Electric car grant UK 2026 — up to £3,750 off
The Plug-in Car Grant gives you an automatic discount when buying an eligible new electric vehicle. You don't apply — your dealer takes the discount off the purchase price at the point of sale.
There are two bands, and the discount depends on which band your chosen car falls into.
Band 1 cars — up to £3,750 off
These vehicles have been assessed as offering the best sustainability and value. The maximum grant is £3,750:
| Make & Model | Approx Price (after grant) | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Citroën ë-C5 Aircross Long Range | From ~£33,000 | ~260 miles |
| Ford E-Tourneo Courier | From ~£28,000 | ~200 miles |
| Ford Puma Gen-E | From ~£28,000 | ~230 miles |
| MINI Countryman Electric | From ~£38,000 | ~290 miles |
| Nissan LEAF | From ~£24,000 | ~240 miles |
| Renault 4 | From ~£25,000 | ~220 miles |
| Renault 5 (52 kWh) | From ~£22,000 | ~250 miles |
| Renault Alpine A290 | From ~£34,000 | ~220 miles |
Band 2 cars — up to £1,500 off
A wider range of eligible vehicles with a £1,500 maximum discount:
Most popular Band 2 cars
- Volkswagen ID.3, ID.4, ID.5 — VW's electric range, from ~£33,000
- Skoda Enyaq & Elroq — great value family EVs
- Vauxhall Corsa Electric — one of the UK's best-selling small EVs
- Hyundai KONA Electric — compact SUV, excellent range
- Kia EV4 — Kia's latest affordable electric
- Peugeot E-208, E-2008, E-308, E-408 — Peugeot's full electric lineup
- Renault 5 (40 kWh), Megane, Scenic — Renault's expanding range
- Cupra Born — sporty electric hatchback
- Toyota C-HR+ — Toyota's first mass-market EV
- Vauxhall Mokka, Frontera, Grandland Electric
- Citroën ë-C3, ë-C4, ë-Berlingo
- DS DS3, N°4
How the grant works
- Choose an eligible car from the Band 1 or Band 2 lists above
- Visit a dealer — any UK dealer selling the eligible model
- The discount is automatic — the dealer deducts the grant from your purchase price
- No application needed — you don't fill in any forms
Eligibility rules: The car must produce 0g CO2/km, have a minimum 100-mile battery range, and meet minimum sustainability criteria. All cars on the lists above have been pre-approved by the government.
Can you get the car grant AND the charger grant?
Yes. The electric car purchase grant and the home charger grant are completely separate schemes. You can claim both. So if you buy a Band 1 car and install a home charger, you could save up to £4,100 in grants (£3,750 + £350).
EV running costs vs petrol
| Electric (home charge) | Petrol | Annual Saving | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel cost per mile | 3-8p | 16-20p | — |
| Annual fuel (10,000 mi) | £300-£800 | £1,600-£2,000 | £800-£1,700 |
| Road tax | £0 (until 2025, then £190) | £190-£600 | £0-£410 |
| Servicing | £100-£200/year | £300-£500/year | £200-£300 |
| London Congestion Charge | £0 (exempt until road pricing) | £15/day | Up to £3,900 |
Total annual savings of going electric: £1,000-£6,000+ depending on your driving and location.