Big news for anyone considering the switch to electric. The Irish Government has announced a new EV scrappage scheme that could put up to €8,500 back in your pocket when you trade in your old petrol or diesel car for a brand new electric vehicle.

What Is the Scrappage Scheme?

The new scheme is being introduced on a pilot basis from July and will run until a €10 million fund is exhausted. It operates on a first-come, first-served basis, so acting early is key.

If you're driving a petrol or diesel car that's 13 years or older, you could be eligible for a €5,000 scrappage grant plus the existing €3,500 EV purchase grant, combining to give you a total saving of €8,500 off the cost of a new electric vehicle.

Who Can Apply?

The scheme is open to owners of petrol and diesel vehicles aged 13 years and above. Notably, around 65% of the fund is being ring-fenced for rural areas, reflecting the greater dependency on private cars outside of Ireland's major cities. The remaining 35%, approximately €3.5 million, will be available to residents in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.

Updates to the Existing EV Grant

Alongside the scrappage scheme, the existing €3,500 EV grant is also being updated. From July 31st, the price cap on eligible vehicles will drop from €60,000 to €50,000, with a clear focus on encouraging buyers towards smaller, more affordable models. To keep pace with growing demand, EV sales are up 50% on last year, an additional €30 million is being injected into the existing grant scheme to ensure funding doesn't run out.

Why Now Is a Great Time to Go Electric

Ireland is well ahead of schedule on its EV targets, having reached 195,000 electric vehicles on the road two months ahead of plan. With EV sales continuing to surge, driven by more affordable models entering the market and rising petrol and diesel costs, momentum is firmly behind the switch to electric.

Between the new scrappage scheme, the updated EV grant and an ever-growing range of affordable electric vehicles, the case for going electric in Ireland has never been stronger.

Ready to Make the Switch?

Browse every electric vehicle available in Ireland, compare monthly pricing with Bank of Ireland Finance, and book a test drive, all in one place. Find the right EV for you today here on Nevo.ie.