For many drivers considering an electric car, especially on the used market, the prospect of a costly battery replacement looms large. New data from UK-based warranty provider Warrantywise suggests that fear may be misplaced. Its study of thousands of used-EV repair claims found that the traction battery was the costliest repair when it failed, but did not feature among the most frequently claimed components.
The claims data points instead to faults in systems shared with conventional cars. Electrical sensors and basic locking systems feature prominently, alongside suspension problems, while high-voltage battery failures were less common. That distinction matters: the average cost of a repair after a failure is not the same as the expected cost of owning a vehicle, which also depends on how often the failure occurs.
Unexpected Repair Leaders
Warrantywise found that electrical-system sensor repairs averaged £809.59 (about €940), with bills reaching £3,270 (€3,800). Central-locking malfunctions cost an average of £899.44 (€1,045), and the most expensive recorded repair reached £4,056.82 (€4,710).
The first EV-specific component in the rankings is the onboard charger, which converts incoming AC electricity for the high-voltage battery. Repairs averaged £2,158.75 (€2,510), while the highest recorded bill was £10,454.98 (€12,150). Suspension-arm repairs averaged £1,229.64 (€1,430), with a maximum of £4,118.65 (€4,780). The figures show that an EV can avoid a traction-battery replacement yet still incur a large bill for charging electronics or conventional chassis components.
Even the 12-volt auxiliary battery, a low-voltage component also found in combustion cars, appears in the claims. Replacement averaged £532.94 (€620), with the highest bill reaching £986.15 (€1,145). EVs so retain familiar electrical hardware alongside their high-voltage propulsion systems.
The Battery Paradox
The traction battery remains the most expensive repair category on a per-failure basis, averaging £6,435.38 (€7,480) in the Warrantywise data. That figure describes the repair cost when a claim occurs; it is not an annual ownership-cost estimate. Battery degradation is different from battery failure: a gradual loss of usable capacity can reduce driving range without making a pack inoperable or requiring replacement.
Battery-health analysis by fleet-telematics company Geotab, covering more than 22,700 EVs across 21 makes and models, reported average capacity degradation of 2.3% a year. Its analysis found different averages associated with charging patterns: about 3.0% annual degradation among vehicles frequently using DC fast charging above 100 kW, compared with about 1.5% for vehicles that did not frequently rely on that pattern. These figures concern capacity loss, not the likelihood or cost of a replacement claim, and should not be read as battery-failure rates.
Antony Diggins, CEO of Warrantywise, said: “For many used EV buyers, the battery is still the biggest worry. But our repair data shows a much more balanced picture. The most frequent issues are with everyday components: sensors, central locking, suspension, and the auxiliary battery, not the basic EV battery.”
Diggins added: “It’s an impressive message for the industry. Dealers can explain what EV ownership really looks like, correcting myths without hiding the fact that some repairs can still be impressive. With four-figure average costs for parts like the onboard charger or suspension, a dedicated EV warranty can play a basic role in building buyer confidence.”
Rising Costs and Broader Context
The report also highlights a 10.7% increase in average EV repair costs between 2024 and 2025. Warrantywise attributes the rise to EV technology’s complexity and inflation, along with more expensive spare parts and higher workshop labor rates.
EVs continue to rely on systems shared with combustion vehicles, including suspension and brakes, as well as locks, sensors, wiring and 12-volt electrical architecture. Their charging hardware adds another potential repair point: the onboard charger converts AC electricity for the high-voltage battery. The Warrantywise figures distinguish claim frequency from the cost of an individual repair; they do not establish whether EVs are universally cheaper or more expensive to repair than petrol or diesel cars.
For used-EV buyers, the data underlines the value of checking battery-health reports and warranty coverage, along with charging history and recall status. Buyers should also check the condition of the low-voltage system. Battery durability remains part of the ownership picture, but routine claims can involve components found in any modern car. Broader changes in the EV market, including new plug-in hybrids highlighted in recent industry launches, are changing expectations for drivers and manufacturers alike.
