Government Grants
The Government is offering a selection of grants making it more affordable for you to own an electric vehicle. These grants not only support the cost of purchase, but can also help you save money when choosing to install a charging station at your home or place of work.
Grants for your car
Plug-in car grant
The plug-in car grant can help you save money by reducing the upfront cost of a low-emission vehicle by up to £3,000.*
Road tax savings
Driving a low-emission vehicle can dramatically reduce the amount of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), commonly known as the road tax, you pay. Zero-emission vehicles are completely exempt.
Grants for your home
If your home has off-street parking, a wall-box can charge your electric vehicle faster than a standard 3-pin domestic plug. The Government offers a grant that supports the cost of the charger. The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme supports up to 75% of the cost, capped at £350 including VAT, off the installation price. To find out more about the Government’s grants visit www.GoUltraLow.com.
Home grant – home wall box installation
The Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) offers grants that put money towards the cost of installing a charger at your home.
Scotland incentive – home wall box installation
Scotland incentive – Home wall box installation If you live in Scotland, the home charging grant is available through the Energy Saving Trust.
Grants for your business
If you want to encourage your employees to make the switch to electric, the Government will support £350 of the installation cost for every charge point you install (maximum of 40 chargepoints). What’s more, electric drivers won’t incur any Benefit in Kind charges for electricity used at work. To find out more visit www.GoUltraLow.com.
Workplace Charging Scheme
The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is a voucher-based scheme that gives businesses financial support towards installing chargers on their premises.
Tax incentives
You can claim capital allowances on electric company cars.
Grants for company car drivers
Lower Benefit in kind (BiK) taxes
Because Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) is calculated based on your car’s emissions, driving electric can help you save.
BiK exemption on charging stations
The Government’s tax rules state that where an employer provides charging stations for their employees, no taxable benefit will arise.
Other incentives
There are local councils up and down the country that offer incentives for electric vehicle owners. For example many offer reduced-cost Residents’ Parking Permits, or even Green Vehicle Permits that allow free parking at shopping centres and train stations, access to bus lanes, and free use of charging stations. Offers vary depending on the council, so contact your local authority to find out more.
Electric Car Grant FAQ
What is the plug-in grant?
The plug-in grant is a scheme to encourage people to switch to electric driving. The government introduced this scheme to help buyers balance out some of the cost of a new electric vehicle.
What is the home charging scheme?
The home charging scheme is a subsidy provided by the government of up to 75% towards the cost of installing an electric vehicle charge point at your home in the UK.
What is the workplace charging scheme?
The workplace charging scheme is a grant the government are offering for employers to receive £350 off the installation price for each charging station they put in.
How do I qualify for OLEV grant?
To qualify for OLEV’s EVHS grant, you need to have leased an eligible electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle for at least six months, or have purchased one on or after 1st October 2016 onwards. In addition:
- You must have off-street parking.
- You must install an OLEV-approved chargepoint.
- The date of installation must not be more than 4 months ahead of the date of delivery or date the customer becomes the registered driver of the electric vehicle.
- You must use an OLEV-approved chargepoint installer. Authorised installers can be found on the Government page here.
Useful links
Is an electric car right for me?
Discover our exciting range of electric vehicles and what the future holds.
Find out more
Keep me informed
Stay in the loop and be the first to receive all the latest news about our EV range.
Sign up now
Please note
*Terms and conditions
1. The OLEV Plug-In Vehicle Grants ("Grants") are subject to full terms and conditions and eligibility may be revised or withdrawn at any time without prior notice.
2. The Grant rates in effect from time to time are set out on the OLEV website and are subject to change in OLEV's sole discretion.
3. "Eligible Vehicle" means right-hand drive vehicles for sale through Volkswagen Group United Kingdom Limited (VWG)'s authorised retailers in the UK that meet all of OLEV's eligibility criteria and that have been approved by OLEV as eligible for the Grant from time to time.
4. "Purchase Price" means the full actual price of the Eligible Vehicle, including any discount on the vehicle, number plates, vehicle excise duty and VAT (as applicable) and excluding any optional extras, delivery charges and first registration fee.
5. The Grant is applied to the Purchase Price of an Eligible Vehicle purchased directly from authorised, participating retailers in the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland only),by either private or business customers and delivered and registered between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2025. The Grant cannot be claimed for vehicles sold in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
6. Customers do not need to go through an application process for the Grant. The Grant is applied to the Purchase Price of Eligible Vehicles at the point of purchase.
7. Vehicles which have been given the Grant are not to be exported (i.e. sold outside the UK) within 5 years from the date of purchase without prior written permission of the Secretary of State for Transport.
8. Customers must be residents of the UK, aged 18 years or over. Customers must have a UK address, register the vehicle in the UK, and must have paid UK Value Added Tax (VAT) on the vehicle. Members of the British Armed forces living abroad are eligible to claim for the Grant and can use their BFPO postcode. British diplomats living abroad or foreign diplomats living in the UK are also eligible to claim for the Grant.
9. The grant scheme may be withdrawn by OLEV and eligibility criteria and/or available grant amounts may change at any time.
10. For additional eligibility criteria and full terms and conditions please visit https://www.gov.uk/plug-in-car-van-grants→.
11. To find out more about the benefits of owning an ultra low emission vehicle, visit https://www.goultralow.com→
12. Vehicle eligibility and grant figure correct as at 12/03/2020.