are 59 per cent less likely to break down than their petrol or diesel counterparts. But when they do, the issues are often relatively minor — things like tyres, wheels, or the 12-volt battery – much the same as traditional cars. Expensive mechanical failures, which are common in older internal combustion engine vehicles, are rare thanks to the EV's simpler engineering and fewer moving parts." So while EVs currently experience more problems than conventional vehicles, as is often the case with newer technology due to teething issues, many experts expect EV reliability to improve. And on the plus side, you are far more likely to get your EV repaired for absolutely nothing.
The Sun
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
EVs ‘more likely to break down and leave drivers stranded than petrol or diesel cars,' damning report reveals
ELECTRIC vehicles are reported to be more likely to breakdown on the road than cars with petrol or diesel engines, according to research. A survey of nearly 30,000 drivers looked into their experiences with breakdowns over the past two years. 3 3 The Reliability Survey conducted by What Car? in association with MotorEasy looked at a comparison of petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric cars in terms of whether they were likely to break down, as well as be fixed or towed. Overall, 11 per cent of respondents of the survey had suffered a fault in the last 24 months that made it undriveable. A similar figure of 10.7 per cent of petrol car owners reported a break down in this time, which is a significantly lower rate than batter car owners. Hybrid and diesel cars were also at a lower rate, at 14.1 per cent and 15.4 per cent respectively. Results of the survey come just days after the boss of AA reported attending a higher proportion of electric car breakdowns. In 40.6 per cent of these break downs, the EVs had to be towed from the roadside to a garage. However, only 29.6 per cent per cent of petrol cars required this. CEO of the breakdown service provider, Jakob Pfaudler, added EVs are prone to not only punctures, flat batteries, but also jammed charging cables and technical glitches. He claimed EV breakdowns are more common despite the "idea "common misconception" that they are more reliable than internal combustion engine cars due to having fewer moving parts. On top of that, the report found there was only a one in four chance EV drivers would have their cars permanently fixed by a breakdown company after being stranded on the road. This is in comparison to two in five petrol car owners who were able to get back on the road after calling out roadside assistance. The Sun's Motors Editor Rob Gill takes the new electric Renault 5 for a spin As a result, EVs were the most commonly transported vehicles taken to garages for repairs, as they cannot be towed. They are unable to be towed due rotation of their driven wheels risking of damage to their e-motors. Edmund King, president of AA, also suggested EV drivers are more likely to be confused and flustered by warning lights in their cars, leading them to call for roadside assistance. Whereas petrol car drivers often drive to a garage when being given warning alerts. King estimated, however, that only 86 per cent of traditional cars could be dealt with at the roadside compared to nine in ten battery powered cars which tend to just need a "simple reboot". An additional positive for EV drivers from the survey data suggested their breakdown-related faults could typically be resolved for free, more than any other fuel type. 89 per cent of EV faults could be resolved at zero-cost for the driver, according to the survey, with only three per cent paying more than £1,500 for fixes. Hybrid cars did even better on this front, with 91% being fixed for free, and only two per cent paying over £1,500. However, 76 per cent of petrol car owners reported having their vehicle repaired at no cost following breakdown, and only two-thirds of diesel car drivers.
Scottish Sun
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Little-known car insurance could save you £5,000 if your car is written off in accident – everything you need to know
Various factors have driven up the cash value of these insurance claims ALL COVERED Little-known car insurance could save you £5,000 if your car is written off in accident – everything you need to know Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A HIDDEN car insurance trick could save you £5,000 if your vehicle is written off. Motorists claiming on this insurance stand to gain big - as average payouts have tripled in the past four years. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 GAP insurance payouts have nearly tripled in four years Credit: Alamy The average payout for Guaranteed Asset Protection - or GAP insurance - has soared from around £1,600 in 2021 to nearly £5,000 this year. This little-known insurance hack is rarely used - with a Financial Conduct Authority probe revealing that the average driver with GAP insurance makes a claim just once every 300 years. This product is mainly used to cover a potential shortfall between a car's value and the amount owed on finance if the vehicle is written off or stolen. Drivers who need to make a claim are likely to receive larger payouts, as those who've financed their cars currently face several financial risks. GAP insurance is used not only by those with financed cars but also by owners who bought cars outright—they can claim if the insurer's payout is less than what they paid for the car. Several factors have contributed to the soaring cash value of GAP claims. These include the fast depreciation of certain vehicles - especially EVs - and a rise in insurance write-offs caused by soaring repair costs and parts shortages. Rising motor thefts, targeting models like Range Rovers, have also driven up the cash value of GAP claims. Experts say GAP insurance has shifted from a 'nice-to-have' policy to a 'vital financial safeguard' for today's car buyers. The increase in the value of payouts "underscores the growing financial risk faced by car owners" in 2025, according to MotorEasy, a leading car ownership platform. Ford is forced to immediately shut down factories and halt car production as CEO admits 'day to day' struggle for brand However, this type of insurance has been controversial in the past, as it's often sold by dealers alongside cars - sometimes with limited explanation or inflated prices. It's usually cheaper to buy GAP insurance through brokers. The increase in the value of payouts "underscores the growing financial risk faced by car owners" in 2025, according to MotorEasy, the leading car ownership platform. MotorEasy says the rise in average claim amounts is linked to the lasting effects of Covid-19. However, since so few motorists were using GAP policies, the Financial Conduct Authority launched an investigation in 2023 over concerns about their value. This led to many policies being withdrawn, with about 80 percent of products pulled from the market. Experts now advise car buyers to compare policies carefully and consider brokers rather than accepting dealer offers. Meanwhile, insurance experts have shared eight tips to help drivers slash the cost of covering their cars. Tom Banks, a coverage expert for told SunMotors that one effective way is to choose a higher excess. This means you agree to pay more out of pocket if you make a claim, which lowers the amount the insurer has to cover. Tom explained: "You want to make sure that you will be able to afford to pay it should you need to make a claim. "But it's worth bearing in mind that choosing a higher voluntary excess will usually bring your car insurance premium down." What is car insurance? Consumer reporter Sam Walker talks you through what car insurance is and what it covers you for... Car insurance pays out if your vehicle is stolen, damaged, catches on fire or is involved in an accident. As a minimum, it protects you against any damage you case to other road users, the public or their property - these are called third parties. You only need to claim on your car insurance when an accident is your fault. If another motorist is to blame, their insurance should pay out instead. Car insurance, unlike home insurance, is a legal requirement and if you don't have it you can be fined up to £1,000. You can also have your vehicle seized and destroyed. However, you don't need to insure your car if it is classed as "off-road", or holds a statutory off road notification (SORN). The vehicle has to be kept on private land and not a public highway though.
The Irish Sun
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Little-known car insurance could save you £5,000 if your car is written off in accident – everything you need to know
A HIDDEN car insurance trick could save you £5,000 if your vehicle is written off. Motorists claiming on this insurance stand to gain big - as average payouts have tripled in the past four years. 2 GAP insurance payouts have nearly tripled in four years Credit: Alamy The average payout for Guaranteed Asset Protection - or GAP insurance - has soared from around £1,600 in 2021 to nearly £5,000 this year. This little-known insurance hack is rarely used - with a Financial Conduct Authority probe revealing that the average driver with GAP insurance makes a claim just once every 300 years. This product is mainly used to cover a potential shortfall between a car's value and the amount owed on finance if the vehicle is written off or stolen. Drivers who need to make a claim are likely to receive larger payouts, as those who've financed their cars currently face several financial risks. Read more on motors GAP insurance is used not only by those with financed cars but also by owners who bought cars outright—they can claim if the insurer's payout is less than what they paid for the car. Several factors have contributed to the soaring cash value of GAP claims. These include the fast depreciation of certain vehicles - especially EVs - and a rise in insurance write-offs caused by soaring repair costs and parts shortages. Rising motor thefts, targeting models like Range Rovers, have also driven up the cash value of GAP claims. Most read in Motors Experts say GAP insurance has shifted from a 'nice-to-have' policy to a 'vital financial safeguard' for today's car buyers. The increase in the value of payouts "underscores the growing financial risk faced by car owners" in 2025, according to MotorEasy, a leading car ownership platform. Ford is forced to immediately shut down factories and halt car production as CEO admits 'day to day' struggle for brand However, this type of insurance has been controversial in the past, as it's often sold by dealers alongside cars - sometimes with limited explanation or inflated prices. It's usually cheaper to buy GAP insurance through brokers. The increase in the value of payouts "underscores the growing financial risk faced by car owners" in 2025, according to MotorEasy, the leading car ownership platform. MotorEasy says the rise in average claim amounts is linked to the lasting effects of Covid-19. However, since so few motorists were using GAP policies, the Financial Conduct Authority launched an investigation in 2023 over concerns about their value. This led to many policies being withdrawn, with about 80 percent of products pulled from the market. Experts now advise car buyers to compare policies carefully and consider brokers rather than accepting dealer offers. Meanwhile, insurance experts have shared eight tips to help drivers Tom Banks, a coverage expert for This means you agree to pay more out of pocket if you make a claim, which lowers the amount the insurer has to cover. Tom explained: "You want to make sure that you will be able to afford to pay it should you need to make a claim. "But it's worth bearing in mind that choosing a higher voluntary excess will usually bring your car insurance premium down." What is car insurance? Consumer reporter Sam Walker talks you through what car insurance is and what it covers you for... Car insurance pays out if your vehicle is stolen, damaged, catches on fire or is involved in an accident. As a minimum, it protects you against any damage you case to other road users, the public or their property - these are called third parties. You only need to claim on your car insurance when an accident is your fault. If another motorist is to blame, their insurance should pay out instead. Car insurance, unlike home insurance, is a legal requirement and if you don't have it you can be fined up to £1,000. You can also have your vehicle seized and destroyed. However, you don't need to insure your car if it is classed as "off-road", or holds a statutory off road notification (SORN). The vehicle has to be kept on private land and not a public highway though. 2 The value of GAP has soared due to the depreciation of EVs and rising thefts Credit: Alamy Live News
Daily Mail
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
The little known car insurance that could save you £5,000 as payouts TREBLE
Motorists who claim on a little-known car insurance product are finding it more valuable than ever, as average payouts have trebled in four years. The average payout from Guaranteed Asset Protection - better known as GAP insurance - has jumped from around £1,600 in 2021 to almost £5,000 this year, according to MotorEasy. But the product, which is primarily used to cover a potential shortfall in a car's value compared to what must be repaid on a finance agreement, in case it is written off in an accident or stolen, has proved controversial in the past. However, owners who have bought cars outright can also get cover for the difference between the price paid and what insurer deem the value at the point of a claim. The Financial Conduct Authority launched a probe in 2023 after it was revealed that the average driver with GAP insurance claimed once every 300 years, raising doubts over whether the policy was worth having at all. However, new data exclusively shared with This is Money suggests those who do need to make a claim are likely to see far more substantial payouts due to the current cocktail of financial risks faced by drivers who have borrowed to buy cars. Rapid depreciation suffered by some cars - especially electric vehicles - combined with more insurance write-offs, linked to higher repair costs and parts shortages, as well as rising motor theft, have seen the cash value of GAP claims soar. Experts say the increase in value of claims has shifted GAP insurance from a 'nice-to-have' policy to a 'vital financial safeguard' for those buying cars. One of the reasons why GAP insurance has proved so controversial in the past is due to it often being sold by dealers alongside cars. This can lead to higher costs and those taking out the cover can often pick up considerably cheaper GAP insurance from a broker. MotorEasy, the leading car ownership platform, which offers GAP Insurance, believes the increase in value of payouts 'underscores the growing financial risk faced by car owners' in 2025. It says the combination of factors that has tripled average claim amounts can be traced back to the impact of Covid-19. The pandemic brought about a period of unusual appreciation in used car values, but prices have since declined to levels seen before the outbreak. However, for EV, value retention has dropped off a cliff edge, with battery cars now typically losing more than half of their value in just two years. While used car prices have been falling, purchase costs for new, more technically advanced vehicles have risen, further increasing the gap between the purchase price and the current market value - thus pushing up GAP insurance payouts. MotorEasy told This is Money it has seen claims exceed £20,000 for some luxury EV instances. An ongoing supply chain issue for spare parts triggered by factory closures and the outbreak of conflict since the pandemic, coupled with the more complex nature of modern vehicles and costlier components, has also prompted an increase in insurance write-offs. This has both triggered an increase in usual volumes of claims but also means owners face a larger financial shortfall if their relatively new car is deemed a total loss. There have also been high payouts on theft-related claims, with significant financial losses accrued by some models that have been targeted by criminal gangs and suffered from lower residual values as a result. MotorEasy said 41 per cent of GAP claims over £15,000 have been for stolen Range Rovers, which have been the focus of the recent motor crimewave and - for a period - caused values of some Range Rovers to tumble. 'Our latest data paints a clear picture; the financial risks associated with car ownership are escalating,' said Duncan McClure Fisher, CEO of MotorEasy's parent company, Intelligent Motoring. 'Making matters worse, economic pressures are leading drivers to delay maintenance and repairs, increasing the risk of mechanical failure and potential write-offs. 'In such cases, the depreciated value of a poorly maintained vehicle further widens the gap covered by GAP insurance. 'The combination of so many influential factors has created a 'perfect storm' where GAP insurance is no longer just a nice-to-have, but an increasingly vital financial safeguard.' GAP insurance is typically sold as a standalone policy or as an add-on to other sorts of financial deals, like car insurance. It is usually offered to new car buyers at the point of purchase along with a number of additional products, including additional bodywork protection and cover for interior damage. However, with very few motorists using these policies - or even knowing they have one at all - and huge commissions made by sales staff selling them as add-ons, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in 2023 launched a probe into them. Following the investigation, the watchdog raised concerns that the product is 'failing to provide fair value to some consumers,' which saw some 80 per cent of GAP insurance deals pulled from the market. Car buyers are advised to compare GAP insurance prices through a third part, rather than simply taking out cover through a dealer.
