Grants & relief
What comes off the price
The SEAI purchase grant and VRT relief are applied by the dealer — you never claim them back. Both stop at a price ceiling, which is why the trim you pick can be worth thousands.
VRT relief ends 31 December 2026 unless it is extended. The SEAI price cap dropped to €50,000 on 31 July 2026.
What the State takes off
€8,500
A €39,000 car comes to €30,500.
- 01SEAI purchase grant€3,500New BEVs listed €14,000–€50,000. Applied by the dealer at the point of sale.
- 02VRT relief€5,000Applied at registration. This price sits in the €5,000 band.
- 03Home charger grant€300Separate SEAI application, towards installing a charge point at your home. It pays for the charger, not the car — so it is not in the total above.
€1,000 of headroom. A car listed above €40,000 loses €1,500 of VRT relief — a higher trim can cost you far more than its sticker difference.
Grant rates and price caps from SEAI; VRT relief bands from Revenue, last updated 2026-01-01. Rates change — confirm with the dealer before you order. Charging.ie is not affiliated with SEAI or Revenue.
What else changes
- Motor tax is €120 a year, the lowest band — against roughly €333 on a typical petrol car.
- Company cars get reduced benefit-in-kind rates on electric vehicles.
- Running costs fall sharply if you charge at home. Run your own mileage — public-only charging changes the answer.
Eligibility
- New battery-electric vehicle, on the SEAI approved list.
- Private purchase — not fleet or taxi.
- List price between €14,000 and €50,000.
- The dealer applies for the grant and it is paid to them; VRT relief is applied at registration. You pay the price after both.