Lower sticker prices for Chinese electric cars can be partly erased at the insurance desk in Germany. A Verivox model comparison reported by Der Spiegel found that comprehensive cover for most of the Chinese EVs examined was almost twice as expensive as for comparable new cars from Europe, the United States, Japan and South Korea. The annual gap reached as much as EUR870, depending on the model.
That makes insurance more than a footnote in the price war over electric cars. A low purchase price does not settle what a vehicle will cost over several years. Buyers who compare EVs only by their list prices can miss a recurring expense large enough to narrow part of the initial saving.
The comparison should not be turned into a blanket claim that Chinese cars are inherently riskier or harder to repair. Verivox attributed the higher insurance classifications, according to the report, largely to limited experience. Many of the manufacturers and models have only been in Germany for a few years, leaving insurers with less evidence on claims frequency, repair costs, parts prices and availability. Cautious pricing then becomes a cost for buyers.
The result also does not describe every driver’s premium. It was calculated for a hypothetical 45-year-old driver in Berlin, with no-claims class 15 and annual mileage of 12,000 kilometres. Individual quotes vary with the car, location, mileage and no-claims history.
Nor is the gap necessarily permanent. The report says Chinese cars have improved by an average of 1.5 insurance classes since 2024, while some individual models already cost less to insure than comparable established vehicles. The useful conclusion is not to rule out Chinese EVs. It is to put the insurance quote next to the purchase price before signing: only then does the cost comparison become meaningful.
Sources
- Der Spiegel · Source date: 2026-11-13
Independent editorial content. WUA is not affiliated with any political party. 2026-11-13