The lack of transparency with EVs is frustrating—you just want to know what’s actually wrong, not get handed a huge bill.
Totally get that. It’s wild how much more “locked down” EVs feel compared to older cars. I mean, I remember swapping out a radiator hose in my driveway with nothing but a YouTube video and some busted knuckles. Now, if the battery throws a code, it’s like... well, guess I’m at the mercy of the dealership.
About insurance, though—most standard policies won’t cover mechanical breakdowns like battery failure unless you’ve got some kind of extended warranty or special coverage. It’s not really treated like an accident or theft, more like wear and tear. Kinda feels weird since the battery is such a huge chunk of the car’s value, right? Has anyone actually had their insurance step in for a battery issue, or is it always out-of-pocket unless you’re still under warranty? Just curious how that’s played out for folks.
Not sure I totally agree about being “at the mercy” of the dealership, at least not all the time. I drive my EV daily for work, and yeah, it’s definitely not like wrenching on my old Civic, but I’ve found some independent shops are starting to get the hang of EV repairs—especially in bigger cities. It’s not as hopeless as it used to be.
On the insurance side, I actually had a weird situation last year where a battery issue *was* covered. My car got caught in a flash flood and the battery pack shorted out. Insurance treated it like water damage, not wear and tear, so they paid for the replacement. But if the battery just died on its own? That’s a different story. I get why folks are frustrated, though. It’s wild that something so central to the car isn’t covered like an engine would be in some policies. Maybe things will shift as more people run into these problems... or maybe we’ll just keep crossing our fingers that the battery holds out.
That’s actually kind of reassuring to hear about independent shops picking up EV skills—it always feels like you’re stuck with the dealership, but maybe not as much anymore. The insurance bit is wild, though. I’ve always wondered why batteries aren’t treated like engines in most policies, considering how central they are. Do you think as more people run into these battery issues, insurance companies will start changing how they handle claims? Or is it just going to stay a gray area for a while? I guess it’s just another thing to watch out for with EVs...
Honestly, the way insurance handles EV batteries is kind of a mess right now. You’d think they’d be treated like engines, but most policies still lump them in with “wear and tear” or exclude them unless there’s an accident. I’ve seen a few companies start to tweak their coverage, but it’s nowhere near standard yet. My guess? We’ll see more changes as battery failures become more common—and expensive—for insurers. Until then, it’s a bit of a gamble. Just another weird growing pain with EVs, I guess...
You’d think they’d be treated like engines, but most policies still lump them in with “wear and tear” or exclude them unless there’s an accident.
That’s exactly what bugs me. If the battery is basically the heart of the car, why isn’t it covered like a transmission or engine? I dug through my policy last year and it was all vague language—felt like they were dodging the issue on purpose. I get that batteries degrade over time, but sudden failures aren’t just “wear and tear.” Until insurers catch up, it feels like we’re all rolling the dice every time we plug in.
