Do electric cars need servicing? What to expect from EV maintenance
Oct 14, 2026
12 min read
Do electric cars need servicing? Yes, they do. But without an engine, there's a lot less to look after than in a petrol or diesel car, so many of the usual garage jobs disappear.
If your current car seems to find a new way to fail its MOT and land you with an eye-watering bill every year, that should come as a relief. Here's what an electric car service checks, how often you'll need one, how electric cars get on in their MOT, and who pays for it all when you lease.
The short version
- Electric cars still need servicing, usually every one or two years depending on the manufacturer, but there's no oil, spark plugs, cambelt, clutch or exhaust to look after.
- They need an MOT from three years old, just like a petrol or diesel car.
- Based on MOT data, high-mileage electric cars failed less often than petrol cars of the same age and mileage.
- Tyres can wear faster on electric cars, because they’re heavier.
- Your servicing, maintenance, repairs, MOTs and road tax are all included in your monthly payment when you lease with Octopus EV.
Do electric cars need servicing?
Yes. An electric car needs regular servicing to stay safe, keep its warranty valid and hold its value. The difference is that there's less to service. A petrol engine has lots of moving parts that wear out. An electric motor has very few.
Does having no oil to change, mean no service? Not quite. Plenty of parts are the same on any car, and they still need checking.
What you can forget about: engine oil and oil filters, spark plugs, the cambelt, the clutch and the exhaust.
What still needs looking after: brakes, tyres, suspension, coolant, the cabin air filter, wipers, the small 12V battery that runs the lights and screens, and the main battery, along with the high-voltage cables that carry its power.
What does an electric car service check?
An electric car service checks the battery and electrical system, then covers the same safety basics as any car: brakes, tyres, suspension, lights and wipers.
| Part | What gets checked | How it compares with a petrol car |
|---|---|---|
Main battery and high-voltage system | Battery health, fault codes, and the cables and connectors for damage or wear | Takes the place of engine checks |
Coolant | The level in the system that keeps the battery at the right temperature | Similar, but it cools the battery rather than an engine |
Brakes and brake fluid | Pads, discs and fluid | Pads and discs usually wear more slowly, but they can rust if they're rarely used |
Tyres | Tread depth, pressure and condition | Tend to wear faster, because electric cars are heavier |
Suspension | Springs, shock absorbers and joints | Same checks |
12V battery | Charge and condition | Same job as in a petrol car: it powers the lights, locks and screens |
Cabin air filter, wipers and lights | Replaced or topped up as needed | Same checks |
Software | Any updates the car needs | Updates can change how an electric car runs, so they matter more |
How often should an electric car be serviced?
It depends on the manufacturer. Some ask for a service every year, others every two years, and some add a mileage limit too. The best place to find your car's schedule is the handbook. Check yours so you don’t get caught out.
It's worth sticking to it. Missing a service can affect your manufacturer warranty, including the battery warranty. A full service history also helps when you come to sell the car or hand it back.
Do electric cars need an MOT?
Yes. Electric cars need an MOT by the third anniversary of their registration, then every year after that, just like petrol and diesel cars. The test covers the same safety checks, including brakes, tyres, suspension, steering and lights. As there's no exhaust, there are no emissions to test.
An MOT and a service aren't the same thing. The MOT is a legal check that the car is safe to drive on the day. A service is maintenance that keeps it that way. So do electric cars need servicing if they pass their MOT? Yes, they do. Many drivers book both together to save a trip.
Are high-mileage electric cars reliable?
The latest MOT data says they hold up well. A study of 47.4 million MOT tests, reported by the Guardian in September 2026, compared electric and petrol cars of the same age and mileage. The research was carried out by New AutoMotive for the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), the trade body for leasing companies.
At lower mileages, there's very little in it. Between 20,000 and 40,000 miles, 12.0% of electric cars failed their MOT, compared with 11.7% of petrol cars, according to the full BVRLA report.
From about 60,000 miles, the failure rate for electric cars levels off at 16%, while the rate for petrol cars keeps climbing. Among cars three to eight years old with 90,000 to 120,000 miles on the clock, 16.5% of electric cars failed, compared with 22.1% of petrol cars. That makes the electric cars about 25% less likely to fail. Above 120,000 miles, it was 16.0% for electric cars and 23.5% for petrol.
Where electric cars do better, and where they don't
The report also broke the results down by part. A few findings stand out for anyone looking after an electric car:
- Tyres are the weak spot. Electric cars had about 1.8 times as many tyre defects as petrol cars.
- Suspension held up better. Between 60,000 and 90,000 miles, electric cars had 4.7 suspension defects per 100 tests, compared with 6.1 for petrol cars.
- Brakes are a mixed picture. High-mileage electric cars had far fewer brake problems. But older electric cars that hadn't done many miles had more, caused by rust. That's because electric cars mostly slow down using the motor, which also tops up the battery (known as regenerative braking). The brakes themselves get used less, so rust can build up.
One thing to bear in mind: the MOT doesn't test battery health. So a clean MOT tells you the car is roadworthy, not how much charge its battery can still hold. A car's service history still matters. We lease approved used cars too, and our guide to used electric car leasing explains how it works.
Are electric cars cheaper to maintain?
Generally, yes, when it comes to routine servicing. With no engine, there are fewer parts to wear out or replace. Brake pads also tend to last longer, thanks to regenerative braking. Tyres are the exception. Electric cars are heavier, so they tend to get through tyres faster.
Repair bills are still a factor for people thinking about switching to electric. In a survey we ran with YouGov in June 2026, 36% of GB adults said repair costs would be a concern about getting an electric car. With an Octopus EV personal lease, servicing and repairs are included in your monthly payment, so there are no surprises.
For a full picture of running costs, including charging, insurance and road tax, see our guide to electric car costs.
Is the battery checked during a service?
Yes. At a service, a technician runs a diagnostic check on the battery. This shows its state of health (aka how much charge it can hold now, compared with when it was new) and flags any faults.
Battery life is a common worry. In the same YouGov survey, 45% said battery safety and how long the battery lasts would be a concern. The good news is that the battery usually has its own manufacturer warranty, typically for eight years or 100,000 miles. Our guide to electric car batteries covers how long they last and how to look after yours.
Where can I get an electric car serviced?
You can get an electric car serviced at a main dealer for your car's brand, or at an independent garage with technicians trained to work on electric cars. Working on the high-voltage system needs specialist training and equipment, so not every local garage offers it yet.
Check your warranty terms before you book. Some manufacturers ask you to use an approved garage to keep the warranty valid. If you lease with us, or get your car through salary sacrifice, just call the Driver Line on 020 3322 2601 to check when your next service is due and book in.
How to look after your electric car between services
Here's a quick checklist:
- Check your tyre pressures and tread regularly. Tyres are the one area where electric cars did worse than petrol cars in the MOT data.
- Give the brakes a proper workout. Regenerative braking does most of the slowing down, so the brakes can sit unused and rust. Braking firmly now and then, when it's safe to, helps keep them clean.
- Keep your screenwash topped up and your wipers and lights working. They're common reasons any car fails its MOT.
- Install software updates when your car asks. They can fix faults and change how the car runs.
- Look after the battery with good charging habits. Our EV battery guide explains what helps.
- Keep your service history up to date. It matters when you sell the car or hand it back.
Servicing and maintenance when you lease with Octopus EV
So, do electric cars need servicing when you lease? Yes, but it's our job to sort it, not yours. You don't need to find a garage or budget for servicing. With an Octopus EV personal lease, one monthly payment covers:
- The car
- Servicing and maintenance
- Repairs
- MOTs
- Road tax
Insurance and breakdown cover aren't included, so budget for those separately. You can add tyre replacements as an optional extra. Our approved used cars come with the same package when you lease. Every one is under four years old and fully serviced before it reaches you.
Depending on the car, you'll also get a free or discounted home charger, or public charging credit from Electroverse. And there's a cheaper way to charge at home. Octopus EV drivers get an exclusive discount on the current fixed rate with Intelligent Octopus Go - EV Saver, Octopus Energy's home charging tariff. That means charging at home for just 6.6p per kWh.
You'll have a dedicated EV expert throughout your lease, on hand to help with any questions you may have.
Ready to take servicing off your to-do list? Browse our personal lease cars and see what's included on each one.
Common questions
Do electric cars need oil changes?
No. Electric cars don't have an engine, so there's no engine oil to change. Some have a small amount of oil in the gearbox and other moving parts, but it doesn't need changing like engine oil. A technician will check it for leaks at a service, along with the coolant that keeps the battery at the right temperature.
Do electric cars need an MOT?
Yes. Electric cars need an MOT by the third anniversary of their registration, then every year after that, like any petrol or diesel car. The test covers safety checks such as brakes, tyres, suspension, steering and lights. There's no exhaust, so there are no emissions to test. The MOT doesn't check battery health.
How often should an electric car be serviced?
It depends on the manufacturer. Some ask for a service every year, others every two years, and some also set a mileage limit, whichever comes first. Check your car's handbook for its schedule. Sticking to it helps keep your manufacturer warranty valid and gives you a full service history when you sell the car or hand it back.
Do electric cars wear out tyres faster?
Yes, they tend to. Electric cars are heavier than petrol cars because of the battery, which puts more strain on the tyres. In a study of MOT results by the BVRLA, electric cars had about 1.8 times as many tyre defects as petrol cars. Checking your tyre pressures and tread regularly helps them last longer.
Is servicing included when you lease an electric car?
With an Octopus EV personal lease, yes. One monthly payment covers the car, servicing, maintenance, repairs, MOTs and road tax. Insurance and breakdown cover aren't included, and tyre replacements are an optional extra. If you get your car through EV salary sacrifice with Octopus EV, tyres, breakdown cover and insurance are included as standard.
