Is there a grant for a used electric car?

How the grant works

GOV.UK describes the grant as a discount on some new zero-emission cars. You do not apply for it: the seller includes it in the purchase price, and a dealership or manufacturer applies through the government’s online portal. Vehicles have to be approved by the government before they are eligible.

The announcement was for drivers across the UK, with discounts available at the point of sale on new eligible electric cars.

Which vehicles the scheme covers

GOV.UK’s overview says some new zero emission vehicles are eligible for a government grant, in four groups: cars, trucks, vans and wheelchair accessible vehicles. For cars the page speaks of new zero-emission cars, and the discount is built into the price the seller charges.

What a car has to meet

To be eligible a car must be a passenger vehicle that produces 0 g/km of CO2 at the tailpipe and has a battery range of at least 100 miles. It needs a three-year or 60,000-mile warranty, a battery warranty of eight years or 100,000 miles, and it has to meet minimum sustainability criteria.

A car must also be priced at or below £37,000 recommended retail price, which includes VAT, delivery charges and the battery. A version in the same family as a variant priced under £37,000 is treated as meeting the price rule up to £42,000.

Which discount a car gets depends on its band: up to £3,750 for Band 1 and up to £1,500 for Band 2. GOV.UK lists the approved cars in each band.

What this means if you are buying used

The grant is a new-car discount applied by the seller at the point of sale, so there is no application you can make for a used electric car. Other costs of owning an electric car, such as vehicle tax and charging, apply to used cars as they do to new ones.