Do electric cars need servicing?

Many people think electric cars don’t need servicing, but although they have fewer moving parts than petrol or diesel cars, they still need maintenance because many components require regular checks.

In 2025, 473,348 new electric vehicles hit the UK roads,¹ making vehicle servicing more relevant to drivers. Here we explain how often EVs need servicing, why it is necessary and what it can cost.

EASY AS HACK

Follow the manufacturer’s service schedule to find out how often your electric car needs servicing; if you don’t, you might miss some software updates or lose your warranty.

How often do electric cars need servicing?

With electric cars now making up over 32% of the UK’s new car market,¹ EV servicing is a question that matters to an increasing number of drivers.

How often your EV needs depends on the manufacturer’s schedule, which is typically 2 years or 18,000 miles although it can vary. If you drive frequently, especially over long distances or across varied terrain, you might want to make these check-ups more frequent. 

Some drivers prefer to arrange an annual service alongside their MOT, which can be a practical approach, although this may not always be required for every vehicle.

What is checked during an electric car service?

Servicing an electric vehicle differs slightly from that of a petrol or diesel car, as EVs don’t have an engine or require as many moving parts, such as pistons, or engine parts like an oil filter or an exhaust pipe. However, the electric car servicing process will be broadly the same as for any other vehicle.²

What is checked when an EV is serviced can vary from car to car. In broad terms, the following items will be inspected and, if necessary, renewed or repaired:

• Brake pads and discs – EVs use regenerative braking, so they require brake discs and pads; however, wear and tear is lower, reducing maintenance costs.³

• High-voltage cables – technicians usually repair or replace these and other electric system components in EVs to meet safety certifications, such as Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) levels.
• Cabin and air-conditioning filters – aircon in electric cars can differ from that in other vehicle types and will need to be reviewed during the high-voltage system check.⁴ Follow the owner’s manual for the replacement intervals.
• Oil & Battery coolant – although EVs don’t have engine oil, they still need gearbox oil and an expert mechanic to change the battery coolant.⁵
• Charging cable and port – tthe mechanic should check that the cable and connectors are clean, make good contact with the port, and are undamaged.⁶
• Drive shafts – the drivetrain, which transmits power from the motor to the wheels,⁷ includes the drive shafts. The drivetrain of an EV has fewer parts than that of petrol or diesel cars but may still need repairs.⁷

Why do evs need servicing?

It’s generally recommended to service your electric car regularly, as with any other car. An EV shares many components with petrol or diesel cars, such as brakes, tyres, suspension and battery cooling, which require checking or changing.⁸

Electric vehicles also need servicing to:

• Maintain safety, reliability and efficiency
• Optimise battery health⁹
• Manage parts subject to wear and tear, such as tyres and wiper blades.⁶

Some brands may even extend their warranty if a franchised dealer services your EV.¹⁰

How much does an electric car service cost?

The cost of an electric car service will vary from place to place. A local electric car service centre, for example, may charge less than the main dealer. You might also consider electric car service plans, where you pay for cover in monthly instalments. Costs vary significantly depending on the make, model and provider. For example:

• A Kia EV9 three-year service plan costs £439 (as of 2025).¹¹
• Tesla’s three-year plan for its Model 3 will set you back £1,575, either as a one-off payment or in instalments.¹²
• Servicing the Volkswagen ID 3 under VW’s 24-month service plan costs £744 or £31 a month and includes an MOT.¹³

You don’t have to use a main dealer to keep your electric car’s warranty valid. As long as you ensure the independent garage you choose follows the manufacturer’s service schedule and uses the recommended replacement parts and fluids, you should be covered.¹⁴

In some cases, certain manufacturers may offer extended warranties to incentivise owners to choose a franchised dealer for their EV service.¹⁵

The number of inspections may differ. For example, Tesla’s plan includes three inspections,¹⁴ while Volkswagen’s includes two services¹³

How long does an electric car service take?

An electric car service can sometimes take longer than a normal one. The intervals between services are usually longer – often around every 2 years or 18,000 miles, but it varies by manufacturer.¹⁰

However, the frequency may depend on your car’s condition, especially its tyres. EVs tend to have heavier tyres and more torque than petrol or diesel vehicles, so they wear out faster.¹⁶

It also depends on whether you have the car serviced by a garage or the manufacturer. Staff at small, local garages may not have the right training to service electric vehicles, so you may have to stick with a main dealership.

Lack of servicing training at independant garages may mean you visit a main dealer. Fewer alternatives may alsomean facing logner appointment waiting times, even if your EV only requires a software reset.¹⁶

Servicing an electric car on finance

If you have financed an EV through a personal contract purchase (PCP), your services are broadly the same.

However, your finance company may offer a service package you can use. It might bundle services 1-3 into a single payment, for example. You’ll need to check whether it also specifies the locations where the EV service must take place.¹⁷

Is it cheaper to service an electric car than a petrol or diesel?

In many cases, it can be cheaper to service an EV, because there’s less to do compared to a petrol, diesel or hybrid vehicle.¹⁰ For example, none of the following is needed:

• Engine oil changes
• Cambelt changes
• Spark plugs

However, although EVs don’t need engine coolant, they do need battery coolant.⁶

Periodic transmission oil changes depend on the EV’s make and model – some electric cars have an oil-filled transmission that will need to be checked and topped up.¹⁰

Can I service an electric car myself?

While some basic maintenance may be possible yourself, servicing an electric car is generally not recommended due to the risks associated with high-voltage systems.¹⁸ Working on live high-voltage components, including their removal and replacement, requires proper training.¹⁹

It’s worth checking your manual to see what you can and can’t do. For example, Tesla warns against owners maintaining the battery themselves and recommends using the app to check the fluid level and then scheduling a service.⁶

In any case, a car service must comply with the manufacturer’s recommendations, so servicing it yourself could also put your warranty at risk.²⁰

Read our guide on car services for petrol and diesel vehicles.

Learn about Ageas car insurance for electric cars and get a quote.

FAQs 

It is a legal requirement to get an electric car serviced?

There is no legal requirement to get an electric car serviced, but you must have an MOT.

Is servicing a hybrid vehicle more expensive?

Servicing a hybrid vehicle may work out more expensive as it has both a combustion engine and an electric motor to maintain,²¹ so there are more components to be checked in the service. However, costs vary depending on the vehicle and service requirements

Do electric cars need an MOT?

Yes, electric cars required a valid MOT from their third year of registration - it's a legal requirement just as with any other car.²²

Sources

[1] https://www.smmt.co.uk/uk-new-car-market-breaches-two-million-as-almost-one-in-four-buyers-go-electric/

[2] https://www.whatcar.com/news/electric-car-servicing-are-local-garages-ready-for-evs/n26762

[3] https://podenergy.com/guides/how-does-regenerative-braking-work#heading4

[4] https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/service-repair/air-conditioning

[5] https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/electric-vehicles/electric-car-maintenance

[6] https://www.whatcar.com/news/ev-charging-cables-how-safe-are-aftermarket-leads/n26273

[7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drivetrain

[8] https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/owning-car/365445/what-does-car-service-include

[9] https://www.carsa.co.uk/blog/ev-battery-health-report

[10] https://www.whatcar.com/news/peugeot-to-offer-eight-year-warranties/n26518

[11] https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/kia/ev9#practicality

[12] https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-3/hatchback/used-review/n22340

[13] https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/used-review/n23492

[14] https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/should-i-use-main-dealer-or-independent-servicing/n27741

[15] https://www.whatcar.com/news/peugeot-to-offer-eight-year-warranties/n26518

[16] https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/guides/electric-cars/should-you-buy-an-ev-this-year/

[17] https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/new-car-deals/pcp-car-deals/

[18] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alternative-fuel-vehicles-guidance-for-mot-testers/hybrid-electric-and-hydrogen-fuel-cell-systems-guidance-for-mot-testers#training-and-more-information

[19] https://tide.theimi.org.uk/sites/default/files/2023-12/IMIEV03%20-%202024%20DRAFT%20v3.pdf

[20] https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/buying-and-selling-guides/new-car-warranty-do-i-have-to-get-my-car-serviced-at-the-dealership/

[21] https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/buying-car/363468/what-plug-hybrid-phev-technology-explained

[22] https://www.mot-check.com/blog/mot-rules-uk/