EV Purchase Grants and Scrappage Schemes UK 2026: What's Actually Available

No, not for private buyers of electric cars specifically. The Plug-in Car Grant, which previously gave buyers a discount on the purchase price of a new electric car, ended for private cars in June 2022. There is no direct equivalent national cash grant for individual car buyers in 2026 — the main ongoing national incentives instead come through the tax system (favourable Benefit-in-Kind rates for company cars, lower Vehicle Excise Duty bands historically, though EVs now pay standard VED) rather than a point-of-sale grant.

Yes, in narrower form. The Plug-in Van Grant and the Plug-in Taxi Grant have continued in various forms for eligible commercial vehicle and taxi purchases, offering a percentage discount up to a capped amount on qualifying vehicles, though the exact percentage, cap, and eligible vehicle list are reviewed and can change — check current OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles) guidance for the live scheme terms.

Several UK cities with Clean Air Zones or low-emission zones (such as Birmingham, Bristol, and previously London's ULEZ expansion) have run local scrappage schemes, offering a cash payment or credit toward a compliant replacement vehicle (or towards public transport, cycling, or car club credit) in exchange for scrapping an older, non-compliant vehicle. These are locally administered, time-limited schemes, not a permanent national programme, so availability and terms vary significantly by city and by year.

Usually yes, or at least meet specific residency, low-income, or vehicle-use criteria set by the specific scheme — most local scrappage schemes are targeted at residents, small businesses, or specific vulnerable groups within or near the relevant zone, rather than being open to anyone nationally. Check the specific local authority's scheme rules, since eligibility criteria differ meaningfully between cities.

Typical structures include a cash payment for scrapping a non-compliant vehicle, a larger payment or discount specifically toward a compliant replacement vehicle (which may include EVs, hybrids, or simply newer compliant petrol/diesel vehicles depending on the scheme), or credit toward public transport passes, cycling equipment, or car club membership as an alternative to vehicle ownership altogether.

The previous Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme, which subsidised home charge point installation for private driveway owners, was closed to new applicants in most of its original form some time ago, though a narrower EV Chargepoint Grant has continued for some flat/apartment residents without off-street parking and some landlords, alongside a separate Workplace Charging Scheme grant for employers installing charge points for staff — check current OZEV guidance for exact current eligibility, since these schemes are reviewed periodically.

Yes — the main ongoing incentive is now through Benefit-in-Kind tax for company cars, where fully electric vehicles attract a significantly lower BiK percentage than petrol or diesel equivalents, making salary sacrifice EV schemes and company car EVs considerably cheaper in take-home-pay terms than an equivalent combustion vehicle, even without a direct purchase grant.

No — standard VAT rules apply to EV purchases in the same way as any other vehicle; there is no VAT-specific EV purchase incentive. Any VAT reclaim on a business-purchased EV follows the same general rules (generally restricted for cars available for private use, more flexible for vans) as for any other vehicle type.

There is no indication of a return to a broad, national point-of-sale grant for private EV buyers as of 2026 — policy support has shifted toward the tax system (BiK, salary sacrifice) and targeted local/commercial schemes rather than a universal cash discount. Buyers should base a purchase decision on currently available incentives (BiK savings if via an employer scheme, local scrappage scheme eligibility if applicable) rather than anticipating a new national grant.