Are Hybrids More Expensive To Insure?

Hybrids are usually more expensive to insure than gas-powered cars but less than electric vehicles. However, insurance companies look at many different factors that are unique to you when setting a price.
Author:
Lily DiGregorio
Lily DiGregorio,Staff copywriter
Lily DiGregorio
Staff copywriter specializing in auto and home insurance for The Hartford.
Reviewed By:
Ben Ewbank
Ben Ewbank,Head of Personal Lines State Product and Pricing
Ben Ewbank
Head of Personal Lines State Product and Pricing at The Hartford.
LinkedIn Profile
Updated: 01/07/2026
Read Time: 8 minutes
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Key Takeaways

  • When it comes to car insurance, there is no one-size-fits all price. So, your hybrid insurance price will depend on factors unique to you, like your location, car’s value and repair cost.
  • Fully electric vehicles are usually the most expensive to insure but can offer long-term perks and savings. Gas-powered cars are on the opposite side of the spectrum. They have lower insurance premiums but require maintenance more frequently. Hybrids fall in the middle and are a reliable choice for many individuals.
  • With The Hartford, hybrid vehicle drivers can take advantage of customizable coverage options and AARP member benefits.​​

Why Insurance Costs Vary for Hybrids

Even among hybrids, insurance rates will depend on factors that are unique to you and your specific vehicle. Some of these include:
 
  • Vehicle value: Typically, hybrids have a higher market value than gas-powered cars, leading to increased insurance premiums. Among hybrids, make and models will differ and so will their insurance prices.
  • Repair costs: Specialized hybrid components can vary from car to car, such as batteries and drivetrains. These can make repairs more expensive and complex, impacting insurance rates.
  • Safety features: Advanced safety technology in hybrids may reduce risks on the road as well as insurance prices. This will depend on how many safety features your vehicle has and what discounts your insurance company offers.
  • Location: Where you live impacts how much you pay for insurance. If you primarily drive in a congested city with a high accident rate, you may have a higher hybrid insurance rate.
  • Driver behavior: Habits on the road are a key factor in insurance costs, regardless of what kind of hybrid you drive. If your hybrid helps you drive safer and avoid accidents, that could lower your insurance premiums. Or, if you don’t have a clean driving history, that could raise your insurance price.
Insurance costs are complex, which is why we’ve broken down a few key factors that can influence price differences among hybrids.
 

Are Hybrid Cars More Expensive To Insure Than Gas Cars?

While insurance costs are based on different personal factors, hybrid cars typically are more expensive to insure than gas cars due to several factors.
 

Factors Influencing Insurance Premiums: Hybrids vs. Gas

Comparing hybrid versus gas vehicles, there are many different things that influence insurance prices, from maintenance and repair costs to safety features. Some key factors are:
 
  • Battery replacement: Hybrid cars typically use batteries, which can be pricey to fix. With coverage from The Hartford, we’ll help cover the cost of a new EV battery replacement if it’s damaged after a covered loss.
  • Software updates: Depending on your hybrid, you may have more complex software, including engine control and body control modules. If the replacement or software upgrade of a module is required, we’ll help pay for it.
  • Headlights and sunroofs: Some of these parts are specific to hybrid or electric vehicles and include enhanced sensors or features that may be more expensive to repair or replace. We’ll work directly with the manufacturer to make sure the parts that are unique to your car are being replaced with the exact parts from the same maker.
Beyond answering the question, “Are hybrids more expensive to insure?”, The Hartford compiled more key information comparing insurance for electric cars vs gas cars, so you can make an informed and confident decision.

Do Hybrids Cost More To Insure Than Electric Cars?

Electric and hybrid cars are similar, but usually hybrid cars typically cost less to insure than electric cars.
 

Factors Influencing Insurance Premiums: Hybrids vs. Electric

Although car insurance prices vary by individual, there are aspects that influence the cost to insure each type of vehicle. Hybrid versus electric vehicle insurance prices are based on several factors that are unique to each vehicle, like:
 
  • The cost or complexity to repair or replace certain parts
  • Safety features to help you avoid accidents on the road
  • The risk of software or battery failure
As the provider of the only auto insurance endorsed by AARP, The Hartford offers exclusive benefits just for experienced drivers, no matter what you drive. That’s why our customers pay on average between $121 and $162 a month for car insurance.2
 

Does It Cost More To Insure a Hybrid Car Than a Gas or Electric in the Long Run?

While EVs and hybrids can be more expensive to insure up front than gas-powered vehicles, they also can provide long-term savings due to their fuel efficiency, lower risk for potential repairs and safety features. Hybrids especially offer unique perks that have a positive impact on your car insurance premium.
 
Some of these cost factors include:
 
  • Insurance costs: If your hybrid vehicle helps you drive safer on the road and avoid accidents or claims, you could save on your insurance in the long run. Plus, some insurers offer discounts if you drive a more eco-friendly option, such as a hybrid.
  • Depreciation: Usually, hybrid vehicles hold their value better than both electric and gas vehicles, making them a wise long-term investment. According to the latest data, hybrids lose about 41% of their original value after five years, on average, compared to about 59% for EVs and the industry average of just about 46%.3
  • Maintenance: EVs have the least amount of moving parts, making them the lowest maintenance option. Gas vehicles, on the other hand, require the most frequent upkeep, including routine oil changes or spark plug replacements. Hybrids offer a middle ground: they require less frequent maintenance overall, but owners still need periodic check-ins to keep their car in optimal condition.4
  • Ownership duration: When comparing the lifespans of each vehicle, recent studies have found that hybrid cars can last over two years longer than gas cars or even electric vehicles, on average, making them a practical choice for longevity.5
  • Environmental incentives: If your hybrid offers certain sustainability-related features, like reduced emissions or regenerative braking, you may be eligible to receive further compensation through local or federal programs.
Hybrid vehicles often provide a balance between fully electric and gas-powered vehicles, which can appeal especially to drivers age 50 and older as they value both reliability and lower maintenance costs.

Benefits of Insuring a Hybrid Car

There are many benefits and perks to insuring your hybrid vehicle, including:
 
  • Meeting state or loan requirements: Regardless of what type of car you drive, most states require certain levels of liability coverage. Plus, if you have a lease or loan on your hybrid vehicle, you’ll likely be required to have collision and comprehensive coverage too. Driving without adequate insurance is not just financially risky but also illegal in most cases.
  • Possible discounts and savings: Many insurance companies offer eco-friendly or low-emission vehicle discounts to help reduce insurance premiums for hybrid owners.
  • Customizable coverage options: One of the main pluses of insurance is that there is no one-size-fits-all policy. Meaning, you can enhance your coverage amounts and take advantage of optional benefits to extend your protection, or you can opt to pick a policy that offers the bare minimum to help cut insurance costs. Just remember: the less coverage you have, the more financial risks you take on, as you’ll have higher out-of-pocket costs after an accident. 
With The Hartford, you can select the policy options you need to meet your unique situation and ensure you have enough protection in case something happens to your hybrid vehicle.
 
 

What Type of Insurance Do You Need for a Hybrid Car?

Hybrid insurance and car insurance are the same thing. The main difference: if you have a car insurance policy with a hybrid car, you can take advantage of specialized protection for your vehicle, like battery replacement.
 
Here are the common types of auto insurance coverages you’ll find on most standard policies from The Hartford, from electric cars to gas and everything in between:

Bodily Injury Liability

Bodily injury liability coverage helps pay for medical expenses if you cause an accident that injures another driver.

Property Damage Liability

Property damage liability coverage helps cover costs if you damage property that doesn’t belong to you, like someone else’s car or fence.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage helps offer financial protection if you’re involved in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have any or enough insurance, or a hit-and-run driver.

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive insurance coverage helps cover you when your vehicle is damaged by a non-collision accident. This coverage can help pay to fix your car if it’s damaged by a natural disaster, vandalism or hitting an animal, to name a few examples.

Collision Coverage

Collision insurance coverage helps pay for any repair or replacement costs if your electric vehicle is damaged from a collision with another car or object, like a tree.

Medical Payments Coverage

Medical payments coverage helps provide financial assistance for medical expenses and rehabilitation after an accident.6
 
Debating your coverage amounts? Our car insurance calculator makes it easy for you to estimate how much car insurance coverage you may need based on where you live and your insurance goals.
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Why Do We Ask This?
States have requirements for how much car insurance coverage drivers must have. The minimum required amount can vary for bodily injury liability, property damage liability and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
Why Do We Ask This?
If you lease or finance your car, the lender or leasing company typically has coverage requirements and may have to be named on the policy.
When It Comes To Insurance, What Matters Most?

Why Do We Ask This?
Everyone has different needs for car insurance. If you want to pay less for coverage, you'll have higher out-of-pocket costs with a claim. If you want the most protection, you'll pay more for coverage but have lower out-of-pocket costs with a claim.

Tips To Lower Insurance Costs for Your Hybrid

No matter what you drive, The Hartford’s customers can take advantage of discounts to help you save on insurance costs, such as:

Drive Your Price

Get rewarded for your safe driving with The Hartford’s TrueLane Program. Save up to 15% just for participating and earn a renewal discount of up to 40%, depending on your driving habits.^

5 Years Clean

The Hartford offers safe driver discounts if you maintain a clean driving record for five years. By driving responsibly, you can save up to 10% on your auto insurance policy.

Payment Discounts

You can save up to 10% just for paying your bill on time. Extra savings apply if you pay in full instead of monthly installments.
The Hartford also offers exclusive AARP member benefits to help you stay safe and save money, including:
Disappearing Deductible, which reduces your collision deductible on your auto policy over time as long as you are a safe driver and maintain a clean driving record.‡
Accident Forgiveness, which excuses your first accident if you need to file a car insurance claim, as long as all drivers on your policy have a clean driving record and are accident-free for five straight years with The Hartford.‡
New Car Replacement Coverage, which helps pay to replace a totaled new car with a new car of the same make, model and equipment without subtracting anything for depreciation.§§
Lifetime Car Rrepair Assurance, which gives you access to our 1,600 authorized repair shops. If you use one of our recommendations, we’ll guarantee the workmanship on all repairs.
driver happy knowing do hybrids cost more to insure

Get an Insurance Quote for Your Hybrid Vehicle

The Hartford has proudly offered exclusive insurance benefits and discounts to AARP members for over 40 years. You can enjoy customizable coverage options and industry-leading customer service, so you can drive your hybrid car with confidence knowing you’re covered.
 
Get an electric vehicle insurance quote online or call The Hartford at 888-546-9099 today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hybrid Car Insurance

No, hybrid vehicles don’t need special insurance. You can get the coverage you need from a standard car insurance policy as it will include hybrid-specific benefits, like battery replacement coverage.
Yes, typically most car insurance coverages include hybrid battery replacement or repair protection, as long as the damage is part of a covered loss and not general wear and tear.
Hybrid cars are usually more expensive to insure than gas vehicles but not as expensive as fully electric vehicles. They offer an accessible middle ground when it comes to maintenance and long-term costs.
 
If you’re still wondering, “Are hybrids more expensive to insure?” or looking for answers specific to your policy, The Hartford is happy to help. Call us at 888-546-9099.
Per the latest figures, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Kia Niro Hybrid and Honda CR-V FHEV are the least expensive hybrids to insure.7
While car insurance prices will depend on the specific year, make and model of your car, Mazda and Subaru offer the two cheapest vehicles to insure (the CX-5 and Forester), according to the latest data.8
If you add a hybrid vehicle to your policy, your premium may increase if the year, make and model is more costly or difficult to repair or replace than the vehicle you swapped. Ultimately, car insurance prices are based on many personal factors, so you won’t know for sure unless you speak to your insurance company directly.
No, hybrid vehicles are not difficult to insure. In fact, it’s easy to get protection, as most insurance companies offer coverage and benefits for hybrids without you having to do anything extra.
Hybrids usually are a smart long-term investment to make as they require less maintenance and have lower fuel costs than a gas-powered vehicle. Hybrid cars also have more affordable insurance rates than fully electric vehicles. The eco-friendly features of driving a hybrid can even grant you insurance discounts and government incentives.

Related Articles

 
 
2 Auto insurance rates by age range from 9/1/22 to 8/31/23.
 
3 Cars.com, “How Much Do Hybrids Currently Depreciate?”
 
4 Great Car Care Center, “EV vs. Hybrid vs. Gas: How Maintenance Compares”
 
5 AutoBlog, “EV vs. Hybrid vs. Gas: Which Saves More Money Over 10 Years?”
 
6 Medical benefits are calculated on the basis of usual, customary and reasonable charges.
 
7 Forbes, “Most and Least Expensive Green Cars To Insure 2025”
 
8 MoneyGeek, “Cheapest Cars To Insure in 2025”
 
^ Not available in all states, terms and conditions apply.
** Average savings amounts based on information reported by customers who switched to The Hartford from other carriers between 9/1/22 and 8/31/23. Your savings may vary. Average auto insurance savings is $577 and average home insurance savings is $236. Rate differences for AARP members and non-members vary by state and AARP membership tenure. Auto/Home discount is available only to policyholders who have both their auto and home (or condo or renters) insurance through the AARP Auto & Home Insurance program from The Hartford. The Hartford does not write new business in all areas, including the states of CA and FL.
 
§ Availability of RecoverCare benefit and benefit levels vary by state. The Hartford RecoverCare Advantage® is a registered mark of The Hartford.
 
§§ Terms and conditions apply.
 
‡ Terms and conditions apply. Accident Forgiveness and the Disappearing Deductible are not available to CA policyholders.
 
‡‡ Terms and conditions apply. Availability varies by state.
 
‡‡‡ Based on one car and driver; individual rate/premium/savings will vary based on actual coverage selections and characteristics of vehicle(s)/driver(s).
 
Additional disclosures below.
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Summaries of coverages and policy features are for informational purposes only. In the event of loss, the actual terms and conditions set forth in your policy will determine your coverage.
 
AARP and its affiliates are not insurers. Paid endorsement. The Hartford pays royalty fees to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. AARP membership is required for Program eligibility in most states.
 
The AARP Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford is underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affiliates, One Hartford Plaza, Hartford, CT 06155. It is underwritten in AZ, MI and MN by Hartford Insurance Company of the Southeast; in CA, by Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company; in WA, by Hartford Casualty Insurance Company; in MA, by Trumbull Insurance Company; and in PA, by Nutmeg Insurance Company and Twin City Fire Insurance Company. The AARP Home Insurance Program from The Hartford is underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affiliates, One Hartford Plaza, Hartford, CT 06155. It is underwritten in AZ, MI and MN by Hartford Insurance Company of the Southeast; in CA by Property and Casualty Insurance Company of Hartford; in WA, by Trumbull Insurance Company; in MA, by Trumbull Insurance Company, Sentinel Insurance Company, Hartford Insurance Company of the Midwest, and Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company; and in PA, by Nutmeg Insurance Company. The Hartford does not write new Home business in all areas, including the states of CA and FL. Savings, benefits and coverages may vary and some applicants may not qualify. The Program is currently unavailable in Canada and U.S. Territories or possessions.
 
1 In Texas, the Auto Program is underwritten by Redpoint County Mutual Insurance Company through Hartford of the Southeast General Agency, Inc. Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affiliates are not financially responsible for insurance products underwritten and issued by Redpoint County Mutual Insurance Company. The Home Program is underwritten by Hartford Insurance Company of the Southeast.
 
* Customer reviews are collected and tabulated by The Hartford and not representative of all customers.