Frequently asked questions

Hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric cars all use battery power to drive but to varying degrees: 

• Hybrids – use battery power at slow speeds and are charged internally by the car. Have a fuel tank and battery.
• Plug-in hybrids – travel further on battery power than hybrids and are charged externally. Have a fuel tank and battery.
• Fully electric cars – rely completely on battery power and must be charged externally. Don’t have a fuel tank.

You can buy an electric car in the same ways you’d buy a diesel or petrol car; online, in a showroom or from a second-hand seller. Electric vehicles (EVs) have been around a while now and a growing second-hand market means you can find used electric cars for sale on the usual websites and forecourts.

Yes. Although some high-performance models like the Porsche Taycan and Audi RS e-tron GT use a 2-speed gearbox, the cars automatically decide when to use them. Electric cars don’t need a gearstick and clutch to work, and more drivers are growing to enjoy the experience of driving an automatic.

All insurance companies offer policies for electric vehicles. As volumes increase, prices may become more competitive and possibly more affordable in the future.

Insurance premiums may be more expensive for models in higher insurance groups with parts that are expensive to replace or repair.

Electric cars must have an MOT after 3 years. Tests should be booked in time for the third anniversary of their registration and every year after their last MOT.   

EVs have better pass rates than petrol and diesel cars, mainly because there are fewer moving parts, making them less vulnerable to wear and tear.

The best way to get an electric car serviced is through its manufacturer. Independent garages are unlikely to have the equipment to fix electric cars and warranties can become void if non-manufacturer approved parts are used.  

Most manufacturers have an 8-year warranty on their batteries. However, they should last between 10 and 20 years before they need to be replaced. 

According to Zapmap, there are over 51,000 public charging devices in the UK as of November 2023.

New petrol and diesel cars won't be sold in the UK from 2035. This includes no new hybrid or plug-in hybrid cars, as all new cars will be required to have zero tailpipe emissions.

Although the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned, you will still be able to buy them second-hand.

No, fully electric cars are currently exempt from the £12.50 Ultra Low Emission Zone or ULEZ charge in London. Generally speaking, petrol cars first registered after 2005 and diesel cars first registered after September 2015, are also exempt.

EVs are also currently exempt from charges in other planned and existing Clean Air Zones around the country.

One of the easiest ways to find a public charging point is through your phone. There are a number of apps that share the location of electric car chargers in the UK from different networks and some that also allow you to pay for charging. Alternatively, EV owners can pay through a subscription or on a pay-per-session basis using debit and credit cards at compatible charge points.

You can find public chargers in motorway service stations, public car parks and at the side of residential roads too. Find out more about how electric car charging works.