Sustainability is changing the way we live - and the way we insure what matters.

Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly common for both personal and commercial use. While they offer clear environmental and operational benefits, they also introduce new risks - particularly fire and electrical hazards during charging. Charging safety is now a key consideration for insurance, and some insurers may require compliance with specific safety standards.

EV Charging safety tips:

• Professional installation: Always have your EV charger installed by a qualified professional.
• Use approved equipment: Maintain charger cables and ensure they come from a specialist EV manufacturer. Avoid domestic charging or extension cables.
• Choose a safe location: Install your charger away from your house to reduce fire risk.
• Monitor charging: Keep the area clear, use smart alerts, and avoid leaving your vehicle charging for extended periods.

Insuring EVs can cost up to twice as much as petrol or diesel cars, with premiums rising by 50% in 2023/24.

Why? Specialist repairs, expensive batteries, and limited repair networks all play a role.

Before you buy insurance check your policy includes:

• Cover for the battery, charging cables, and charging points.
• EV-specific breakdown cover (e.g., mobile charging or recovery to a charging point).

Insurance for younger drivers can be particularly expensive. High-performance models like the Tesla Model S, which accelerates from 0–60 mph in just two seconds, often attract significantly higher premiums. If you’re considering an EV for a younger driver, look at models with lower acceleration rates to help manage costs.

Home contents policies may cover damage caused by a lithium battery fire, but following safety guidelines is essential to ensuring a valid claim. Safe charging practices are critical, especially when it comes to using chargers and adapters from reputable manufacturers. Fires often occur due to incompatible chargers or counterfeit batteries, so always choose approved equipment.

Solar panels, ground source heat pumps, and wind turbines are becoming increasingly common in homes. While these installations don’t typically increase risk, it’s important to check whether they’re covered under your household policy. In some cases, they may need to be specifically listed, or your building sum insured adjusted to reflect the cost of replacing them.

Many eco-friendly building materials and technologies can make a home non-standard, which affects how insurers assess risk and calculate premiums.

• Homes not built from brick or stone with a tile or slate roof are classed as non-standard. These properties are often considered higher risk because repairs can be more complex and costly.
• Insurers need full details of the construction from the outset to apply the correct premium and know how to respond if you need to make a claim.
• Accurate rebuild values are essential - many homes built with green materials are underinsured.

We work with several building surveyors and offer special rates for our clients to ensure your property is correctly valued and protected.