How EV grants stack in Ireland in 2026
2026 is the most generous — and the last — year to stack Ireland's electric-car incentives on a new BEV. Two supports are currently active on a new BEV, and a third — the ICE2EV scrappage top-up — has already closed after overwhelming demand:
SEAI grant — €3,500
New BEVs priced €14,000–€60,000 (€50,000 from 31 July). Deducted by the dealer.
VRT relief — up to €5,000
Full under €40k OMSP, tapering to zero at €50k. Built into the price. Ends 31 December 2026.
ICE2EV scrappage — closed
Would have added €5,000 for scrapping a 2013-or-earlier petrol/diesel. Opened and fully subscribed the same day, 1 July 2026.
The SEAI grant is cash deducted by your dealer at the point of sale. VRT relief works differently: it is applied by Revenue when the car is first registered, so it is already reflected in the price you see on a new EV rather than handed to you separately. Together they add up to up to €8,800 for a qualifying buyer (grant + VRT relief + €300 home charger grant). The ICE2EV scrappage top-up would have added a further €5,000, but it closed within roughly 75 minutes of opening on 1 July 2026 after its €10m fund was fully subscribed — our calculator reflects that it is currently unavailable.
Buying a used EV? You skip the grants — but you start cheaper
None of the three new-car supports apply to a second-hand EV. The trade-off is that a used EV has already absorbed its VRT and the steepest part of its depreciation, so the up-front price is lower to begin with. Used-EV buyers still get the €300 SEAI home charger grant and €120-a-year motor tax, and in 2026 a used EV is now median-cheaper to run than an equivalent diesel. To see the running-cost gap in euro, use our EV vs petrol & diesel calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the EV grant in Ireland in 2026?+
The SEAI purchase grant for a new battery electric car (BEV) is €3,500 in 2026. It applies to new BEVs with a full price between €14,000 and €60,000 — though that upper limit drops to €50,000 for applications from 31 July 2026. The grant is paid to your dealer and shown as a deduction on the invoice, so you pay the discounted price up front. Used and imported EVs do not qualify for the purchase grant.
Can I still get the ICE2EV scrappage on top of the SEAI grant?+
No, not currently. The ICE2EV scrappage scheme opened on 1 July 2026, offering €5,000 (stacking with the €3,500 SEAI grant for up to €8,500) for scrapping a petrol or diesel car registered in 2013 or earlier and buying a new EV — but its €10 million fund was fully subscribed within about 75 minutes and it closed the same day. It is not accepting new applications; a DoT/SEAI review is under way with no confirmed reopening date. The €3,500 SEAI grant and VRT relief (up to €5,000) are unaffected and still available.
When does VRT relief on electric cars end?+
VRT relief for battery electric vehicles is scheduled to end on 31 December 2026. New BEVs registered from 1 January 2027 pay full Vehicle Registration Tax for the first time since 2008 — typically several thousand euro more. The current relief is up to €5,000 for BEVs with an OMSP of €40,000 or less, tapering to zero at €50,000 and disappearing entirely above that.
What was the ICE2EV scrappage scheme and who qualified?+
ICE2EV was a SEAI scrappage scheme that opened on 1 July 2026 and paid €5,000 toward a new battery electric car when you permanently scrapped an internal-combustion car registered in 2013 or earlier. Applicants had to have owned the scrapped car for at least 12 months, with it taxed, insured and with an NCT that expired no more than six months before applying. Demand was overwhelming — the 2,000-application, €10m fund was exhausted within roughly 75 minutes — and the scheme is now closed to new applications.
Do used electric cars get any grant in Ireland?+
No — the €3,500 SEAI purchase grant and VRT relief both apply to new BEVs only (the ICE2EV scrappage is currently closed in any case). But a used EV is already cheaper because VRT and the steepest depreciation are baked into its price. Used-EV buyers still get the €300 SEAI home charger grant, €120-a-year motor tax (the lowest band), and far lower running costs — in 2026 a used EV is now median-cheaper to run than an equivalent diesel.
Is there still a grant for plug-in hybrids (PHEVs)?+
No. The SEAI grant for plug-in hybrids was discontinued at the end of 2022, and there is no purchase grant for full hybrids. Only fully battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) qualify for the €3,500 grant and VRT relief in 2026.
Related tools & guides
- SEAI EV Grant Guide 2026The full explainer behind the numbers.
- EV vs Petrol Calculator3- and 5-year running costs, side by side.
- VRT CalculatorEstimate VRT on an import, including BEV relief.
- Electric Cars for SaleLive EV stock from verified Irish dealers.
Disclaimer: This calculator gives estimates based on grant and tax figures current as of 13 July 2026. The ICE2EV scrappage scheme opened and closed on 1 July 2026 and is not currently accepting applications. Always check seai.ie and revenue.ie before placing an order. Autoza is a vehicle marketplace and does not administer government grants.
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