Mercedes EQA costs, insurance, warranty & tax
Aside from its lofty insurance-group rating, the Mercedes EQA should be a very cheap car to run
| Insurance group | Warranty | Service interval | 2021/22 company-car tax cost (20%/40%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42-48 | 3yrs / unlimited miles | 1yr / 15,000 miles | From £81 / £162 |
Most people buy an electric car to ease their environmental conscience, but it goes without saying that there are cost savings, too. Road tax and company-car liability are the obvious ones – like all electric cars, the EQA is exempt from vehicle excise duty (VED) and falls into the very lowest bracket for Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax.
When it comes to running costs, then, EQA is competitive in all areas apart from one: insurance. As it's a brand-new, well equipped and technically advanced model with a Mercedes badge on the bonnet, you’ll pay through the nose to insure one. Be sure to get some quotes before signing on the dotted line; if you live in a high-risk area or have points on your licence, these costs could negate any savings you make elsewhere.
Mercedes EQA insurance group
The painful reality is that, for the time being at least, some electric cars have higher insurance-group ratings than their petrol or diesel equivalents. This is likely down to the relatively new technology and the fact that fewer technicians are currently qualified to work on them should you have an accident or something go wrong.
These higher insurance costs plague the EQA in particular, with even the entry-level EQA 250 Sport model sitting in group 42 out of 50. That said, you won’t pay much more to insure the top-spec EQA 250 AMG Line Premium Plus, which is only two groups higher (44) than the basic version.
The more powerful EQA 300 and EQA 350 drivetrains increase the insurance rating as high as 48 depending on trim level, so covering these will be more expensive still.
Warranty
Like all Mercedes models, the EQA gets a three-year/unlimited-mileage warranty. That’s competitive in this area of the market, although Kia and Hyundai (among others) offer much longer guarantees if you’re prepared to sacrifice the EQA’s premium badge. In addition to the standard manufacturer warranty, the battery is covered for eight years or 100,000 miles. This is the industry standard and on par with rivals.
Servicing
Mercedes says you need to service the EQA every year or 15,000 miles, whichever comes first. But as is the case with many new cars, you’ll get a message alert on the dashboard (or via the Mercedes Me smartphone app) reminding you before the service is due.
Road tax
Like all electric cars, the Mercedes EQA is exempt from conventional road tax (VED), and escapes any fees for low-emission zones and the London Congestion Charge (the latter until 2025). While company-car drivers can no longer avoid Benefit-in-Kind tax completely, electric cars such as the EQA are subject to a 1% charge in the 2021/22 tax year, resulting in a payment of as little as £162 a year for higher-rate earners.
