Which payment do you mean: a purchase grant or the THG premium?
A search for an electric car premium can refer to two different arrangements. Germany’s federal electric car grant supports the purchase or lease of an eligible new car. The THG premium comes from selling a certified electricity quantity associated with an already registered battery electric vehicle. Each arrangement has its own eligibility rules and deadlines.
The Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control, known as BAFA, decides applications for the purchase and leasing grant. For THG, the German Environment Agency, known as UBA, certifies the eligible electricity quantity. UBA does not pay a premium to vehicle keepers itself. Payment comes through quota trading and a contract with a private provider.
This distinction matters particularly for used cars. A used electric car cannot receive the new government purchase grant, but it may still qualify for the THG arrangement. The following sections explain the two routes separately so that the requirements of one are not confused with those of the other.
Which government grant applies in 2026?
The programme is called “E-Auto-Förderung des Bundesumweltministeriums” (“Federal Environment Ministry electric car grant”), usually shortened to “E-Auto-Förderung”. You apply online through Förderzentrale Deutschland. The linked programme entry takes you directly to the official funding page with access to the application; BAFA processes the applications.
Private applicants need a BundID account to apply online. If you do not yet have one, you can create it on the linked BundID website. For this grant application, you must verify your identity using the online ID function or an ELSTER certificate. Signing in with only a username and password is not sufficient.
“First registration” means the vehicle’s first official registration, not creating an online account. The car must first be registered in Germany in the applicant’s name; the grant application follows afterwards. The programme covers eligible vehicles first registered in Germany from 1 January 2026. Online applications have been available since 19 May 2026. A vehicle registered between January and the opening of the portal is therefore not excluded merely because of that timing.
Grants range from €3,000 to €6,000 for battery electric and fuel-cell vehicles. Eligible plug-in hybrids and range-extender vehicles receive between €1,500 and €4,500. The exact amount depends on the vehicle category, taxable household income and the children who qualify under the programme.
The guideline runs until 31 December 2029. It specifies first registrations up to that date for battery electric and fuel-cell vehicles; the currently defined terms for plug-in hybrids and range-extender vehicles cover first registrations only until 30 June 2027. Funding depends on the availability of budget resources. Meeting the requirements does not create an automatic legal entitlement to payment.
Who can apply for the electric car grant?
Applicants must be private individuals aged 18 or over with their main residence in Germany. The eligible car must be registered in the applicant’s name and form part of their private assets. Companies, associations and municipalities cannot apply for this private purchase and leasing grant.
If you meet the programme conditions and the vehicle is already registered in your name, you can use the “Apply online” link to submit an application through the official Förderzentrale Deutschland portal.
To sign in, you need a BundID account with online ID authentication or an ELSTER certificate. If you do not yet have an account, “Create a BundID account” takes you to the official BundID website. A username and password alone are insufficient for this grant application. Also prepare the vehicle identification number (FIN or VIN), your bank details, income evidence and, where applicable, evidence for qualifying children. The documents section explains the requirements in detail.
German citizenship is not required. Self-employed people and freelance professionals may apply as private individuals if the vehicle is held privately and does not form part of business assets. Students and pensioners are not excluded simply because of their status; the same eligibility and income evidence requirements apply.
The income ceiling is €80,000 with no qualifying child, €85,000 with one qualifying child and €90,000 with two or more. A child qualifies if they live in the applicant’s household, there is entitlement to German child benefit and they were under 18 when the car was first registered. No more than two children are counted for the increase.
Each individual may receive the grant only once, and a particular vehicle may also be funded only once. BAFA’s FAQ allows no more than two applications per household. People whose assets are subject to an application for, or the opening of, insolvency proceedings, or who fall within the guideline’s specified asset-disclosure exclusions, are not eligible.
Which income counts: gross pay, net pay or the tax assessment?
The relevant figure is taxable income, called zu versteuerndes Einkommen, as stated in the income tax assessment issued by your German tax office. It is neither your gross salary nor simply the money paid into your account each month. A payslip alone therefore does not establish your grant eligibility.
For every person whose income counts towards the household, an average is calculated using their two most recent consecutive income tax assessments. The assessed tax years must be no more than three years before the application. It is the tax year being assessed that matters, rather than the date on which the notice was printed.
Household income includes the applicant’s calculated average and that of a spouse, registered civil partner or partner in a marriage-like relationship who lives in the household. Income earned by children living there is not added. Where the couple has a joint tax assessment, the relevant joint assessments are sufficient.
For example, taxable income of €42,000 and €46,000 in the two relevant assessments produces an average of €44,000. For a couple, the corresponding averages for both partners are added. Financially independent people sharing a flat do not automatically form one household for this grant; BAFA explains the declaration used to show that finances are managed separately.
How much is the grant? The two funding tables
The tables show the amounts specified in section 6 of the guideline. All income figures refer to the calculated annual taxable household income. The child columns apply only to children who meet the programme’s conditions. Exactly €45,000 belongs in the first band, and exactly €60,000 in the second.
The base grant for a battery electric car is €3,000. The income bands increase this to €4,000 or €5,000. Each qualifying child adds €500, up to €1,000 in total. The corresponding amounts for eligible plug-in hybrids and range-extender vehicles are €1,500 lower.
| Household income | No children | 1 child | 2 or more children |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to €45,000 | €5,000 | €5,500 | €6,000 |
| Over €45,000 to €60,000 | €4,000 | €4,500 | €5,000 |
| Over €60,000 to €80,000 | €3,000 | €3,500 | €4,000 |
| Over €80,000 to €85,000 | Not eligible | €3,500 | €4,000 |
| Over €85,000 to €90,000 | Not eligible | Not eligible | €4,000 |
| Over €90,000 | Not eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible |
| Household income | No children | 1 child | 2 or more children |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to €45,000 | €3,500 | €4,000 | €4,500 |
| Over €45,000 to €60,000 | €2,500 | €3,000 | €3,500 |
| Over €60,000 to €80,000 | €1,500 | €2,000 | €2,500 |
| Over €80,000 to €85,000 | Not eligible | €2,000 | €2,500 |
| Over €85,000 to €90,000 | Not eligible | Not eligible | €2,500 |
| Over €90,000 | Not eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible |
A table entry is not an approval: the vehicle, registration, application and all other requirements must also qualify.
Sources for this section: [1]
Four examples to help you find your funding band
These examples are calculations based on the guideline, not individual approvals. All assume that the remaining requirements are satisfied.
- A battery electric car, €44,000 household income and no qualifying child: a €5,000 grant.
- A battery electric car, exactly €60,000 household income and two qualifying children: a €5,000 grant.
- A battery electric car, €86,000 household income and two qualifying children: a €4,000 grant. Without qualifying children, that household would not be eligible.
- A technically eligible plug-in hybrid, €44,000 household income and one qualifying child: a €4,000 grant.
The phrase “up to €6,000” therefore describes the maximum. It is not a standard payment for every buyer, and it is not the maximum grant for plug-in hybrids.
Sources for this section: [1]
Is the purchase grant available for used or previously registered cars?
No. Germany’s 2026 electric car grant applies to new vehicles that have never previously been registered in Germany or elsewhere. Low mileage does not turn a previously registered vehicle back into an eligible new car.
This excludes cars previously registered for a day, by the manufacturer or as demonstrators. Ask about the registration history before buying. Describing a car as “nearly new” does not replace that check.
A used battery electric car may nevertheless qualify for a THG premium. One key question is whether its electricity quantity has already been reported or certified for that calendar year. Each car can be counted only once per year, even if its registered keeper changes. Ask the seller whether the year’s quota has already been used; buying the car does not create a second pro-rata annual premium.
Which cars and brands qualify? What about Mercedes-Benz?
The rules concern category M1 vehicles and their powertrain, rather than one particular brand. BAFA does not publish a model list for the new programme as it did for the former Umweltbonus scheme. A Mercedes-Benz is assessed under the same conditions as a vehicle from another manufacturer.
For a plug-in hybrid or range-extender vehicle, the model name alone is insufficient. The specific vehicle must either emit no more than 60 grams of CO₂ per kilometre or achieve an urban electric range of at least 80 kilometres using the EAER-City measure. Its first registration must also be no later than 30 June 2027. A hybrid that cannot be charged externally does not meet this plug-in category.
The relevant figures are those in the EU Certificate of Conformity, known as the CoC. The guideline uses the weighted combined WLTP CO₂ figure and the urban EAER-City electric range. A general range claim in an advertisement therefore cannot replace checking the CoC. If CO₂ emissions exceed 60 g/km, BAFA requires the CoC as evidence of the necessary electric range.
A different approach to hybrid funding is being considered for registrations from 1 July 2027. The present rules should not be treated as a commitment for later registrations. BAFA’s current FAQ also confirms that there is no requirement already in force for the car to have been manufactured in the EU.
Can I receive the grant when leasing?
Yes. The grant covers both the purchase and lease of a qualifying new vehicle. The person in whose name the car is registered applies. BAFA’s FAQ states that the registered keeper does not necessarily have to be the same person as the buyer or lessee.
The minimum registration period remains essential: the car must stay continuously registered in the applicant’s name in Germany for at least 36 months. A 24-month lease does not remove this condition. Before signing, establish whether the actual registration can be maintained for the full required period.
When comparing a lease offer, check the monthly payment, any initial payment, the term and the assumed grant amount. An offer calculated using the maximum premium must match your own funding band. Applying for the grant and receiving BAFA’s decision remain a separate process.
How do I apply for the electric car grant?
Applications are submitted exclusively online through Förderzentrale Deutschland. BAFA is the authority that decides the grant. You can apply only after the new car has been registered in your name; this application cannot reserve the grant before first registration.
Start by preparing your access and supporting evidence. You need a BundID account authenticated through an online identity document or an ELSTER certificate. A basic BundID account with only a username and password is insufficient for this application. Have the vehicle identification number, known as FIN or VIN, and your bank details ready.
- Check your personal eligibility and the specific vehicle’s details before acquiring it.
- Set up the appropriate BundID access and gather your evidence.
- Have the eligible new vehicle first registered in Germany in the applicant’s name.
- Complete the application in the official portal and upload all required documents.
- Respond to BAFA’s enquiries and retain the application, decision and supporting evidence.
You may authorise another person or a dealership to apply for you. The authorisation is uploaded with the application. The registered keeper remains the recipient of the grant: payment goes to their account, not automatically to the dealership’s account.
Which documents do I need?
The evidence required depends particularly on your household, children and vehicle type. BAFA’s guidance says to prepare the following:
- The two most recent consecutive income tax assessments for each person whose income counts towards the grant household, or the joint assessments where the couple is jointly assessed.
- Where applicable, a valid non-assessment certificate, called a Nichtveranlagungsbescheinigung or NV-Bescheinigung, from the tax office under BAFA’s rules. This may be relevant for qualifying low-income people who are not obliged to file a tax return.
- For children, suitable child benefit evidence or an extended registration certificate. The date of birth must be visible; if using the child benefit decision, you also confirm that it remains current.
- For plug-in hybrids and range-extender vehicles emitting more than 60 g/km CO₂, the CoC as evidence of electric range.
- The necessary authorisation if somebody applies on your behalf.
If you have not previously been required to submit a tax return, BAFA explains the option of filing one voluntarily for earlier years. Missing evidence cannot simply be replaced by your own estimate of income. Ask the tax office which document can be issued in your circumstances.
BAFA accepts uploaded documents as PDF files of no more than 5 MB each. Submit only the necessary pages and information. BAFA provides instructions for redacting data it does not need; redact copies and keep original documents unchanged. The information needed to establish eligibility must remain legible.
Can I apply retrospectively, and what is the deadline?
Yes, provided the eligible vehicle was first registered from 1 January 2026. The application deadline is measured from registration in the applicant’s name, rather than the date of the purchase or lease contract. Apply no later than twelve months after that registration.
This twelve-month limit is separate from the programme’s duration. The guideline expires on 31 December 2029 and has the additional June 2027 registration limit for hybrids. If you are planning close to the end of the programme, check the BAFA guidance then in force. Do not assume that the twelve-month period automatically extends the programme beyond its expiry.
For a vehicle registered in 2026, the practical next step is to check the exact registration date and submit the evidence in time. The programme running over several years is not a reason to overlook your own application deadline.
When is the money paid?
Payment follows a successful assessment and the grant approval notice, called a Zuwendungsbescheid. BAFA says payment takes place within a few weeks after that notice is issued. This is not a promise that money will arrive a few weeks after first sending an incomplete application.
The guideline provides for processing in the order in which complete supporting documents are received. Missing income evidence can prevent the application from being finalised; inadequate child evidence can prevent the child bonus from being included. The stated payment period does not establish a fixed duration for the entire application process.
For financial planning, it is therefore sensible to distinguish the cost of acquiring the car from the expected grant. The binding funding decision comes from BAFA. A dealership calculation or online estimate does not replace the approval notice.
Will I have to repay the grant if I sell the car?
The funding is designed as a non-repayable grant as long as the relevant conditions are met. The funded vehicle must remain registered in the applicant’s name in Germany for at least 36 months and must not be transferred into business assets during that period.
You must notify BAFA immediately of a shorter holding period, for example following an early sale or deregistration. The authority decides on partial or full recovery according to the individual circumstances. Theft or a total loss during the required period must also be reported; neither creates a blanket assurance that the grant can always be retained.
There is a special rule for reversing a purchase or lease under statutory warranty rights. If an equivalent eligible replacement is registered within six months, recovery can be avoided under the stated conditions. The required holding period is extended by the interval between reversal and the new registration. Check such cases with BAFA against the official requirements.
The guideline requires grant-related documents to be retained for at least five years. Keep the decision and supporting evidence organised even after the money has been paid.
The THG premium in 2026: money for an electric car you already have
THG refers to greenhouse gas reduction. Companies that supply fuels must meet a statutory emissions-reduction quota. Certified electricity quantities for electric vehicles can contribute towards this obligation. Vehicle keepers usually use a service provider to obtain certification and sell the quantities, receiving part of the proceeds as a THG premium.
The standardised vehicle route described here concerns battery electric vehicles registered in the relevant keeper’s name. Both new and used cars may qualify. Plug-in hybrids do not fall within this category. With a leased car, the registered keeper is still relevant; also check whether a provider or contract has already committed the quota for that year.
You do not need your own wallbox, evidence of actual mileage or precise measurements of your private charging electricity for this standardised vehicle calculation. The key evidence is the registration certificate, Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I. The required vehicle and keeper details must be complete and legible.
There is no government-set euro amount for the THG premium. The payment depends on the provider, its contract model and market conditions. Compare the amount actually promised, any costs, payment terms and contract duration. UBA certifies the electricity quantity but does not sell it for you or guarantee a private provider’s payment.
The standardised quantity can be counted only once per vehicle and obligation year. A change of keeper does not create a second entitlement for the same year. With a used car, it is therefore important to ask the previous keeper about an earlier submission. The annual opportunity also needs to be distinguished from an automatically renewing provider contract.
For the 2026 obligation year, this vehicle-route submission must reach UBA by the end of 15 November 2026. The basis is section 8(1), first sentence, point 2 of the 38th Federal Immission Control Ordinance, or 38. BImSchV. Providers may have earlier acceptance deadlines. The 28 February deadline in the following year concerns public charging points, rather than the standardised vehicle submission described here.
Since 17 April 2026, UBA has charged fees for decisions on reported electricity quantities. Factor this in if applying directly yourself. If using a provider, check its pricing and contractual terms; an administrative fee is not automatically an identical additional charge payable by every individual keeper.
UBA’s official FAQ does not guarantee a fixed processing time. The subsequent payment by a private provider depends on the agreed payment model. BAFA’s statement about a few weeks after a grant notice must therefore not be applied to the THG premium.
Which other financial benefits should be kept separate?
The purchase and leasing grant cannot simply be combined with another comparable government vehicle grant. The guideline provides exceptions for funding bodies that have an administrative agreement with the responsible federal ministry. Ask BAFA about a specific combination. A THG payment under a private contract is not a second government purchase grant; it follows its own quota rules.
Separately, section 3d of Germany’s Motor Vehicle Tax Act provides an exemption for the electric vehicles covered by that provision. For first registrations up to 31 December 2030, the exemption is generally ten years from first registration, but ends no later than 31 December 2035. If the keeper changes, any unexpired exemption period passes to the new keeper.
This can matter when buying a used electric car even though it receives no new purchase grant. A change of keeper does not restart a ten-year exemption. It is tax relief, rather than a payment from BAFA or a THG provider.
What should you establish before buying or leasing?
Start with the particular car and your household. This short check helps you avoid confusing a possible maximum with your own funding band:
- Has the car truly never been registered, and does its specific powertrain meet the conditions?
- Are you eligible as a private individual and prospective registered keeper?
- What average taxable household income follows from the required tax assessments?
- Which children count under the rules, and is the evidence available?
- Does the calculated grant fit your purchase or leasing budget?
- Can you meet the 36-month registration requirement and the twelve-month application deadline?
- For THG: has the annual quota already been committed, and can your provider submit it in time?
The linked official documents form the basis of this article and were checked on 5 October 2026. For a later acquisition, revisit the current guidance, particularly if funding stops, eligibility rules change or the registration falls beyond the currently defined hybrid period.
