Report: Hybrid Vehicle Collision Claims Hit Record High in First Quarter

Claims for mild hybrid electric vehicles surged to record highs in North America, with year-over-year increases of 25% in the U.S. and 33% in Canada, a new report shows.

Claims for MHEVs were up 5.69% in the U.S. and 5.28% in Canada for the first quarter, according to Mitchell’s its Q1 2026 Plugged-In: EV Collision Insights report.

The report also shows that in the first quarter, the share of repairable collision claims for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) held steady at 3.33% in the U.S. and 4.94% in Canada.

Related: EV Collision Claims Rise in US And Canada as Sales Of New Models Decrease

MHEVs deliver a balance of efficiency, affordability and usability for consumers, while some automakers view hybrids as a lower-risk pathway to meeting emissions and fuel economy regulations while leveraging existing manufacturing platforms, the report notes. However, the increase in MHEV claims is putting more pressure on auto collision repairers to ensure they have the proper equipment and training, while carriers must factor in the added repair complexity and costs in underwriting and claims management, according to the report.

“Electrification isn’t slowing, it’s evolving,” Ryan Mandell, Mitchell’s vice president of strategy and market intelligence, stated in the report. “Even as BEV sales soften, the number of hybrids on the road is growing, and that is clearly reflected in the rise of hybrid collision claims. For insurers, this affects the types of vehicles and risks they must manage. For repairers, it adds complexity by requiring additional tooling, labor operations and training to ensure a proper and safe repair.”

The report reflects increasing fuel costs and geopolitical instability in the Middle East as drivers that are accelerating consumer interest in electric vehicles, primarily hybrids. Supply constraints, import tariffs and the expiration of federal tax incentives have slowed the BEV adoption rate, the report shows.

BEVs are still expected to reach approximately 29% of new vehicle sales and just over 10% of vehicles in operation by 2035, according to the report.