If you're looking at buying an electric vehicle (EV) in Australia, there may be government incentives for electric cars available to you.
We’ve put together a list of what the Australian states and territories are doing in the electric vehicle space, including any incentives or rebates on offer.
Keep in mind, each government’s electric car scheme will be subject to limitations and eligibility criteria may change – so it’s best to do your own research when applying for an incentive. So, what incentives are there to buy an electric car?
Federal incentives
In Australia, luxury cars over a certain value are subject to a luxury car tax. The good news for owners of high-end fuel efficient vehicles is the luxury car tax threshold is higher to encourage uptake of electric vehicles.
Additionally, eligible electric vehicles held and used after 1 July 2022 are exempt from fringe benefits tax (FBT), which reduces the costs of paying for an eligible electric vehicle through a novated lease.
Find out more about the Australian Government’s luxury car tax thresholds here, and electric car FBT exemption here.
South Australia
The SA Government provides a 3-year registration fee exemption for eligible new battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Here’s some of the criteria that you’ll need to meet to be eligible:
- Vehicle is valued up to $68,750 (including GST)
- Vehicle must be first registered in SA from 28 October 2021 and up to 30 June 2025
- The vehicle must be a new or demonstrator model full battery electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (not available for plug-in hybrid vehicles)
The $3,000 subsidy on the purchase of eligible new battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles ended on 1 January 2024. Individuals and business that have entered into a contract and are waiting the delivery of the vehicle are still eligible to receive the subsidy.
You can read the full eligibility criteria and apply for the subsidy here.
Victoria
Victorian residents and businesses are able to claim a $100 discount on registration fees annually for electric, hydrogen or plug-in electric-hybrid vehicles. Additionally, they are exempt from the luxury vehicle rate of stamp duty and pay a flat rate. Find out more here.
The Victorian Government’s Zero Emissions Vehicle Subsidy has ended.
Northern Territory
The NT Government provides registration and stamp duty concessions for plug-in electric vehicles. NT residents may be eligible for:
- Stamp duty concession of up to $1,500 for vehicles valued up to $50,000
- Free registration for new and existing electric vehicles including previously registered, interstate transfers and imported vehicles (an annual saving of $91)
Additionally, the Electric Vehicle Charger Grants Scheme subsidises the purchase and installation of EV chargers, with grants of $1,000 for individuals and $2,500 for businesses up for grabs until exhausted.
You can read more about the NT Government’s electric vehicle strategy and incentives here.
Queensland
The Queensland Zero Emission Vehicle Rebate Scheme offers businesses and households a rebate on the purchase of eligible new zero emission vehicles.
Here’s some of the eligibility criteria to receive a $3,000 rebate:
- Vehicle purchase price up to $68,000 (including GST)
- Must be registered in QLD on or after 16 March 2022
- One rebate per individual and up to five rebates per QLD business per financial year
Individuals may be eligible for a further $3,000 rebate (total of $6,000) if their total household income is less than or equal to $180,000 per year.
Queensland residents purchasing an EV are also eligible for lower registration fees and stamp duty rates.
Learn more about the QLD Government’s EV incentives here.
Western Australia
WA residents can take advantage of the WA Government’s Zero Emission Vehicle Rebate which offers a $3,500 rebate on new eligible zero emission vehicles. Applications for this rebate will be accepted until 10 May 2025.
Here’s some of the eligibility criteria:
- Vehicle is valued up to $70,000 (including GST)
- Vehicle must be granted a vehicle licence in WA on or after 10 May 2022
- Vehicle must be a zero emission vehicle and be fully powered by batteries or hydrogen fuel cells
- Vehicle must be brand new and never previously been registered or licensed in Australia or overseas
Read more about the eligibility criteria and how to apply here.
New South Wales
The NSW Government offered $3,000 rebates available on the first 25,000 electric vehicles registered since 1 September 2021, which ended on 31 December 2023.
Individuals and businesses who purchased or placed a deposit on an eligible EV prior to 1 January 2024, and are awaiting delivery of the vehicle, will still be eligible to receive the rebate.
Please visit this page on the NSW Government website for more information.
Australian Capital Territory
In the ACT, you can apply for interest free loans of up to $15,000 to purchase an electric vehicle under the Sustainable Household Scheme. The vehicle will need to be under the luxury car tax threshold for fuel efficient vehicles, this figure can be found on the ATO website.
Here is a summary of some of the incentives in the ACT:
- From 1 July 2024, vehicle registration fees will transition to an emissions-based system for most light vehicles. This means lower registration fees for lower-emissions vehicles, including: zero emission vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, and low-emission petrol and diesel vehicles.
- New and used zero-emission vehicles can receive a stamp duty exemption
- New plug-in hybrid vehicles and hybrid vehicles can receive stamp duty exemption if purchased or acquired from 1 August 2022
- Used plug-in hybrid vehicles and hybrid vehicles can receive stamp duty exemption if purchased or acquired from 1 July 2023
Each incentive has different eligibility criteria which you can check out here.
Tasmania
A small number of rebates are still available under the Electric Vehicle Rebate program which provides rebates of $2,000 for the purchase of electric vehicles. Additionally, under the Energy Saver Loan Scheme, Tasmanian households, small businesses and non-profit’s may be able to access an interest-free loan between $500 and $10,000 to fund the purchase and installation of EV charges.
Additional information and the number of remaining rebates can be found here.
Get great rates with our Green Car Loan
Our Green Car Loan rewards you with a discounted interest rate for opting for a more environmentally friendly car, like an eligible hybrid, electric or hydrogen vehicle.
You can find out more about our competitive interest rate and eligibility criteria here.
The content of this article is up-to-date and accurate at the time of publication (8 July 2024).
