Plug in and pay less

Electric vehicles are nearly 30% cheaper to service in 2025, says The Car Expert's Stuart Masson

With electric vehicle (EV) registrations making up more than 20% of the new car market in 2025, new data shows that they’re not only cheaper to fuel but also significantly cheaper to maintain.

According to The Car Expert, drivers making the switch to electric vehicles in 2025 can expect to pay nearly 30% (29%) less to service an electric vehicle (EV) over five years compared to a petrol, diesel or hybrid equivalent.

The findings are based on exclusive data supplied by automotive analytics provider and The Car Expert’s technical partner, Clear Vehicle Data, covering more than 600 new and near-new cars currently on sale in the UK. Drawing on official manufacturer servicing schedules, the analysis includes every version of each model – from body styles and trim levels to gearbox and powertrain options – with millions of data points.

Servicing is often an overlooked part of the total cost of ownership, but it’s an area where electric vehicles continue to deliver a clear and measurable advantage. While overall costs have risen slightly across the market, the long-term maintenance savings with EVs remain compelling.

Servicing costs may not be front of mind when choosing a car, but they play a major role in what you’ll spend over time, and it’s vital that drivers factor that into their decision-making.

While servicing costs have increased across the board over the last 12 months, Clear Vehicle Data’s insight confirms that electric vehicles remain significantly cheaper to maintain than their petrol, diesel or hybrid counterparts. While there are many factors that may contribute to this, one likely explanation is the relative simplicity of EV drivetrains. With fewer moving parts, no oil changes, and a lower number of components that require regular servicing, this reduces the maintenance costs of EVs (though actual costs will still vary by model, usage and manufacturer servicing schedules).

The findings reinforce what many drivers are starting to realise: electric cars make financial sense long after they leave the forecourt. In the most detailed part of the analysis, EVs were found to be cheaper to service in 95% (53 out of 56) like-for-like model comparisons – often by hundreds of pounds per year.

Petrol vs. electric servicing – overall market

Average servicing costs	Petrol/Diesel/ Hybrid cars	Electric cars	EV saving
Year 1	£308 (+4%)*	£256 (+10%)	17%
Year 2	£753 (+3%)	£540 (+6%)	28%
Year 3	£1,209 (+3%)	£839 (+3%)	31%
Year 4	£1,477 (+26%)	£1,029 (+5%)	30%
Year 5	£1,962 (+3%)	£1,318 (+3%)	33%
Total after 5 years	£5,709 (+4%)	£4,022 (+4%)	29%

* Percentages increase compared to 2024 prices     

The differences become even clearer when looking at specific model comparisons. Examples include the Vauxhall Corsa Electric, which is 31% cheaper to service over the first three years than the petrol model – and 32% cheaper from years three to five. The Fiat 500e saves drivers even more, with service costs 34% lower than the petrol version in early ownership and 31% lower in later years. The new all-electric MINI Countryman also delivers strong savings, with maintenance costs reduced by 18% in the first three years, rising to 22% from years three to five.

For fleet managers and higher-mileage drivers, the long-term savings highlighted in this analysis can be particularly impactful.
The servicing data, which covers scheduled maintenance items including labour, filters, lubricants and other required components, feeds directly into The Car Expert’s Expert Rating Index – a data-driven system that combines real-world ownership costs, insurance ratings, emissions and efficiency data to give a complete picture of running a car in the UK and value over time.

Stuart Masson is editorial director of The Car Expert, an automotive consumer advice platform offeing guidance on all aspects of purchasing, financing, owning, and selling both new and used cars