The government electric car grant scheme ended on 14 June 2022. It used to be £1,500. When you leased an eligible car, the grant was applied automatically.

While that incentive has sadly come to an end, some types of low-emission vehicles - including vans - are still eligible for a grant from the government.

Renters and flat owners can also apply for an electric vehicle (EV) charge point grant, with up to 75% off the cost to buy and install a socket, up to a maximum value of £350. The charge point grant comes to an end on March 31st 2025.

You can read our separate guide about the EV charge point grant here.

Why Did The Government Electric Car Grant Exist?

As part of its Road to Zero policy, the UK government sought to promote eco-friendly vehicles with low or zero CO₂ emissions and which pollute the environment.

That’s why there was a grant which reduced the recommended retail price (RRP) and the cost of leasing certain fully electric cars.

The car grant scheme – sometimes referred to as the Plug-in Car Grant or PiCG – was administered by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV). It initiative came to an end in 2022.

Which Cars Could Get The Grant?

Only 100% electric vehicles were eligible for the grant. The grant applied to all-electric cars under £32,000, as long as they had a battery range of at least 70 miles.

Plug-in hybrids and conventional (non plug-in) hybrid cars – which have both a battery and a petrol or diesel engine – did not attract the electric car grant.

Despite the general plug-in car grant scheme ending, some low emissions vehicles are still eligible for a government grant. Full details of the current grant scheme – covering wheelchair accessible vehicles, motorcycles, mopeds, small vans, large vans, taxis, small trucks and large trucks – are available on the government website.

How Much Was The Government Electric Car Grant?

As long as the vehicle’s purchase price (RRP), including VAT and delivery fees, was less than £32,000, then the grant was £1,500.

For example, an all-electric car costing £31,000 would have been priced at £29,500 once the grant of £1,500 had been taken off.

On the other hand, an electric vehicle with a cost of £38,000 (RRP) would not have been eligible for the grant and would have remained at £38,000.

Did You Have To Apply For The Grant?

If you leased an eligible fully electric car with Select Car Leasing, you didn't need to do any paperwork to get the grant.

The £1,500 reduction in price was applied automatically before your monthly payments were calculated.

Even without the grant, we have a wide range of excellent lease deals for both all-electric and hybrid cars. Why not get in touch now for a quick chat or browse our special offers below.

Plug-in Car Grant Summary

Applied to fully electric cars only
£1,500 off the RRP
Cars priced at below £32,000 were eligible
The discount was applied automatically when you leased a vehicle

Want to know more or enquire about a new electric car?

Why not phone one of our friendly electric vehicle consultants on 0118 3048 688

or email us at enquiries@selectcarleasing.co.uk

Check Out Our Other Electric Guides

Guide

Guide to EV Charger Grants

If you do go ahead and lease a plug-in electric vehicle and have off-street parking, you might be eligible for £350 off the installation price of a charger. Read our OZEV Government Electric Car Grant Guide for more details.

Guide

Find Your Perfect EV Charging Point

Choosing the right home charger for your EV is a bit of a minefield. To make the process as easy as possible, we've teamed up with charging experts Rightcharge who offer a wide range of the latest chargers at great prices.

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Browse Guides to Electric Motoring

To support our fantastic electric vehicle lease deals, we have a wide-ranging set of guides to answer all your electric questions. We cover topics like range, charging, how to choose an EV, what are BEVs, PHEVs and HEVs, and much more.