The Netherlands updated EV policy: Subsidy for new & used electric vehicles

Buying an electric car becomes more attractive for the Dutch. The Dutch government wants to grant a maximum of 4000 euros in subsidies for buying an electric car from 1 July, while buyers of a second-hand model will receive a maximum of 2000 euros.

What does this mean for the price of an electric car?

With this money, electric cars become more affordable. For example, the Opel Corsa-e with subsidy costs 37,000 euros and the Volkswagen e-up! 20,000 euros. This brings the price of electric cars closer to that of gasoline cars.

It is the hope of the ministry that this will boost sales. In 2019 , 14 percent of all cars sold were electric , but still more than 98 percent of all cars on Dutch roads are powered by fossil fuel.

Moreover, last year the share of electric cars was unusually high due to the business market. The addition for electric cars was four percent until the end of last year. This year the addition increases to eight percent. In 2026 the addition is 22 percent.

How much is the subsidy and what are the conditions?

According to the rules, people can receive a subsidy while buying (or leasing a new or used electric car) that is in the price range between 12,000 and 45,000 euros.; Buyers of cars that fall outside of this, do not receive a subsidy; means high-end luxury EVs are not eligible. The EV must also have a minimum range of 120 kilometers , which may make many plug-in hybrid vehicles which have small range batteries.

“the scheme is intended to bring electric driving closer to individuals in a middle-class car. That is why only emission-free passenger cars, both used and new, with an original catalog value between 12,000 and 45,000 euros and a minimum range of 120 kilometers are eligible.”

There are additional rules. For example, a buyer must own a car for three years, while leasing is a four-year period. This should prevent people from benefiting from the scheme by buying and selling cars each time.

Moreover, the subsidy runs until 2025, until it comes to 2550 euros. This is necessary because, according to the government, the price difference between cars using fossil fuels and electric models will decrease in the coming years. The government first wanted to give a subsidy of up to 6,000 euros , but opted for a lower maximum amount in this concept.

Subsidy for electric vehicles	New	Second-hand
July 1, 2020 - December 31, 2021	4000 euros	2000 euros
All of 2022	3700 euros	2000 euros
All of 2023	3350 euros	2000 euros
All of 2024	2,950 euros	2000 euros
January 1 to June 30, 2025	2550 euros	Subsidy expired
From July 1, 2025	Subsidy expired	Subsidy expired

Certainty about the battery pack

There are always many question marks about the condition of a battery pack of a used electric car. To give motorists more certainty about this, it has been agreed that the BOVAG is working on a uniform battery check.

250 million euros in total

The climate agreement, which was concluded in June last year, agreed to financially stimulate electric driving with a budget of around 250 million euros until the end of 2025. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management states that the maximum amount has been used with this current subsidy scheme and that there is therefore no extra money for other subsidies.

At the same time, the addition rules regarding electric driving have been changed. Autobrief II stated that the addition percentage for electric cars in the 2016-2020 period was 4%, but that has already been broken this year . Anyone who drives an EV for business purposes and also uses it for private purposes, will pay an additional 8% from this year onwards. The percentage will also increase in the coming years.

Tax benefits of electric driving

There are already interesting tax benefits for electric drivers. For a full electric car (BEV), you pay no road tax until 2025 (motor vehicle tax, MRB). That saves hundreds to more than 1,000 euros a year. Furthermore, you do not pay a purchase tax (BPM) in 2020 for new electric cars.

Electric car charging point subsidy

There is no national subsidy for people who want a charging station at home. There are some municipalities that provide subsidies for a charging station at home. Sometimes the municipality stipulates that others can also use the charging station (it must then be publicly accessible). Ask your municipality what is possible. Or check in the https://nederlandelektrisch.nl/ which municipalities place a public charging station for free.