Battery-electric vehicle insurance claims rose 4% year-over-year in the third quarter, according to insurance comparison shopping website Insurify, citing data by the Mitchell company.

A report by the collision repair information and technology firm indicates that over 3% of all U.S. collision claims in the quarter were repairable BEV damage. BEV collision claims cost the most due to complex technology and a limited supply of after-market parts, according to the report. Original equipment manufacturer parts accounted for about 85% of the parts costs for repairs in the quarter.

Insurify data shows that EVs cost 49% more to insure than gas-powered vehicles, something consumers should take into account when shopping for a new vehicle. 

“EV drivers and buyers need to think about repair costs and insurance premiums. More EVs are getting repaired under collision claims, which means EVs are costing insurers more to cover,” Insurify data journalist Matt Brannon said. 

The high costs of repairs and higher purchase prices of EVs could undermine EV sales, Insurify said. In an earlier Insurify driver survey, 45% of EV owners said they wouldn’t have bought their EVs without the federal tax credit that expired last fall, and over 30% said they wouldn’t be able to buy an EV at full price now without the incentive. 

BEV sales spiked 36% year-over-year in the third quarter, according to Insurify, which said that during that time EV owners filed more claims for repairable collision damage than ever. 

“Some drivers have the misconception that EVs get totaled more often than internal combustion vehicles,” Brannon said. “But the latest available data indicates their loss rates are about the same. For EVs, it’s 7.35%, and it’s 7.47% for comparable gas-powered vehicles.”