Government support for electric vehicle purchases has changed significantly over the past few years, and keeping track of what’s currently available — and what isn’t — is genuinely confusing. Here’s an up-to-date guide to the grants, schemes, and support available to UK buyers in 2026.
The Plug-in Car Grant
The headline Plug-in Car Grant for private car buyers was discontinued in 2022, when the government ended the scheme for private purchasers to focus remaining funds on commercial vehicles, taxis, and wheelchair accessible vehicles.
This means there is currently no direct government grant available to private individuals buying a new electric car in the UK. The grants that do exist are aimed at specific categories:
Electric vans. The Plug-in Van Grant provides 35% of the purchase price, up to a maximum of £2,500 for small vans and £5,000 for large vans. The van must be on the eligible vehicles list and purchased from an approved dealership.
Wheelchair accessible vehicles. A grant of up to £2,500 is available toward the cost of a new plug-in wheelchair accessible vehicle.
Motorcycles, mopeds, and small vehicles. Grants of up to £500 are available for eligible electric motorcycles and mopeds.
The Electric Car Grant That Still Exists: For Specific Buyers
There is an important exception. The Plug-in Car Grant — at £3,750 — remains available for eligible vehicles purchased by or for disabled people through the Motability scheme. If you or a family member receives certain disability benefits and uses the Motability scheme to lease a vehicle, electric cars are included and the grant effectively reduces the advance payment.
The Ford Puma Gen-E Grant
Separately, specific models that qualify for the government’s Electric Car Grant (a scheme reintroduced in a targeted form for lower-priced models) include the Ford Puma Gen-E. At the time of writing, the Puma Gen-E qualifies for a £3,750 grant, making it the cheapest entry point for a government-subsidised new EV purchase for private buyers.
Check gov.uk for the current list of eligible vehicles — the qualifying criteria (typically price capped at £35,000 and meeting specific standards) mean the list changes as new models are launched and prices shift.
Home Charging Grants
The EV Chargepoint Grant provides up to 75% of the cost of installing a home chargepoint, capped at £350. This is available to homeowners and renters in flats and rented accommodation (subject to conditions), and covers the installation of a smart chargepoint by an OZEV-approved installer.
Importantly, landlords can also apply for grants to install charge points in rental properties — up to £350 per socket, with a maximum of 200 sockets per property. This scheme exists to improve charging access for renters, who have historically been disadvantaged by the home charging infrastructure.
The grant is applied directly by the installer — you don’t need to claim it yourself. Simply use an OZEV-approved installer and they handle the grant application.
Workplace Charging Scheme
The Workplace Charging Scheme provides businesses, charities, and public sector organisations with a grant toward the cost of installing EV chargepoints at their premises. The grant covers 75% of the purchase and installation cost, up to £350 per socket, with a maximum of 40 sockets.
If your employer offers workplace charging, this scheme may be what funded it. If your workplace doesn’t yet have EV chargers, it’s worth mentioning this scheme to your facilities or fleet manager.
Scotland-Specific Support
Scotland has historically offered additional EV incentives through Transport Scotland and the Energy Saving Trust. These have included interest-free loans for EV purchases and additional chargepoint grants. The specific schemes available change periodically — check Transport Scotland’s website for current offers if you’re based in Scotland.
The Salary Sacrifice Route
While not a government grant, salary sacrifice for electric vehicles is effectively a significant tax saving. Under a salary sacrifice arrangement, your employer leases an EV and you give up a portion of your pre-tax salary to cover the cost. You pay income tax and National Insurance only on the Benefit in Kind value — currently 4% for electric cars — rather than the full leasing cost. For a higher-rate taxpayer, the saving over a personal lease can be 30–40%.
Many employers now offer salary sacrifice EV schemes, and it’s worth asking HR if yours does. It’s one of the most tax-efficient ways to drive a new electric car available to employed individuals.
Second-Hand EV Incentives
There is currently no direct government grant for used EV purchases. The lower purchase prices of used EVs as the market has matured, combined with lower running costs, provide their own economic incentive without additional subsidy.
Keeping Up to Date
Government support for EVs is a moving target — schemes are introduced, modified, and ended with varying notice. The authoritative source is gov.uk, specifically the “get help buying a zero emission vehicle” pages. Check directly before making any purchasing decision based on an assumed grant.
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