Insurance premium cost for Slate

[Luxrage]

I park my EV in the garage and have no insurance add ons associated with charging. However I did install a fire /smoke detector in the garage just for peace of mind. The charging cord is long enough to charge in my driveway, just in case if I’m too lazy to move my other cars around.

It's good to note here if you share a garage with an ICE vehicle they sell heat detectors that go off of heat from the fire instead of combustion gasses that a car will set off. Good to have in a garage.

 

[KJRaven]

One of the factors that would be a positive for the Slate, is its resistance to hail damage due to the plastic panels. I think it is going to be a while until we get accurate insurance premiums on this one though.

 

[HCGxKaLiBeR]

I would imagine as long as the vehicle is safe and have the latest safety tech (smart features like collision avoidance, auto braking etc) it will be generaly cheaper than older cars.

I have a 2025 BMW (most expensive car), a 2022 Bronco. Had a 2009 Suzuki (most expensive to insure). While the collision coverage is bit more on the BMW, but the "Bodily Injury & Property Damage Liability" is ALOT lower than my older cars. It is actually cheaper than all of them.

 

[penguinrevolution]

While costs to repair your own vehicle play a significant role in determining the insurance rate, the costs to repair any property (or people) that you damage (or injure) are also a major factor.

A heavy truck or SUV will typically cost more to insure than a similar year small car, because the Corolla or Focus will do less damage than the Explorer or Suburban.

Choosing to have higher than state minimum Property Damage Limits and Bodily Injury Limits play a role, as well as state specific rules and regulations. Auto insurance in the USA is very much a reflection of 51 different state and District regulators imposing their will on the Auto Insurance companies.

All that said, as the Slate will be smaller and lighter than a lot of the other vehicles on the roads, that should help keep costs down. But since it is new, there will be no historical data for insurance companies to track, and technically as truck (or SUV), it will probably be seen through the same lens as a bigger truck or SUV would be seen.

Also, as a brand new vehicle with no repair or property damage history, some insurance companies might just shy away from insuring the Slate altogether, at least at first. Many years ago when I worked for one of the top 3 insurers (in size not quality ) we did not have a rate for new Teslas Model S or the Model X the years they came out.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Good observation! Most insurance companies look at your previous claim history, the average claim payout, and then build a price around it. They also look at your driving record, age, your location, how many miles you drive, and believe it or not, your credit score.

The good news for Slate is that it’s not an expensive vehicle to begin with. And we’ve been told it’s easy to repair with replaceable body panels. In addition, the lack of computers, displays, electronics, self driving cameras, sensors, etc. all translates into a lower than industry average repair cost.

Now, we know new cars usually cost more to insure than older ones, but safety features like automatic emergency braking and DRL’s will likely earn you discounts. Keep in mind things that commonly go wrong, like glass claims, rock chips and broken windshields, will be a problem —- not from a cost standpoint, but due to a lack of availability. Getting a replacement windshield for a Slate will likely take months. Just look at message boards for other completely redesigned cars and judge for yourself.

So you are saying that I might need to buy TWO Slates just to make sure I have plenty of parts available?

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

So you are saying that I might need to buy TWO Slates just to make sure I have plenty of parts available?

Since at least one part will probably wear out 10 times as often of at least one other part, I recommend buying 10.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Since at least one part will probably wear out 10 times as often of at least one other part, I recommend buying 10.

Sounds like a fleet buyer!

 

[KJRaven]

Since at least one part will probably wear out 10 times as often of at least one other part, I recommend buying 10.

from my conversations with their fleet guys. you could place your order in june with a letter of intent for 10 units with 0 down. and they will throw in a free wrap and train your technicians to do warranty work! sounds like the way to go. will probably still be cheaper than a full spec'd cybertruck