Ford e-Tourneo Courier tops cheapest-insurance list for ECG-qualified EVs, MoneySuperMarket finds

A MoneySuperMarket analysis of 24 new electric vehicles that qualify for Labour's Electric Car Grant shows wide variation in insurance costs. The Ford e-Tourneo Courier five-seat van-like EV has the lowest average insurance cost, at £309.62 per year, and also benefits from the full Band 1 ECG grant (£3,750), reducing its on-the-road price to £29,940.

The next cheapest to insure is the Peugeot e-Rifter at £337.34, with an OTR price of £30,850 after the ECG. The study highlights that the grant can make a strong difference to immediate cost, but insurance costs continue to shape long-run running expenses for buyers.

Beyond the top two, several hatchbacks rank lower in insurance than expected, while several people-carrier and van-like models sit in the cheaper half of the list. The Peugeot e-208, normally cited as a compact city car, is the most expensive EV on the ECG-insured list, with an average insurance cost of £826.76 per year even after the grant. Its on-the-road price with ECG can still be around £30,150, but the insurance burden stands out against other family-focused models.

Other low-cost insured options include the Vauxhall Mokka Electric at £418.93, the Peugeot e-2008 at £440, and the Citroen e-C3 at £450.45. The Mokka sits among the cheaper hatchback-type EVs, while the e-C3 represents a budget-friendly option with a practical range.

The mid-pack also includes the Renault Scenic e-Tech at £485.65 and the Citroen e-Berlingo at £478.18, both positioned as family-friendly EVs that balance space with insurance costs. The list shows that larger family-focused models can sometimes be cheaper to insure than small hatchbacks, particularly when they qualify for ECG Band 2.

The top 10 on MoneySuperMarket's ranking continues with the Vauxhall Corsa Electric at £486.97, the Peugeot e-2008 and the Ford Puma Gen-E, and moves into the £500s and beyond as you move toward more spacious cars. The Ford Puma Gen-E, for example, remains one of the few EVs at sub‑£30,000 after the £3,750 Band 1 grant, but still carries an average premium of £502.74.

Rounding out the upper half of the list, the Vauxhall Grandland Electric is £533.52 to insure, and the Cupra Born sits at £544.51. The Peugeot e-308, starting around £34,960 after the grant, costs about £544.63 to insure on average, with several other family-oriented models falling in a similar band.

Unsurprisingly, some smaller hatchbacks that buyers often associate with affordability prove more costly to insure. The Vauxhall Corsa and the Citroen e-C3 offer affordable sticker prices after ECG, but their insurance bills can still sit in the £450–£500 range for many trims. A few near-top values creep above £600, and even the best‑performing electric MPVs in the ECG program do not escape the trend toward insurance costs that outpace expectations.

The MoneySuperMarket study estimates the average EV insured cost at about £741 per year, underscoring that the on-the-road price cut from ECGs is only part of the running-cost picture. Insurance, maintenance, and charging dominate lifetime costs for many buyers, and the findings suggest that consumers should weigh insurance costs alongside grant benefits when choosing an EV.

Labour’s ECG program, which includes Band 2 discounts of £1,500 and Band 1 discounts up to £3,750 in certain cases, aims to accelerate uptake of plug-in vehicles. The insurance data, drawn from the MoneySuperMarket comparison and the ECG-adjusted list of 24 models, illustrates how the grant interacts with vehicle type to shape affordability over the life of the car.

In the climate and energy policy context, the analysis adds nuance to the conversation about EV ownership costs. Government incentives reduce upfront prices, but insurance is a major factor in cost of ownership, particularly for families seeking space and practicality. The overall takeaway for buyers is that long-running costs matter as much as the upfront grants when considering an electric car.