Dutch individuals buying an electric car this year or leasing one privately can apply for a subsidy again. That popular subsidy moneybox was empty at the end of May, but it is refueled with 99,4 million euros, 8 million euros more than in 2022.

Because the amount per car has been reduced, more people can now buy a subsidized car. An amount of 2 950 euros is now available for new vehicles. That is 400 euros less than in 2022.

For used cars, the amount remains the same. Those who buy them can get a 2 000 euros subsidy from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). Especially for used cars, the budget has been inflated: over 32 million euros are now available for that, suitable for 16 200 cars. Last year, the Dutch government allocated over 20 million euros for 10 200 second-hand electric vehicles.

Still other exemptions

The number of new electric cars that can be purchased with a subsidy this year comes to some 22 700. Last year, there was a budget for almost 21 200 vehicles. When the pot is empty, people interested will have to wait until next year. To qualify for a premium, the new EV must not cost more than 45 000 euros.

Anyone buying an EV in the Netherlands until 2024 will also be exempt from BPM, a kind of ‘luxury tax’ on cars, calculated on a base amount increased by a surcharge per gram of CO2 emissions of the vehicles in question.

Owners of an all-electric car are also exempt from MRB or the ‘motor vehicle tax’, popularly known as road tax, by the government until 2024. There are currently over 300 000 electric cars driving in the Netherlands. That is almost 60 000 more than by the end of 2020.