Some Chinese electric cars are ‘almost uninsurable’ in Britain
By Paul Homewood
h/t Patsy Lacey
Owners of some of the latest Chinese electric cars to enter Britain are facing expensive premiums and in some cases are ‘almost uninsurable’ for drivers.
It comes after various reports of Range Rover owners struggling to find affordable cover for their vehicles, which is linked to the fact the luxury SUVs are being targeted by organised criminal gangs who are stealing them to order for illegal overseas exports.
However, the insurance woes faced by owners of Chinese EVs hasn’t been triggered by their vulnerability to theft; instead, it’s a lack of available parts and expertise to repair them that has seen premiums soar in recent months.
A report by automotive title Auto Express found that drivers of BYD and GWM Ora vehicles are facing extremely steep quotes for cover because only a few insurance providers will underwrite them due to the difficultly to fix them.
The motoring magazine highlights the BYD Seal – a sporty electric saloon model that costs from £45,695 in Britain – as one example where owners are facing major difficulties finding cover at an affordable price – or at all.
Auto Express said it had searched leading comparison sites and were only offered three ‘very high quotes’, with the majority of mainstream insurers refusing to provide a price.
We ran our own quotation search using Compare the Market to find out how much it would cost to cover a Seal for a 40-year-old male living in Lincolnshire who keeps the car on a driveway at their property and covers 10,000 miles a year for social, domestic and commuting needs.
The quote was for a sales exec with over 20 years of no claims bonus wanting fully-comprehensive cover.
The cheapest quote was £758 while the most expensive was £4,782. A selection of major providers also refused to quote at all.
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NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT 
The insurance industry has a shared database of all claims (mainly for fraud prevention) and can see the big picture, the Luton airport fire must be a stand out worse case. Buses cost a lot, together with passenger liability if they get incinerated or gassed. Wait till Hydrogen is the main energy source. Of course electricity and hydrocarbons are dangerous, but the risks are understood.
<i>”Wait till Hydrogen is the main energy source”</i>
Look on the bright side: At least once a Hydrogen powered car has gone up in flames, it’s not going re-ignite multiple times, possibly weeks afterwards!
No, it will just be a case of gathering up all the bits after the explosion.
The E U wants to scrap all ICE cars
.https://petersweden.substack.com/p/the-eu-wants-to-seize-your-old-car
https://eightify.app/summary/automotive/new-eu-directive-impact-on-repairing-older-cars
https://www.oe-mag.co.uk/the-european-union-may-ban-repairs-on-cars-over-15-years-old-but-how/
Perhaps some politician has had a large backhander from the Chinese to promote their EVs , and this is just another step in the long run to destroy the economy and not allow the ordinary people to be able to drive
…and so does the UK government
The motoring magazine highlights the BYD Seal – a sporty electric saloon model that costs from £45,695
The ‘cheaper’ version does 0-62 in 5.9 seconds, pay a bit more and it’s 3.8 – insurers of course know this.
Huh, NOTHING to something in under 10 seconds … can their brains even react so quickly? and t hey wonder why there are Potholes, etc …..and in a Twenty zone, … don’t sneeze at the wheel. Gridlocked roads, 40-50 is about all you get. Jings when I release the clutch on my tractors, I get INSTANT acceleration …. Mann, the silliness continues…. the acceleration of the GERMINATION of the Sycamore Gap tree, even, eh?
Many current autos are made with parts that “wrap around” – meaning, say, the part around the right headlight goes across the front and around the left headlight. A bang on the right side front might damage the bonnet (hood), most of the front, right side front panel and door. Airbags might also deploy. If it is an EV, the battery may be compromised.
A similar bang in a car 40 years ago might only require one new headlight.
Progress!
This has a phony ring to it. Insurance companies have to pay for the repairs. They don’t have to arrange the repairs. Parts delays shouldn’t affect the ins company.
Unless . . . the coverage provides for a vehicle while awaiting repairs. Easily fixed with policies that don’t provide a courtesy car.