Electric Car Battery Lease - do I need GAP insurance?

CrazyCatCharlie

Hi,

I have recently bought a Renault Zoe with Battery Lease. In my leasing information pack, the value of the (22kwh) battery is just over £6k.

If, in the event of an accident, would my insurance pay off the battery value AND value of the car to me?

Do I need to take out GAP insurance (car is 2yo) and would that cover me?

Does anyone have any experience / knowledge with this?

Thanks!

Arklight

Please look after your battery.

ratrace

CrazyCatCharlie wrote: »

Hi,

I have recently bought a Renault Zoe with Battery Lease. In my leasing information pack, the value of the (22kwh) battery is just over £6k.

If, in the event of an accident, would my insurance pay off the battery value AND value of the car to me?

Do I need to take out GAP insurance (car is 2yo) and would that cover me?

Does anyone have any experience / knowledge with this?

Thanks!

Its very good that you have thought of this now and not after an accident ifi was you i would ring my insurance company asap to clarify where i stand and if they have paid out before on other electric cars

Car_54

The battery is integral to the car, and should therefore be covered. However, since it's leased, any payout should be to the leasor rather than to you.



As above, speak to your insurer ASAP.

CrazyCatCharlie

So I contacted Aviva and they have updated their policy for electric cars and the battery lease! They would provide any car value settlement to myself and then deal separately with Renault regarding the battery - if it can be returned undamaged or the lease paid out. big Phew! :T

I'll watch the average price of the car on autotrader for a few months before deciding on GAP insurance I think...

Aklight - " Please look after your battery."

Clearly I'm not planning a destruction derby but I also cannot control every other driver on the road - better to know what my insurance covers me for before I need it rather than find out it doesn't cover what I need after the event!

Car_54

There is an ongoing "Electric Cars" thread on the forum which has attracted more than 2,000 posts to date. Perhaps some of the "experts" there could contribute some practical advice?

almillar

There is an ongoing "Electric Cars" thread on the forum which has attracted more than 2,000 posts to date. Perhaps some of the "experts" there could contribute some practical advice?

Sure thing. Physically, the EV battery is classed as part of the car. If you're not paying a separate lease for your battery, it's part of the car and the insurance should cover it - simple.


If you're paying a separate battery lease (loads of Renault Zoes, some early LEAFs), it could be more complicated.
Either an insurer, or the person you speak to, has a clue, or doesn't. If you ask the question 'My car is electric, is my leased battery insured?' and they say yes, good, go for it. If not, go elsewhere. Plenty of insurers now are fine with it, more are updating all the time. I was with Admiral multicar for 2 years with my Zoe.