Tesla Service UK / Guides / Insurance
Tesla insurance in the UK explained
Why premiums run higher than a comparable petrol car, what actually drives the cost, and practical ways to bring it down.
Last fact-checked: . Insurance groups and premiums change as insurers reassess risk — always get a current quote for your exact variant rather than relying on a figure from this page.
The headline reason
Why does Tesla insurance cost more?
It's rarely one single factor. Most Tesla models sit in high insurance groups — typically 37-50, with the Model 3 Standard Range the cheapest to insure at around group 32. On top of the group rating, aluminium body panels, camera and sensor clusters used for driver assistance, and structural battery packs all make even a minor collision more expensive to put right than the same-looking damage on a conventional steel-bodied car. Insurers price that repair-cost risk directly into the premium, not just the car's performance or value.
Insurance groups
What insurance group is my Tesla actually in?
It depends on the exact model and variant, and groups are reassessed periodically as insurers gather more real-world claims data. As a general guide: the Model 3 Standard Range tends to sit lowest, around group 32; most other Model 3, Model Y and Model S/X variants fall between roughly 37 and 50, with performance variants at the top of that range. The Model Y in particular was reassessed downward in 2025, so current Model Y quotes are often noticeably cheaper than older group data would suggest. Don't rely on a figure you saw for a different year or trim — check your specific variant's current group directly.
Repairs & claims
Does it matter who repairs the car after a claim?
Often, yes. Most UK insurers steer claims toward their own approved repair network by default, and that network may or may not include an official Tesla-authorised body shop. If having genuine Tesla parts and Tesla-trained technicians on any bodywork or structural repair matters to you, ask your insurer explicitly, before you ever need to claim, whether you can choose your own repairer and whether an official centre is in their approved list.
See our full list of official Tesla Service Centers if you want to identify one near you in advance.
Security
Does keyless entry affect my premium?
Thatcham Research, the body UK insurers rely on for vehicle security assessments, has previously flagged relay-attack vulnerability in keyless entry systems — including Tesla's — as a factor that can influence security ratings and, indirectly, insurance group placement. Two practical, low-cost steps some owners take: a signal-blocking (Faraday) pouch for a key card or phone-as-key device when it's not in use, and enabling PIN-to-drive in the car's own security settings. Neither is guaranteed to move your specific quote, but both are sensible regardless.