UK electric car grant 2026: eligible cars, discounts and rules
Published August 17, 2025
The UK government announced the electric car grant (ECG) on 15 July 2025, with manufacturers able to apply from 16 July 2025. The scheme offers discounts of up to £3,750 on eligible new electric cars priced at £37,000 or less.
At the Autumn Budget on 26 November 2025, Chancellor Rachel Reeves added £1.3 billion to the scheme - taking total funding to around £2 billion - and extended it to the 2029-30 financial year (the end of March 2030). The grant can still close earlier if the funding is used up.
As of August 2026, the scheme remains open, with new models still being added to the eligible list as manufacturers clear certification.
This guide explains how the electric car grant works, which cars qualify, and how the price cap affects eligibility.
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How much is the UK electric car grant?
The electric car grant offers discounts on new zero-emission cars. There are two discount bands:
- Band 1: up to £3,750 off
- Band 2: up to £1,500 off
As of 17 August 2026, GOV.UK lists 67 eligible models across both bands: 18 in Band 1 and 49 in Band 2.
Which cars qualify for the electric car grant?
Band 1 cars (up to £3,750 grant)
| Manufacturer | Eligible models |
|---|---|
| Abarth | 500e |
| Alpine | A290 |
| BMW | iX1, iX2 |
| Citroën | ë-C5 Aircross Long Range |
| Fiat | 500e, 500e Urban Range |
| Ford | E-Tourneo Courier, Puma Gen-E |
| Hyundai | KONA Electric |
| Kia | EV2 Long Range, EV4 |
| MINI | Countryman Electric |
| Nissan | LEAF, Micra (52 kWh) |
| Renault | 4, 5 (52 kWh), Scenic |
Band 2 cars (up to £1,500 grant)
| Manufacturer | Eligible models |
|---|---|
| Abarth | 600e |
| Alfa Romeo | Junior Elettrica |
| Citroën | ë-C3, ë-C3 Aircross, ë-C3 Urban Range, ë-C4, ë-C4 X, ë-C5 Aircross, ë-Berlingo, ë-SpaceTourer |
| Cupra | Born, Raval |
| DS | DS3, N°4 |
| Fiat | 600e |
| Ford | Capri, Explorer |
| Jeep | Avenger, Compass |
| Kia | EV2, EV3, PV5 Passenger |
| Nissan | Ariya, Micra (40kWh) |
| Peugeot | E-208, E-2008, E-308, E-3008, E-408, E-Rifter, E-Traveller |
| Renault | 5 (40 kWh), Megane |
| Skoda | Elroq, Enyaq, Epiq |
| Toyota | C-HR+, Proace City Verso |
| Vauxhall | Astra Electric, Combo Life Electric, Corsa Electric, Frontera Electric, Grandland Electric, Mokka Electric, Vivaro Life Electric |
| Volkswagen | ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, ID. Polo |
Please note: This list is correct as of 17 August 2026. Please refer to the official GOV.UK page for the latest information.
Band 1 vs Band 2 discounts
The Electric Car Grant has two discount bands, set by each car's manufacturing carbon score:
| Discount | Which models qualify? | |
|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | £3,750 | Cars with the lowest manufacturing-carbon score - cleaner electricity in the countries where the car is assembled and its battery cells are made. |
| Band 2 | £1,500 | Cars with a higher manufacturing-carbon score. They meet exactly the same technical and sustainability eligibility standards as Band 1. |
Tips for checking EV grant eligibility
- Whilst other media sources can be helpful, you should always double-check the GOV.UK website - or ask the dealer at the point of sale.
- Eligibility is often variant-specific (e.g. trim, battery, and options). Always ask the dealer: "Is this model listed in the OZEV grant portal and which band is it in?" Dealers claim via the plug-in vehicle grant portal.
- If you see a car listed as eligible in the press, cross-check with the official list of eligible models - and get confirmation of the discount in writing before agreeing to buy.
Electric car grant eligibility criteria
Not every EV qualifies for the scheme. Vehicles must meet several technical and environmental requirements:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Vehicle type | Passenger car (category M1) |
| Emissions | 0 g/km CO₂ |
| Electric range | Minimum 100 miles (160 km) |
| Vehicle warranty | Minimum 3 years / 60,000 miles |
| Battery warranty | Minimum 8 years / 100,000 miles, including replacement if capacity falls below 70% during the first 8 years. |
| Sustainability | Manufacturer evidence required. |
| Approval | Variant must be approved through OZEV/VCA processes. |
Electric car grant price cap explained
To qualify, a car must have an RRP of £37,000 or less. For grant purposes, RRP includes VAT and mandatory extras such as delivery or administration fees, but excludes the first registration fee and first vehicle licence.
The interpolation family rule
The government allows a small margin through the 'interpolation family' system, where several variants of the same model may share eligibility, if the higher trims are technically identical to the approved core model.
Some variants in the same interpolation family as an approved sub-£37,000 model can still qualify, provided their list price does not exceed £42,000.
Grants for wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs)
Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) grant
The government also offers a plug-in grant for electric Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs) to help reduce the upfront cost of accessible zero-emission transport.
- Eligible vehicles can receive a discount of up to 35% off the purchase price, capped at £2,500.
- The grant is applied automatically by the dealer at the point of sale. Buyers do not need to apply separately.
- The vehicle must be new, fully electric, and converted to a WAV before its first registration.
- The base vehicle must have a list price of £50,000 or less, excluding the cost of conversion.
Which Motability cars are eligible for the EV grants?
Motability customers may also benefit from the electric car grant if their chosen vehicle meets the same criteria as retail buyers, including the required price cap, minimum range, and zero-emission status.
However, not all Motability vehicles will qualify. Many adapted models or higher-spec electric cars exceed the scheme's price limit, meaning they may fall outside the grant. Because eligibility can vary, it's best to check directly with Motability Operations or your chosen dealership before placing an order.
Separate support is also available through the government's Plug-in Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Grant (PiWG), which provides a discount on eligible electric vehicles converted into wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs).
At the time of writing, examples of base vehicles that can be converted into eligible WAVs include:
- Citroen e-Berlingo
- Citroen e-Spacetourer Business M
- Citroen e-Spacetourer Business XL
- Ford E-Tourneo Courier
- Kia PV5 Passenger 5-seat
- Peugeot e-Rifter
- Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life - Combi
The list of eligible base vehicles can change, so it's worth checking the official GOV.UK guidance for the latest approved models and converters.
Tips for checking electric car grant eligibility
Eligibility can vary depending on the exact model variant. Before buying an EV:
- Check the official GOV.UK eligibility list.
- Confirm the specific model variant.
- Ask the dealer which grant band applies.
- Request written confirmation of the discount.
