BMW i4 review: running costs & insurance
The savings really stack up here, with i4 owners enjoying zero road tax, very low company-car tax, reasonable insurance ratings, strong residuals and affordable servicing
| Insurance group | Warranty | Service interval | Annual company-car tax cost (20%/40%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-43 | 3yrs/unlimited miles | 2yrs/20,000 miles | From £225/£449 |
BMWs have never been cheap cars to buy and that’s certainly the case for its electric models – but the i4 will be cheap to run. Its insurance ratings are about the same as for a similarly powerful petrol BMW, there’s no road tax (VED) to pay until 2025 and company-car Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) bills will be a fraction of what they would be for a diesel or petrol-engined equivalent. Servicing is also cheaper and less frequent than for a combustion-engined BMW.
BMW i4 insurance group
Insurance ratings for the new entry-level i4 eDrive35 haven’t been confirmed yet, but we expect it’ll sit just below the eDrive40 model which attracts a rating of group 35-36 depending on the specification you go for. That’s actually not too bad when you consider that the equivalent (but less powerful) petrol-engined 430i Gran Coupe starts in group 34. The big jump up to group 43 for the i4 M50 is reflective of that model’s significantly higher power output.
Warranty
Like all new BMWs sold in the UK, the i4 is covered by a three-year manufacturer warranty, with no mileage limit during that time. BMW’s ‘i’ electric-car warranty also includes BMW Mobile Care and protection for the car’s high-voltage battery for up to eight years or 100,000 miles.
Servicing
As with all electric cars, BMW i4 servicing will be pleasingly affordable. The car only needs attention every two years or 20,000 miles, whichever comes first. BMW offers inclusive service plans for the i4 that start from £460 and include all service and maintenance work that you might need.
Road tax
Like all electric cars, the BMW i4 is zero-rated for road tax (VED) until 2025 and will remain exempt from the London Congestion Charge until 2025 too.
Depreciation
According to February 2022 data from CDL Vehicle Information Services (CDL VIS), the i4 eDrive40 is projected to retain nearly 58% of its list price after three years or 36,000 miles on the road. An above-average figure like this is typical of BMWs and should translate to affordable monthly finance payments.
