A collision, 2 months and $18K later, a couple worries their EV insurer will raise rates

After Benjamin Vassalle hit a deer during a nighttime drive in northern Ontario in January, he and his partner knew that repairing their damaged electric vehicle would come at a cost.

Yet when their insurance company sent the car to an independent garage, the vehicle stayed there untouched for weeks — because the mechanic didn’t have the parts or expertise required to fix an EV.

The couple had little choice but to send their car to its manufacturer, Tesla, which fixed the broken headlight and crushed bumper.

Although the ensuing $18,000 bill was covered by their insurance company, the couple is now worried that their insurer will hike their premiums in the…