Electric Car Grant Ireland 2026: What You Get

Illustration of a car connected to a charger, next to a list: grant, VRT relief, charger

Last checked against official sources on 19 October 2026.

This guide is general information, not legal, tax, financial or mechanical advice. Rules, rates and fees change, so confirm the details with the official sources listed at the end before you act. CarQnA is not affiliated with any of them.

Electric cars cost less to run than petrol or diesel, but the price on the windscreen still puts people off. Ireland takes a chunk off it with a grant and a tax relief, and helps with charging at home. Here is what each one is worth in 2026, who qualifies, and what Budget 2027 changed.

The quick summary

SEAI purchase grant: up to €3,500 off a new fully electric car bought privately.
VRT relief: up to €5,000, for electric cars registered before 31 December 2028, after Budget 2027 extended it.
Home charger grant: up to €300, but you must be approved before you buy or install anything.
Motor tax: €120 a year, the lowest rate.
Scrappage top-up: a €5,000 pilot opened and closed on 1 July 2026, and is under review. Budget 2027 announced no new scheme.

The SEAI purchase grant

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) gives up to €3,500 towards a new battery electric car bought by a private buyer. You do not apply yourself: the dealer applies and takes the grant off the price on your invoice.

There is a price cap. For grant applications made after 31 July 2026, the car's full price must be no more than €50,000, down from €60,000 before that date. There is also a lower price limit, so check the current threshold on seai.ie for the car you have in mind. Plug-in hybrids no longer get a grant.

VRT relief, now extended to the end of 2028

Battery electric cars also get relief on Vehicle Registration Tax of up to €5,000. The full relief applies where Revenue values the car (its OMSP) at €40,000 or less, and it tapers down to nothing at €50,000. It is applied automatically when the car is registered, so there is nothing to claim.

Budget 2027, announced on 6 October 2026, extended the relief by two years. It now applies to electric cars registered before 31 December 2028, so there is no need to rush to register before the end of 2026. The extension becomes law through the Finance Bill, normally passed before Christmas, so Revenue's page still shows the 2026 date until then.

The scrappage top-up

In 2026 the Government piloted an extra €5,000 for people trading in a petrol or diesel car more than 13 years old for an electric one. Combined with the €3,500 purchase grant, that was up to €8,500 off a new electric car. The €10 million pilot opened on 1 July 2026 and closed the same day because of demand. It is under review, and Budget 2027 announced no new scheme, so there is no scrappage grant to apply for right now.

Home charger grants

SEAI's home charger grant is worth up to €300 towards installing a charge point. The order matters: you must apply and get SEAI's approval before you buy the charger or have any work done, because costs from before approval are not covered. The work must then be finished within 6 months, and the charger must be on SEAI's register of approved smart chargers. You do not need to own an electric car yet to apply. There is a separate grant for apartment buildings.

Running costs

A fully electric car pays motor tax of €120 a year, the lowest band. For company cars, the original market value used to work out benefit in kind on an electric car is reduced by €10,000 in 2026, €5,000 in 2027 and €2,500 in 2028.

Vans

Electric vans have their own grants through SEAI: €3,800 for a standard N1 van and €7,600 for a large panel van.

Buying a used electric car

The SEAI purchase grant is only for new cars, so a second-hand electric car does not get it. A used electric car imported from abroad can still benefit from the VRT relief if it is registered here before 31 December 2028, and it pays the same €120 motor tax.

Common questions

How much is the electric car grant in Ireland in 2026?

Up to €3,500 from SEAI off a new battery electric car priced between €15,000 and €50,000.

Is there still an EV grant in Ireland?

Yes. The SEAI grant of up to €3,500 for new battery electric cars is open, and Budget 2027 said the vehicle grants continue in 2027. Plug-in hybrids no longer get a grant.

Can you get a free electric car in Ireland?

No. There is no scheme that gives away an electric car. The supports are the SEAI grant of up to €3,500, VRT relief of up to €5,000 and the €300 home charger grant, all of which take money off the price.

Is there a price limit on the EV grant?

Yes. For applications after 31 July 2026 the car must cost no more than €50,000, down from €60,000.

When does VRT relief on electric cars end?

Budget 2027 extended it to 31 December 2028. Before that it was due to end on 31 December 2026.

Do second-hand electric cars get a grant?

No, the SEAI purchase grant is for new cars only. A used imported EV can still get VRT relief if registered before 31 December 2028.

Can I get the home charger grant after installing?

No. You must be approved by SEAI before you buy the charger or have any work done.

Electric Car Grant Ireland 2026: SEAI, VRT and Chargers