'Electric cars are much cheaper to maintain' is one of those claims that gets repeated so often it has started to lose meaning. It is broadly true — but the devil is in the detail.

Electric motors have fewer moving parts than petrol engines. That genuinely does reduce servicing costs. But EVs introduce their own maintenance requirements — battery management, high-voltage safety checks, faster tyre wear — and repair costs when things do go wrong can be significant.

Here is what UK EV owners actually pay, based on established models where long-term cost data now exists.

What an annual EV service actually covers

With no engine oil to change and no exhaust to inspect, the annual service schedule for an electric car looks very different from a petrol equivalent.

A typical EV annual service includes:

• Brake fluid check and replacement (every two years)
• Cabin air filter replacement (every 1–2 years)
• Coolant system inspection (batteries and motors have their own cooling circuits)
• Tyre inspection, rotation, and alignment check
• High-voltage system safety inspection
• Software update check
• General safety and brake inspection

What it does not include: engine oil and filter, spark plugs, air filter, fuel filter, timing belt or chain, exhaust system, or clutch. For a petrol car, several of these items add meaningfully to annual service costs.

At a franchised dealer, expect to pay £120–200 for a standard annual EV service. At an independent EV specialist — a growing network across the UK — prices typically run £80–150. Neither figure should represent a nasty surprise.

Real costs by model: where the data exists

Nissan Leaf (Mk2, 2018–present)

The Leaf has been on UK roads long enough for genuine long-term servicing data to accumulate. Owners consistently report annual service costs of £100–160 at Nissan dealers. The most common unplanned cost is tyre replacement — the Leaf's instant torque delivery and 1,600kg kerb weight chews through front tyres, with many owners replacing the front axle every 18–25,000 miles rather than the 30,000–40,000 miles typical of a petrol car.

Tesla Model 3 and Model Y

Tesla recommends service visits approximately every 12 months or 12,000 miles. Typical annual service costs run £150–250 at a Tesla Service Centre. Tyre wear is a widely reported concern — the Model Y in particular, with its heavier AWD variants, can see rear tyres worn within 15,000–20,000 miles on spirited driving. Tesla's mobile service team handles many minor jobs remotely, which is a genuine convenience advantage.

Hyundai IONIQ 5

Hyundai's service intervals for the IONIQ 5 run to every 12 months or 20,000 miles — longer than many petrol equivalents. Annual service costs at Hyundai dealers run £140–195. The IONIQ 5's brake pads have demonstrated impressive longevity, with many owners reporting 50,000–60,000 miles from the original set thanks to regenerative braking handling most deceleration.

The tyre problem: budgeting for faster wear

This is the maintenance cost that catches most new EV owners off guard. Electric cars are heavier than petrol equivalents — the IONIQ 5 weighs around 1,985kg versus the Kia Sportage petrol's 1,490kg — and that weight, combined with instant torque delivery, accelerates tyre wear.

Most EVs also require EV-specific tyres with reinforced sidewalls designed to handle the additional load. These tyres typically cost 10–20% more than standard equivalents.

Budget for:

• Front tyres: replacement every 20,000–28,000 miles (versus 30,000–40,000 for petrol)
• Rear tyres: replacement every 18,000–25,000 miles on RWD or AWD variants with performance-oriented driving
• A set of four mid-range EV tyres for a family SUV: £500–800 fitted

Regular tyre rotation — swapping front and rear — can meaningfully extend tyre life on EVs and is worth doing every 6,000–10,000 miles.

What does not need replacing — and what does

Costs you avoid entirely with an EV:

• Engine oil and filter changes (£80–150 per year)
• Spark plug replacement (£80–150 every 30,000–60,000 miles)
• Timing belt replacement (£400–700 every 60,000–100,000 miles)
• Exhaust system repairs (varies, £200–600+)
• Turbocharger maintenance or replacement (varies)
• Clutch replacement on manual petrol cars (£500–900)

Costs that remain or are specific to EVs:

• Tyre replacement (more frequent than petrol)
• Brake fluid (every two years, £60–80)
• Coolant (battery and motor cooling circuits, every 5 years approximately)
• Cabin air filter (£20–40 annually)
• Wiper blades, screenwash, light bulbs — same as any car
• 12V auxiliary battery replacement (£100–200, typically needed every 4–6 years)

The 12V auxiliary battery is worth mentioning specifically. Every EV still carries a small 12V battery to run lights, infotainment, and low-voltage systems. This needs replacing on a similar schedule to a petrol car's battery — and failing to do so is a common cause of EV breakdowns.

Maintenance costs vs petrol: the three-year summary

Over a typical three-year ownership period covering 30,000 miles, here is how maintenance costs stack up for a mid-range EV versus a comparable petrol family SUV.

Electric car (e.g. Hyundai IONIQ 5):

• Annual servicing x3: £420–600
• Tyre replacements: £500–800
• Brake fluid: £60–80
• Miscellaneous (cabin filter, 12V battery): £100–150
• Total: approximately £1,080–1,630

Petrol SUV (e.g. Kia Sportage 1.6 GDi):

• Annual servicing x3: £750–1,050
• Tyre replacements: £400–600
• Spark plugs: £80–120
• Miscellaneous (air filter, brake fluid, belts): £150–250
• Total: approximately £1,380–2,020

The electric car is cheaper to maintain over three years by roughly £300–£500. Significant, but not transformative. The bigger savings come from fuel costs, not maintenance.

For the full running cost picture, see our guide to whether it is cheaper to run an electric car than a petrol car, or the complete true cost comparison of electric SUV vs petrol ownership.