Are EVs safer than gas cars? On paper, that’s a simple question; in the real world, it’s tangled up with crash tests, battery fires on the evening news, expensive repairs, and the fact that many EVs are rocket-quick family appliances. If you’re weighing a used EV against a familiar gas crossover, you deserve an answer that isn’t just marketing.
The big-picture takeaway
Modern EVs are generally at least as safe as comparable gas cars in a crash, and in some ways safer. They’re also far less likely to catch fire. The trade-offs show up in repair costs, insurance, and reliability, not in crash protection.
EVs vs gas safety: the short answer
EV vs gas safety snapshot (2021–2025 data)
When you strip away the hype, the answer looks like this: in pure occupant safety terms, how well the car protects you, EVs stack up very well against gas cars. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has repeatedly found that injury claims are substantially less frequent for battery-electric vehicles than for comparable gasoline models, and many EVs earn top crash-test awards.
At the same time, early EVs can have more reliability issues than mature gas platforms, and collision repairs are often pricier. So the question isn’t just “is an EV safe,” but “how does safety feel day to day, on the road, at the body shop, and on your insurance bill?”
For shoppers, not engineers
If you’re shopping used, the smart move is to treat EVs the way you’d treat any modern car: focus on crash-test scores, active safety tech, and condition. The fact that it’s electric is more of an advantage than a liability when it comes to your physical safety.
How crash tests rate EVs vs gas cars
The good news for anxious passengers is that safety agencies don’t grade on a curve for technology fads. EVs face the same brutal barriers and side-impact sleds as gas cars, and they’ve been doing well.
Crash testing: what we’re seeing with EVs
Same labs, same walls, surprisingly strong results
IIHS results
IIHS has put multiple EVs through its full test gauntlet, including small and midsize SUVs and sedans.
- Many have earned Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ awards.
- Recent tests of EVs like the BMW i4, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Tesla Cybertruck and VW ID.Buzz show excellent protection for drivers and solid protection for rear passengers.
NHTSA 5-star ratings
NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings program tests EVs right alongside gas SUVs and sedans.
- Plenty of EVs earn 4 or 5 stars overall.
- The safety story is closer to “normal modern car” than “experimental science project.”
Under the skin, EVs have a couple of built‑in safety advantages. The heavy battery pack sits low in the floor, which reduces rollover risk and lets engineers design bigger energy‑absorbing crumple zones front and rear. There’s no hulking iron engine trying to climb into the cabin in a severe frontal crash.
But ratings still vary
“EV” is not a magic spell. Some models ace new, tougher crash tests that focus on rear-seat protection; others lag. Always look at the specific model year’s IIHS and NHTSA scores instead of assuming any electric car is automatically a tank.
Injury risk, weight, and structure
One under‑appreciated reason EV occupants tend to fare well is simple physics: mass wins. Many EVs weigh hundreds of pounds more than comparable gas cars because of the battery pack. In a two‑car crash, the heavier, stiffer vehicle often sends the other one backwards in time and space.
Why extra EV weight can help you
- In multi‑vehicle crashes, a heavier vehicle usually transfers more energy to the lighter one.
- Stiff battery enclosures and floor structures can create a very strong occupant cell.
- Insurance data has shown lower injury claims for EV drivers and passengers versus similar gas cars, despite comparable crash frequencies.
The downside for everyone else
- That same mass is bad news if you’re in the lighter vehicle, one reason overall fleet weight is a safety concern.
- Pedestrians and cyclists don’t benefit from your extra structure; they just meet more kinetic energy.
- Braking and tires have to work harder, which can mean longer stops if the hardware isn’t upgraded appropriately.
Silent isn’t always safe
EVs pull away quietly, which is lovely in a cul‑de‑sac and less lovely in a busy crosswalk. Automakers now add low‑speed warning sounds, but if you drive an EV, you still need to assume pedestrians didn’t hear you coming.
Fire risk: are EVs really ticking time bombs?
If you judge risk by social media, EVs are spontaneous fireworks displays waiting to happen. The actual numbers make a much less dramatic story: EVs appear dramatically less likely to catch fire than gasoline vehicles.
- Analyses of fire data estimate on the order of a few dozen fires per 100,000 EVs in use each year, versus well over a thousand fires per 100,000 gasoline vehicles.
- International reviews of incident reports suggest gas and diesel cars are several times, and in some analyses, tens of times, more likely to burn than EVs.
- Most ICE fires stem from aging fuel systems, oil leaks, and hot exhaust components. EVs simply remove the flammable liquid fuel from the equation.
Battery fires are different, not more common
When a lithium‑ion battery does go into thermal runaway, the fire is intense, hard to extinguish, and can reignite. Fire departments train specifically for EV incidents. But those events are rare compared with the background noise of gas‑car fires we’ve been living with for decades.
Regulators are tightening the screws anyway. New battery safety rules in major EV markets focus on better crash performance and resistance to thermal runaway, and automakers continue to redesign packs, cooling systems, and software to detect faults early. The trajectory is the opposite of a looming hazard; it’s a maturing technology being forced to behave itself.
Driver assistance and tech: how much does it help?
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Most modern EVs are rolling showcases for advanced driver‑assistance systems (ADAS): automatic emergency braking, lane‑keeping, adaptive cruise, and the various autopilot‑ish suites that promise to take the sting out of traffic. In theory, that should crush crash rates. Reality, as usual, is messier.
EV driver assistance: blessing and curse
Why EVs may crash more but hurt people less
New tech, strong safety base
Because many EVs are newer designs, they tend to ship with the latest crash-avoidance tech and strong underlying structures.
That’s good news for serious‑injury and fatal‑crash prevention.
Fast cars, learning curve
Plenty of EVs have instant torque and sports‑car acceleration.
Insurers are seeing more claims per vehicle for some EV fleets, suggesting people are discovering physics the hard way.
Overtrusting automation
Partial automation is not self‑driving, but drivers often treat it that way.
High-profile crashes with driver‑assist engaged are usually misuse of the system, not proof the car is inherently unsafe.
Treat driver-assist like cruise control, not a chauffeur
Whatever brand name is on the steering wheel, you are still the driver. Eyes open, hands ready. Think of lane‑centering and adaptive cruise as power steering for your attention span, not a license to look at your phone.
Reliability, repairs, and what safety really costs
Safety isn’t just what happens in the millisecond after impact; it’s also whether the car spends months waiting for a wiring harness, whether your insurer drops you after a minor shunt, and whether airbags actually deploy when they should. Here, EVs are in a more complicated adolescence.
Recent owner surveys show that many EVs still report more problems per vehicle than comparable gas models, though the gap is narrowing as the technology matures. The issues are often not about batteries exploding but about software bugs, infotainment gremlins, and new features that haven’t been debugged in the wild.
Crash repairs: why EVs cost more
- Battery packs and high‑voltage hardware are expensive and must be treated cautiously after a crash.
- Body shops need special training and equipment, which limits where you can go and keeps labor rates high.
- Insurers are seeing that EV repairs often cost significantly more and total‑loss rates can be higher for certain models.
None of this makes the vehicle less safe in the crash, but it does affect your wallet afterward.
Recalls and software fixes
- When safety defects crop up, airbag wiring, seat‑belt sensors, battery management, EVs get recalled just like gas cars.
- Over‑the‑air updates can quietly improve safety and reliability without a dealership visit.
- For a used EV, it’s critical to confirm that all safety recalls and major software updates have been completed.
How Recharged reduces the guesswork
Every vehicle sold through Recharged comes with a Recharged Score Report that includes verified battery health, safety‑relevant diagnostics, and a check for open recalls, so you’re not buying someone else’s ignored warning lights.
Used EV safety: what to look for
Shopping used is where all of this gets real. A five‑year‑old EV with a pristine crash‑test record can still be a bad bet if it’s been crashed twice, skipped software updates, and is rolling on budget tires. Here’s how to separate the genuinely safe cars from the merely electric ones.
Key safety checks for a used EV
What matters beyond the battery percentage on the dash
Crash and repair history
Ask for a full vehicle history report.
- Look for structural damage or airbag deployments.
- Multiple crashes or poor‑quality repairs can compromise safety, even if the title is clean.
High-voltage & recalls
Verify that all recalls and service campaigns are complete.
- High‑voltage system repairs should be done by qualified technicians.
- Improper battery repairs are a safety red flag.
Tires, brakes & chassis
EVs are heavy. They eat tires and brakes if neglected.
- Check tire age, tread depth, and load rating.
- Listen for suspension clunks on test drives.
Leverage expert inspection
If you’re not fluent in high‑voltage safety, bring in someone who is. At Recharged, every used EV gets EV‑specialist inspection and a battery health check, so you can focus on how it drives instead of whether the pack was once used as a bumper.
Checklist: making a safer choice for your next car
Practical safety checklist: EV vs gas
1. Start with crash-test ratings
Look up IIHS and NHTSA results for the exact model and year, whether it’s EV or gas. Prioritize cars with top scores for both front and side impacts, and good rear‑seat protection if you carry passengers.
2. Compare active safety features
Automatic emergency braking, blind‑spot monitoring, lane‑keeping, and rear cross‑traffic alerts prevent the crash you never have to survive. Many EVs come well equipped here, but base gas models can be bare-bones.
3. Ask about fire and high-voltage safety
For EVs, confirm there have been no battery‑related recalls or high‑voltage repairs done outside manufacturer or specialist networks. For gas cars, ask about fuel‑system repairs or engine‑bay electrical issues.
4. Review history and inspection reports
Whether you buy from a dealer, marketplace, or private seller, insist on a history report and a recent safety inspection. With Recharged, this is baked in via the Recharged Score and inspection process.
5. Test real-world visibility and ergonomics
Sit in the car, adjust the seat and mirrors, and drive it at night if possible. Safety isn’t only about stars on a website; it’s also about how well you can see out and how quickly you can reach the controls you need.
6. Factor insurance and repair realities
Get insurance quotes for your short list, EV and gas alike. A car that protects you brilliantly in a crash but costs double to repair may still be worth it, but you should go in with eyes open.
FAQ: are EVs safer than gas cars?
Frequently asked questions about EV safety vs gas
Bottom line: are EVs safer than gas cars?
Taken as a group, modern EVs are at least as safe as modern gas cars, and in some ways safer. They tend to have excellent crash structures, low centers of gravity, cutting‑edge driver‑assistance tech, and a far lower likelihood of catching fire in the first place. The gotchas live in the fine print: higher repair costs, patchy reliability for some early models, and the risks that come with any very heavy, very quick vehicle.
If you’re shopping for your next car, especially a used one, the smart question isn’t “EV or gas?” but “Which specific vehicle gives me the best combination of crash protection, safety tech, clean history, and transparent condition?” That’s precisely what Recharged is built to surface, with verified battery health, safety‑focused inspections, and EV‑savvy support from first click to driveway delivery.
Pick the safest car you can, then decide what you want it to run on. The good news in 2025 is that if you land on an EV, you’re not trading safety for sustainability, you’re likely getting both.
