Fiat 500 electric running costs & insurance
Zero tailpipe emissions and low insurance ratings make the electric Fiat 500 an incredibly cheap car to run – for private buyers and company-car drivers alike
| Insurance group | Warranty | Service interval | Annual company-car tax cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15-21 | 3yrs/unlimited miles | 1yr/9,000 miles | From £113/£225 |
It doesn’t matter if you’re a private buyer or a company-car driver: few models will be as cheap to run as the electric Fiat 500. It's not as cheap to buy outright as it once was, but the strong standard equipment list makes it an attractive proposition.
Those who can choose a 500 on their company-car scheme could save thousands of pounds in Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) company-car tax versus a comparable petrol supermini, while the ability to charge up at home overnight will see your fuel bills plummet.
Fiat 500 insurance group
The currently unavailable entry-level Action version of electric 500 hatchback is rated in group 15 for insurance, with the more expensive trim levels sitting in groups 16 and 17. The fabric-roof Cabrio, meanwhile, is in groups 19 to 21. In comparison, the Honda e – another style-conscious, city-focused electric car – lands in the much higher 25-29 insurance groups.
Warranty
The electric Fiat 500, like most models in the manufacturer’s range, comes with a three-year/unlimited-mileage warranty. This is par for the course in this area of the market; it's matched by both the Honda e and MINI Electric's guarantees. Fiat also covers the 500’s battery for eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes sooner.
Servicing
If you buy a Fiat 500 electric, the manufacturer recommends it'll need servicing every 9,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes soonest. Given this is primarily designed as a city car, this won't be an issue for most buyers, though if you cover higher mileage, the relatively short intervals may prove frustrating. Still, with fewer moving parts than its petrol equivalent, we don't expect maintenance to be too troublesome. Regardless, the 500e is covered by a comprehensive warranty.
Road tax
As an electric car, the Fiat 500 is zero-rated for vehicle excise duty (VED, commonly known as road tax) until 2025 and will escape the London Congestion Charge until 2025, too. As noted above, its zero-emissions status makes it an incredibly affordable company car as well.
