Had a similar runaround with my insurer after a fender bender—battery started throwing error codes a week later. Here’s what I did: 1) Documented every single thing, even the tiny stuff. 2) Got an independent shop to write up their findings. 3) Pushed back hard, citing the timeline and linking the battery issue to the accident. They still tried to call it “pre-existing,” but I kept escalating until they caved for partial coverage. If you just let it slide, they’ll walk all over you... gotta be persistent, even if it’s a pain.
Title: Would your insurance hold up if your EV battery suddenly failed?
If you just let it slide, they’ll walk all over you... gotta be persistent, even if it’s a pain.
That’s the truth. Insurance companies seem to bank on people giving up when things get complicated. I had a similar thing happen after a rear-end collision—nothing major at first, but then my Leaf started acting weird electrically. The adjuster kept insisting “wear and tear,” but like you said, I kept all the receipts, emails, and even took photos of the dash errors with timestamps. It was a slog, but eventually they covered the diagnostics at least.
I’m curious though—has anyone actually gotten *full* battery replacement covered after an accident? Or is it always a partial thing, like diagnostics or maybe some labor? Feels like they’ll do anything to avoid paying for a new pack unless you’re really stubborn or have a lawyer on speed dial.
Also, for those who’ve been through this, did your shop have to go back and forth with the insurer too? Mine said they spent hours on the phone justifying every line item. Makes me wonder if picking a shop that’s “in network” with the insurer actually helps, or if it just means more hoops for everyone.
And I know some policies have those fine print clauses about “pre-existing conditions” or “gradual deterioration.” Has anyone managed to get around that? I swear, sometimes it feels like you need to be part lawyer just to get what you paid for.
Had a run-in with this exact mess last year after a side swipe in a parking lot. The car looked fine, but a week later, my Bolt’s range dropped by almost half and it started throwing battery errors. Insurance adjuster immediately went for the “pre-existing” angle, even though the car was less than two years old and had no issues before.
I kept pushing—sent them service records, dash photos, even a timestamped video of the error popping up right after the accident. Still, they only agreed to cover diagnostics and some minor wiring repairs. Full battery replacement? Not a chance. Their stance was unless there’s visible physical damage to the pack (like punctures or cracks), they’ll argue it’s unrelated or “normal degradation.” My shop said they spent days arguing back and forth, but it didn’t change much.
Honestly, I don’t see much difference between in-network and out-of-network shops. The insurer still dragged their feet on everything. If you’re not documenting every little thing and willing to fight, you’re out of luck. It’s exhausting, but that’s the reality with EVs and insurance right now.
If you’re not documenting every little thing and willing to fight, you’re out of luck. It’s exhausting, but that’s the reality with EVs and insurance right now.
That part really hits home. Had a similar headache after a deer clipped my Model Y last fall. Barely a scratch on the bumper, but about two weeks later I started getting weird battery warnings and inconsistent charging rates. My adjuster also claimed “no visible damage” meant it couldn’t be from the accident—never mind that nothing had ever popped up before.
Ended up spending more time digging up old service records than I did actually driving the car that month. Even then, they only covered some sensor replacements. The tech at my shop said it’s just how it goes with EV claims until insurers catch up with how these batteries can get messed up without obvious signs.
Now I keep a running log in my glovebox and snap photos after anything even slightly out of the ordinary... feels paranoid, but after all that hassle, I’m not taking chances again. Wish things were simpler—makes me think twice before parking anywhere crowded these days.
Now I keep a running log in my glovebox and snap photos after anything even slightly out of the ordinary... feels paranoid, but after all that hassle, I’m not taking chances again.
Honestly, this is one of the reasons I’ve stuck with my old Mustang. I get the appeal of EVs, but all these stories about “invisible” damage and insurance headaches make me wary. With a carbureted V8, if something’s busted, you can usually see it or hear it—no cryptic warnings or endless paperwork. Maybe I’m just old school, but it seems like tech is moving faster than common sense (or insurance adjusters).
