Can I get a grant for an electric car in the UK in 2026?

Looking for help with the cost of going electric? Here's what grants and incentives are available in 2026.

The Big Change: No More Car Purchase Grants

What Happened

Grant	Status
Plug-in Car Grant	Ended June 2022
Plug-in Van Grant	Ended March 2024
Plug-in Motorcycle Grant	Still available
Plug-in Wheelchair Van Grant	Still available

There is no government grant for buying a standard electric car in 2026.

Why It Ended

Reason	Explanation
EV prices falling	Less subsidy needed
Budget constraints	Government spending limits
Market maturity	EVs selling without grants
Funds exhausted	Budget allocation used

What Grants ARE Still Available

1. Home Charger Grant (EV Chargepoint Grant)

For homeowners and renters in flats:

Factor	Details
Amount	Up to £350
Who qualifies	Flat owners/renters, rental tenants
Not available to	Homeowners with driveways
Requirements	Must have off-street parking

Note: Homeowners with their own property and off-street parking no longer qualify.

Who CAN Get the Charger Grant

Situation	Eligible?
Own a flat	✅ Yes
Rent a flat	✅ Yes
Rent a house	✅ Yes
Own a house with driveway	❌ No
Own a house, no off-street parking	❌ No

2. Landlord Grant

For landlords installing chargers:

Factor	Details
Amount	Up to £350 per socket
Maximum	Up to 200 sockets
Property type	Rental residential
Requirements	Must provide for tenant use

3. Workplace Charging Scheme

For businesses installing chargers:

Factor	Details
Amount	Up to £350 per socket
Maximum	40 sockets per applicant
Who qualifies	Businesses, charities, public sector
Requirements	Must be for staff/fleet use

4. On-Street Residential Scheme (for Councils)

For local authorities:

Factor	Details
Amount	60% of costs (up to £13,000 per charger)
Purpose	On-street charging for residents
Who applies	Local councils
Benefit to you	More public chargers

Scotland-Specific Incentives

Interest-Free Loans

Scheme	Details
Used EV loan	Up to £30,000 interest-free
New EV loan	Up to £35,000 interest-free
Home charger loan	Up to £2,500 interest-free
Term	Up to 6 years

These are loans, not grants — you repay them, but with 0% interest.

How to Apply (Scotland)

Step	Action
1	Visit Energy Saving Trust Scotland
2	Check eligibility criteria
3	Apply online
4	Receive decision

Local Council Incentives

What Some Councils Offer

Incentive	Examples
Free parking for EVs	Some London boroughs
Reduced parking permits	Various councils
Congestion charge exemption	London (until 2025)
Clean Air Zone exemption	Birmingham, Bath, etc.

How to Check

Step	Action
1	Visit your local council website
2	Search "electric vehicle" or "EV"
3	Check transport/parking pages
4	Contact council directly

Incentives vary hugely by location — always check locally.

Employer Schemes

Salary Sacrifice

Not a grant, but significant savings:

Benefit	Details
Tax saving	20-45% depending on bracket
NI saving	Additional 12%+
All-inclusive	Insurance, maintenance included
BIK rate	Only 2-5% (2024-2028)

Salary sacrifice can save £100-400/month compared to personal lease.

Employer-Funded Chargers

Option	Possibility
Workplace charger	Ask employer
Home charger provided	Some employers offer
Charging costs covered	Some reimburse

Other Financial Benefits (Not Grants)

Company Car Tax Savings

Year	BIK Rate	vs 30% Petrol Car
2024/25	2%	Save ~93%
2025/26	3%	Save ~90%
2026/27	4%	Save ~87%

Capital Allowances (Businesses)

Benefit	Details
First Year Allowance	100% deduction
Applies to	EVs and chargers
Effect	Immediate tax relief

Lower Running Costs

Factor	Saving vs Petrol
Fuel	£1,500-3,000/year
Maintenance	£200-500/year
Road tax	£0 until April 2025

These ongoing savings often exceed any one-time grant.

What About Future Grants?

Likelihood of New Grants

Factor	Assessment
Government priority	Supporting EV adoption
Budget constraints	Significant
EV price trends	Falling (less need)
Political will	Uncertain

What Might Return

Possibility	Likelihood
Vehicle purchase grant	Low
Enhanced charger grants	Possible
Low-income support	Possible
Fleet incentives	Possible

Don't wait for grants — they may not return, and EVs are increasingly affordable without them.

Summary: What's Available in 2026

Grant/Scheme	Available?	Amount
Car purchase grant	❌ No	—
Home charger (flats/renters)	✅ Yes	Up to £350
Landlord charger grant	✅ Yes	Up to £350/socket
Workplace charger grant	✅ Yes	Up to £350/socket
Scotland interest-free loans	✅ Yes	Up to £35,000
Local council incentives	✅ Varies	Check locally
Salary sacrifice	✅ Yes	20-45% tax saving

How to Maximise Savings Without Grants

Best Strategies

Strategy	Potential Saving
Salary sacrifice	£2,000-5,000/year
EV electricity tariff	£500-1,000/year
Off-peak charging	£300-600/year
Choose sub-£40k EV	£2,050 over 5 years
Buy used EV	£5,000-15,000 upfront

Example: Total Savings

Compared to equivalent petrol over 5 years:

Saving	Amount
Fuel savings	£10,000
Maintenance savings	£1,500
Tax savings (if company car)	£5,000
Total	£16,500

Far exceeds any grant that was previously available.

Summary

Question	Answer
Is there a car purchase grant?	No — ended June 2022
Can I get help with a charger?	Yes — if flat/renter (£350)
What about Scotland?	Interest-free loans available
Local incentives?	Check your council
Best alternative?	Salary sacrifice (huge savings)

The Bottom Line

There's no grant for buying an electric car in 2026, but:

1Charger grants exist for flats, renters, landlords, and workplaces

2Scotland offers interest-free loans up to £35,000

3Salary sacrifice saves 20-45% on the cost of an EV

4Running cost savings far exceed previous grants

5Local incentives may exist in your area

The end of purchase grants doesn't make EVs unaffordable. EV prices have fallen significantly, and the ongoing savings in fuel, maintenance, and (for company cars) tax make them financially attractive without upfront subsidies.

Focus on running cost savings rather than waiting for grants that may never return.