Accident management industry urged to offer EV replacement guarantee

Motor Assist is calling for the accident aftercare industry to implement an electric vehicle (EV) replacement guarantee, enabling drivers to remain in an EV if they require a temporary replacement.

The new standard would require insurers and accident management providers to supply an EV replacement while a customer’s electric car is off the road following a non-fault accident.

Motor Assist has offered an EV-for-EV guarantee for three years, so that drivers don’t have to step back into a petrol or diesel car following an incident.

Scott Hamilton-Cooper, chief commercial officer at AX, said: "We were the first to introduce an EV-for-EV guarantee and after its successful implementation three years' ago, we have raised the bar again with EValuate, our EV for ICE test drive initiative.

“The feedback we've received and the research we have conducted shows that customers, both drivers and fleet managers, want this commitment to be more widespread.

“Anything that can help to positively impact the UK’s transition from fossil fuel powered cars to zero emission vehicles is a welcome step. Our industry can make a significant contribution to supporting sustainable mobility.”

The proposal has the support of 88% of electric car drivers who, when surveyed by Motor Assist, said they strongly or somewhat agree that they should be entitled to an equivalent electric vehicle.

In the UK, drivers are entitled to an equivalent replacement vehicle if they are involved in an accident that is not their fault, but this does not require accident aftercare companies or insurers to provide a vehicle with the same powertrain.

Motor Assist says an industry-wide guarantee will benefit drivers and the sector’s commercial partners, while demonstrating a commitment to sustainable mobility in the lead up to the ban on the sale of new ICE cars.

Since the beginning of 2023, AX and Motor Assist have provided nearly three thousand electric vehicle loan cars to EV drivers who have been involved in an accident.