New electric cars are expensive, which makes it a challenge for many people to switch to an electric model. That is why governments around the world have developed options to make the transition easier. In the Netherlands, for example, business users can count on tax benefits and other deductions. Private individuals can also receive a subsidy for a new electric car, but what about the subsidy for the purchase of a used electric car? And is there a way to get an electric car even cheaper?
Subsidy for a new electric car
For the purchase of a new car you can get a subsidy of €2950, which is a nice amount. With private leasing you can also count on an amount of €2950. This applies to private individuals. For business users there are various advantages, which ensure that the choice for an electric car becomes considerably easier. But now comes the big question: can you also get a subsidy for a used electric car? The answer is a resounding yes.
Can you get a subsidy for a second-hand electric car?
If you purchase a used electric car between January 1, 2024 and December 27 (12:00), you can receive a subsidy of €2000. At the time of writing, slightly less than the entire budget is still available: there is still €14 million left of the almost €30 million that has been deposited in the pot.
The subsidy only applies to fully electric cars that are registered in your own name and you must live in the Netherlands for this. In addition, the car must be on the list of suitable cars , just as this list applies to new electric cars when applying for subsidy.
Smarter to import an electric car from Germany?
Subsidy is nice, especially when you were already looking for a new or used electric car, but can it be even cheaper? It seems that way, because more and more people are looking at our eastern neighbors. Germany has a much larger car market, which means that the number of second-hand electric cars is much larger. At the same time, the Germans are known as people who pay a lot of attention to their car and have repairs and maintenance carried out by brand dealers, which means that almost all parts are still original.
That sounds nice, but you can't just open the German marketplaces and bid on a car. In order to import an electric car (and possibly even claim the subsidy), you need a Dutch garage. In most cases, however, they are happy to work with you, for a fee of course. If they can arrange the import for you, this means that you will soon be driving around in your electric car.
The prices for second-hand electric cars in Germany are on average lower than in the Netherlands. The higher the new price of the car, the greater the price difference. Especially in the luxury and middle segments, the price differences are large enough to make importing attractive. If you also want to know whether you can use a subsidy for the used electric car, let the garage that arranges the import know before importing.
What are the expectations regarding subsidies for EVs in the future?
Subsidy pots do not last forever. Certainly not when it comes to sustainability and closing the price gap between cars with a traditional combustion engine versus an electric car. This means that there is a big chance that subsidies for electric cars will be further reduced. The only question is whether this is indeed as big a disadvantage as the average Dutch person makes it out to be on social media.
The average price of a used electric car is decreasing, while the supply of second-hand electric cars is only increasing. Especially now that people are also looking to Germany and importing models. This means that the subsidy will not only be further reduced, but that there is also less and less need for it. At the same time, it is wise to make use of the subsidy options now, because with € 2000 you can buy a very nice charging station and have it installed so that you can immediately charge your EV optimally and safely at home.
