What Grants Are Available for Electric Cars in the UK?
UK drivers can get up to £3,750 off a new electric car, up to £500 towards a home charger, and pay as little as 3% company car tax on an EV. Grants are also available for electric vans, workplace chargers, and solar panels. This guide covers every EV grant and incentive available in 2026, who can get them, and how to apply.
If you are thinking about switching to an electric car, the good news is the UK government wants to help you do it. There are grants to bring down the price of the car, help with the cost of fitting a home charger, and tax breaks that can save you thousands each year.
The tricky part is knowing which ones you can actually get. It depends on whether you are buying or leasing, whether you own or rent your home, and whether it is a personal or company car. That is why we built a quick tool to show you exactly which grants apply to you.
Which grants could you get?
Pick the options that match your situation. We will show you what is available.
Select your options above and we will highlight the grants that apply to you.
The Electric Car Grant - Up to £3,750 Off a New EV
Electric Car Grant (ECG)
Up to £3,750The government brought back the electric car grant in July 2025. It knocks up to £3,750 off the price of a new electric car that costs £37,000 or less. You do not need to apply for it. The discount is taken off at the dealership automatically [1].
There are two levels. Band 1 cars get the full £3,750. Band 2 cars get £1,500. The difference depends on how sustainably the car was made, including where the battery was built and the energy used in the factory [2].
Cars that currently qualify for the full £3,750 include the Ford Puma Gen-E, Nissan Leaf, Alpine A290, Renault 5 and MINI Countryman Electric. Over 40 models qualify in total across both bands [3].
Plug-in Van Grant
Up to £5,000If you need a van for work, the plug-in van grant can knock up to £5,000 off a large electric van or £2,500 off a smaller one. Like the car grant, this is applied automatically at the point of sale [5].
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Home Charger Grants - Up to £500 Towards Installation
EV Chargepoint Grant (Renters & Flat Owners)
Up to £500If you rent your home or own a flat, you can get up to 75% off the cost of buying and fitting a home charger. The grant is currently £350, but from 1 April 2026 it goes up to £500. That covers almost half the typical cost of installation [6].
You will need to own or have ordered an electric car, and have access to off-street parking. The charger must be fitted by an OZEV-approved installer.
On-Street Parking Charger Grant
Up to £500Do not have a driveway? You might still be able to get a charger fitted. There is a grant of up to £500 towards a chargepoint and a cross-pavement solution, like a cable channel or charging gully, so you can charge safely from the street [7].
Workplace Charging Scheme
Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS)
Up to £500 per socketBusinesses, charities and public sector organisations can get up to £500 per socket towards fitting EV chargers at the workplace. You can apply for up to 40 sockets across all your sites. The grant goes up from £350 to £500 on 1 April 2026 [8].
If you charge your EV at work, there is another bonus. You will not pay any Benefit in Kind tax on the electricity you use [9].
Tax Breaks and Savings for EV Drivers
Grants are not the only way to save money with an electric car. There are some big tax advantages too, especially if you drive a company car.
Company Car Tax (Benefit in Kind)
This is where the really big savings are. Electric cars have the lowest company car tax rate of any vehicle type. In 2025/26 it is just 3%, compared with 25 to 37% for most petrol and diesel cars. That can save a higher-rate taxpayer thousands each year [10].
| Tax Year | EV BiK Rate | Typical Petrol Car |
|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | 3% | 25–37% |
| 2026/27 | 4% | 25–37% |
| 2027/28 | 5% | 25–37% |
| 2028/29 | 7% | 25–37% |
| 2029/30 | 9% | 25–37% |
Salary Sacrifice
If your employer offers a salary sacrifice scheme, you can get an electric car through your pre-tax salary. Combined with the low BiK rate and the Electric Car Grant, some drivers save 40 to 50% compared with buying privately [11]. The monthly payment usually covers insurance, servicing, maintenance and breakdown cover too.
Road Tax (VED)
From April 2025, electric cars pay road tax for the first time. New EVs with a list price over £40,000 also pay the expensive car supplement. This is a change from previous years when EVs were exempt [12].
0% VAT on Solar Panels and Batteries
If you charge your EV at home, fitting solar panels can cut your electricity costs significantly. Right now, there is 0% VAT on solar panels and battery storage, saving you around £2,000 on a typical installation. This runs until April 2027 [13].
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Compare Car InsuranceLocal and Regional EV Incentives
On top of the national grants, there are some local perks worth knowing about depending on where you live.
London: From January 2026, electric cars get a 25% discount on the Congestion Charge. Previously they were fully exempt. Electric vans get a 50% discount. You need to register for the Cleaner Vehicle Discount through TfL [14].
Clean Air Zones: Cities including Birmingham, Bristol and Bath run clean air zones where older petrol and diesel cars have to pay a daily charge. Electric cars are exempt from all of them [15].
Scotland: The Energy Saving Trust Scotland offers extra support including interest-free loans for home charger installation and sometimes extra vehicle grants. Check the EST Scotland website for the latest offers [16].
Local councils: Some councils offer free or reduced-cost parking permits for EVs, access to bus lanes, or free use of council-owned chargers. Check your local council website for what is available in your area.
Grants That Have Now Ended
You might see some of these mentioned on other websites. They are no longer available, so we have listed them here to save you time.
| Grant | What It Was | Ended |
|---|---|---|
| Plug-in Car Grant (original) | Up to £2,500 off a new EV | June 2022 |
| Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme | £350 towards a home charger for homeowners | April 2022 |
| London ULEZ scrappage scheme | Up to £2,000 to scrap a non-compliant car | 2023 |
| ECO4 (solar panels for eligible homes) | Free solar panel installation | March 2026 |
Related Brumble Content
Sources
- GOV.UK - Electric and hybrid vehicles eligible for a plug-in grant: Cars
- Department for Transport - Electric Car Grant eligibility criteria, July 2025
- Vehicle Certification Agency - List of approved vehicles under the Electric Car Grant
- HM Treasury - Autumn Budget 2025, £1.3 billion EV grant extension
- GOV.UK - Plug-in vehicle grants
- GOV.UK - Electric vehicle chargepoint grants, updated February 2026
- Department for Transport - On-street residential chargepoint scheme
- GOV.UK - Workplace Charging Scheme guidance
- HMRC - Benefit in Kind exemption for workplace EV charging
- HMRC - Company car Benefit in Kind tax rates 2025/26 to 2029/30
- The Electric Car Scheme - Electric Car Grant 2026 and salary sacrifice guide
- GOV.UK - Vehicle Excise Duty rates from April 2025
- HMRC - VAT Notice 708/6: energy-saving materials, 0% rate until April 2027
- TfL - Congestion Charge discounts and exemptions
- GOV.UK - Clean Air Zones in England
- Energy Saving Trust Scotland - Electric vehicle loans and grants
