We do the hard work for you, comparing deals from the biggest providers in the UK so you can get the right cover.
A hybrid car uses two power sources:
A conventional petrol or diesel engine
An electric motor and battery
Combining these reduces the car’s fuel consumption and its CO2 emissions so a hybrid car can be a more environmentally-friendly choice and potentially save you money compared to a petrol or diesel car.
You can take out standard car insurance for a hybrid car and it could work out cheaper to insure than a full electric car.
In general, hybrid cars save money and reduce emission by using both the motor and battery depending on the driving conditions.
For example, when you set off at slow speed you may use electric power only in a full hybrid or PHEV. And when braking or lifting off the accelerator you will benefit from regenerative braking, which recharges the battery.
If you have a PHEV you have the added advantage of being able to plug the car in to recharge it and when you do motorway driving you may be able to run on electric only.
Once the electric power is used up the car will switch to using the petrol or diesel engine alone.
No, hybrid cars can be more expensive to insure than petrol or diesel cars because of the cost of spare parts, and the need for specialist repair work. However, you’re likely to find prices are more competitive than EVs as hybrids are more common. The price you pay to insure your hybrid car will also depend on:
What make and model of hybrid you choose and which car insurance group it falls into. For example, a hybrid car from a premium brand like Mercedes-Benz will have a higher value and therefore be more expensive to insure than a hybrid car from a volume manufacturer like Toyota.
The type of hybrid. A PHEV is more expensive to insure than a mild hybrid due to its bigger battery, which increases the car’s value
Personal factors such as your age, postcode, job title and driving history
The best way to find cheap hybrid car insurance is to shop around and compare a range of quotes.
While hybrid cars offer a range of advantages, there are a few disadvantages of owning a hybrid car you may want to consider before making the switch.
Lower emissions than conventional fuel powered cars
No need to charge a full hybrid or mild hybrid but you should regularly charge a PHEV to get the full benefit
No range anxiety - if your PHEV runs out of electric power the engine will kick in
Reduced fuel costs if you can use electric power alone for short journeys and do urban journeys with more opportunities for regenerative braking
Company car tax savings, depending on the car’s CO2 emissions and electric-only range
Compliance with some UK clean air zones, low emission zones and the London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), depending on the age of your hybrid car
Quiet to use when in electric-only mode
Not as eco-friendly as electrics cars
Can be more expensive to buy than conventional petrol and diesel cars
A fully electric car will save you more in company car tax
Maintenance costs can be higher than conventional petrol and diesel cars
Depending on how you drive, your fuel efficiency can be reduced, therefore a hybrid car may be a more costly option for you
You need to regularly plug in a PHEV or fuel economy may be poor
Boot space can be smaller in PHEVs than conventional cars due to the larger battery
Safety considerations in accidents due to high voltage batteries
Can be more expensive to insure than conventional petrol and diesel cars
There are three main types of hybrid cars to choose from:
The most common type of hybrid
Also known as a self-charging hybrid
Uses regenerative braking to charge the battery; you don’t plug the car into a socket to charge it
You can run the car on battery power alone but only for very short distances and at low speed
Good option if you do a lot of stop-start city driving where you’ll get the full benefit of regenerative braking
Has a smaller battery and electric motor compared to other hybrids so it cannot drive on electric power alone
The electric motor is there to assist the engine and improve efficiency
Like a full hybrid, it relies on regenerative braking; you don’t plug the car in to charge
Usually the cheapest type of hybrid so could be the cheapest option insurance-wise
Like a full hybrid, it works well for urban driving
Also known as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle or PHEV for short
Similar to a fully electric car as you plug the car in to a socket - either a standard three-pin socket, home charger or public charger - to charge the battery
Has a larger battery, enabling you to drive longer distances and at higher speeds on purely electric power compared to a full hybrid
Can be more expensive than full and mild hybrids so you may find that it costs more to insure
Could cost you more in fuel if you don’t charge the car due to the extra battery weight
Three levels of cover are available for hybrid car insurance:
Fully comprehensive car insurance: You’ll be protected against damage, repairs, medical expenses, fire damage, and theft. As well as damage to someone else, their car or property.
Third-party, fire and theft policies: Offer cover for other people, their vehicles, and their property, as well as protection for your own car if it were to get stolen, or if it’s damaged by fire.
Third-party only car insurance: Covers injuries to other people, and damage to their vehicles and property. Minimum legal requirement. Usually the most expensive policy.
Bear in mind that even if you have comprehensive insurance for your hybrid car, it won’t cover a faulty car battery or general wear and tear, but only battery damage during an accident. For other battery issues you’ll need to check your car warranty. Most manufacturers provide a battery warranty for five to 10 years.
Sara Newell Motor & Home Insurance Expert
MoneySuperMarket has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award, an independent seal of excellence, which recognises businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.
The car’s registration number if you know it. If not, the make and model is fine. We’ll also need the car’s age and any car modifications
Social, commuting or business, and how many miles you’ll do in a year. You’ll also need to say where you’ll keep the car at night for security
We’ll also need some personal info like your job, age and address – the same for any additional drivers you have
Any accidents, insurance claims and driving convictions from the past five years, and details of your no-claims discount, if you have one
Save up to £514
Buy through us and get up to £15
All the insurers we work with are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
We're also the UK's most recommended price comparison website
The main differences between hybrid and electric cars are:” and then put the four lines as bullet points
Power source: Hybrid cars use petrol or diesel as well as an electric battery whereas an electric vehicle (EV) only runs on electricity
Charging: An electric car needs to be recharged by plugging it in to a socket. Full hybrids and mild hybrids can’t be plugged in and use regenerative braking to recharge the battery. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) can be plugged in but can run on only petrol or diesel if its battery is depleted
Emissions: Electric cars have zero tailpipe emissions. Hybrids still produce some emissions although they’re more environmentally-friendly than conventional petrol and diesel cars
Insurance: Electric cars can be more expensive to insure than hybrids
No, hybrid car drivers need to pay road tax (also known as vehicle excise duty or VED).
The amount of road tax you pay will depend on when your hybrid car was first registered: If it was:
Before 1 April 2017: The rate will depend on your car’s CO2 emissions
On or after 1 April 2017: You will pay the standard rate (£195)
If your hybrid car had a list price of more than £40,000 when new, you will also have to pay additional premium rate road tax (known as the expensive car supplement) for five years from year two. From April 2028, a mileage-based charge (called eVED) will also apply.
This typically depends on the way you drive. If you tend to do shorter journeys, your hybrid car will rely mostly on electric power, which in turn will save you money on fuel costs. Even more so if you drive a plug-in and have a charger at home.
However electric batteries don’t last forever, and hybrid cars often have poor fuel efficiency when they do run out. If you do tend to make longer journeys, a hybrid could potentially be more expensive.
Most standard providers will offer you hybrid car insurance. You don’t need specialist insurance for your hybrid car.
Yes, by 2035 all new cars on sale in the UK will need to be fully zero emission, which means you won’t be able to buy a new full hybrid or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).
However, this is five years later than the ban on the sale of new conventional petrol and diesel cars, which takes effect in 2030.
Remember, you will still be able to buy a used hybrid car.
At MoneySuperMarket, we want to give you clear, accurate and trustworthy information so you can make confident financial decisions for your circumstances.
Every page on our website goes through a careful editorial process before it is published. It’s written or reviewed by one of our experienced experts, checked for accuracy, and updated regularly to reflect the latest information.
We do use AI tools to support our research and drafting, but a human editor is always in the loop to review, fact-check and approve everything before it’s published, so you can trust that what you’re reading is both reliable and up to date.
You can read more in our editorial guidelines.
We get paid by the companies we work with, but the payment we get doesn’t have any bearing on the information we provide. We get paid in different ways, depending on the type of product or service you buy through us. Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible, but we only show results from our partner providers.
Our comparison service is, and will always be, free to use.
One of the best ways to get the lowest prices and best deals is to compare quotes from different companies. We do the work for you, comparing quotes side-by-side and giving you all the information you need so you can choose the right deal for your needs and your wallet.
We don’t give recommendations or financial advice, but we give you clear information so you can choose financial products that suit your circumstances.
No, not every company can be included in our service. This is because some companies don’t want their products included on comparison sites, and some decide that they would rather not pay a fee. There are also a few smaller providers who can struggle to cope with the volume of customers that can find their products if they appear on MoneySuperMarket.
Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible so that you can choose the deal that suits you.
Yes, you can earn SuperSaveClub rewards when you buy car insurance through MoneySuperMarket.
This includes:
Up to £15, which you can withdraw as a pre-paid Mastercard or a gift card for brands like Sainsbury's and Amazon.co.uk
Free Days Out pass (worth £180), which gives free entry to a range of UK attractions
Cashback of up to 10% when you spend at brands including eBay, Just Eat and Argos
To earn SuperSaveClub rewards on purchases you must:
Sign up to SuperSaveClub (it's free)
Be signed in to your account when you make the purchase
More information can be found on our SuperSaveClub homepage.
Yes, car insurance is included in our Super Save Price Promise.
If you buy through us then find the same deal for less we will:
refund the difference
give you a gift card worth up to £20
Terms and conditions apply. More information can be found on our Price Promise page.
Reviewed on 19 Jan 2026 by
Accurate as of 19 January 2026.
