Hybrid
Car Insurance

Whatever type of car you drive, you’re required to take out compulsory third party (CTP) insurance. Separate to these optional types of insurance, it covers injury or death to other people if you cause an accident. It doesn’t cover damage to any vehicle or property, including your own car.

What should you consider when insuring a hybrid?

Hybrid vehicles have specific components and may require specialised repairs, so there are a few extra things worth checking when comparing policies. While owners can choose any level of cover, many opt for comprehensive car insurance for broader protection and support.

Features to look for include:

• Battery cover: higher-level policies will usually cover battery damage following an insured event such as an accident, fire or severe weather (though wear, deterioration and mechanical or electrical failure are generally treated differently).
• Choice of repairer: not all repairers have experience with hybrid-specific components, so having the option to choose a specialist you trust can be useful.
• Agreed value cover: hybrids often have a higher price tag than equivalent petrol models. Choosing to insure a car for an agreed value rather than market value means you can agree the amount you’ll receive if your car is written off at the start of your policy, offering more certainty.
• New car replacement: if your hybrid is written off within a certain period or under certain conditions, some comprehensive policies will replace it with a brand-new vehicle of the same make and model.
• Specialised equipment: depending on your insurer, certain hybrid-specific components or accessories may be included under your policy.

Does car insurance cover charging equipment for PHEVs? 

Many comprehensive car insurance policies include cover for portable charging equipment used with plug-in hybrid vehicles if they’re lost, stolen or damaged as part of an insured event.

However, it’s important to note that some of this equipment, especially home charging stations, might fall under your home insurance policy rather than your car insurance, so you should check with your provider to understand exactly what’s included.

How much does it cost to insure a hybrid car?

Hybrid insurance costs can vary considerably depending on the type of vehicle being insured. To show the difference, we compared quotes for 2026 models of four popular hybrids.

Toyota RAV4 GXL

Medium SUV

Comprehensive	Average	TPPD	Average
$3,407 – $4,118	$3,769	$1,130 – $1,480	$1,262

$3,407 – $4,118

$3,769

$1,130 – $1,480

$1,262

Hyundai Kona Hybrid

Small SUV

Comprehensive	Average	TPPD	Average
$2,376 – $3,400	$3,003	$1,093 – $1,138	$1,115

$2,376 – $3,400

$3,003

$1,093 – $1,138

$1,115

Toyota Camry Ascent

Sedan

Comprehensive	Average	TPPD	Average
$3,079 – $4,347	$3,868	$1,518 – $1,586	$1,559

$3,079 – $4,347

$3,868

$1,518 – $1,586

$1,559

BYD Shark 6

Ute

Comprehensive	Average	TPPD	Average
$3,595 – $3,982	$3,788	$1,621 – $1,621	$1,621

$3,595 – $3,982

$3,788

$1,621 – $1,621

$1,621

Source: Compare the Market, October 2026.
Quotes are based on a 35-year-old male driver living in Sydney with no previous claims, driving 15,000km annually, with a $600 standard excess. Figures are for illustrative purposes only. Actual premiums will vary depending on your personal circumstances, vehicle, insurer and level of cover. Additional excesses and policy conditions may apply.

The actual premium you pay will depend on more than the car itself. Insurers will also consider a range of other factors, including your age, driving history, postcode, where the vehicle is kept, how often it’s driven, your excess and whether the car is used privately or for business.

Are hybrid cars more expensive to insure than petrol vehicles?

Hybrids can cost more on average to insure than petrol cars, with CHOICE research finding hybrids were around 10% to 20% more expensive to insure than petrol cars of the same age.

However, that isn’t always the case. While there isn’t always a perfect like-for-like match between petrol and hybrid variants, some models are available with both powertrains and can give a useful indication of the difference.

As an example, we compared quotes for a Hyundai Kona Hybrid with a petrol-powered Kona Elite using the same driver profile, location, excess and other quote details.

In this example, there was almost no difference in the average premium. Comprehensive cover differed by just $6 a year, while the average TPPD premium differed by only $2.

However, keep in mind that this is only one model comparison, and not all hybrids will cost the same as similar petrol vehicles to insure.

Are hybrids more expensive to insure than electric vehicles?

No, fully electric vehicles are typically more expensive to insure than hybrid equivalents.

Again, while there isn’t a perfect like-for-like match between hybrid and electric variants, some models are available with both powertrains and can give a useful indication of the difference.

As an example, we compared quotes for a Hyundai Kona Hybrid with a Hyundai Kona Electric using the same driver profile, location, excess and other quote details.

In this example, the average comprehensive premium for the electric Kona was about 24% higher than the hybrid, while TPPD was around 22% higher.

Part of this may come down to higher repair costs for EVs. Fully electric cars use much larger battery packs and can require specialist technicians, equipment and repair processes, while parts availability can add to both repair times and costs.

Hybrids still have specialised electrical components, but their smaller batteries and greater overlap with conventional petrol vehicles can make repairs less complex and help keep premiums lower than fully electric equivalents.