The EV grant options in Scotland are significantly different to other parts of the UK, offering additional financial support for Scottish residents keen on switching to electric vehicles.
In this guide, we’ll delve into the range of grants available to Scottish residents, explore the specifics of electric car loans, and walk you through the application procedures and eligibility requirements.
EV Grants in Scotland
Scottish residents can apply for both the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) EV Chargepoint grant, the Energy Savings Trust (EST) Domestic Chargepoint Funding Scheme AND The Used Electric Vehicle Loan scheme.
The OZEV EV Chargepoint grant provides 75% (up to £350) off the cost of installing a new EV charger.
The EST Domestic Chargepoint Grant offers up to £400 off the cost of installing a new EV charger.
The Used Electric Vehicle Loan offers Scottish residents interest-free loans for purchasing used electric vehicles from approved dealerships
The OZEV EV Chargepoint Grant in Scotland
The Office for Zero Emission Vehicle (OZEV) EV Chargepoint grant works the same way in Scotland for the rest of the UK.
Here’s a summary of the primary considerations for Scottish residents applying for an OZEV EV Chargepoint grant:
- The EV Chargepoint grant is only available to flat owners, renters, landlords or businesses
- The grant will provide funding of 75% (up to £350) towards the cost of a new charging unit
- You cannot apply for the grant yourself, you should instead speak to an OZEV-approved home charger installation company, they will apply for the grant on your behalf and discount the cost from the final bill
- To be eligible for the grant you must meet the following criteria: Demonstrate that you are the property owner (or have permission from the owner), Demonstrate that you have off-street parking and proof that you own an eligible EV
If you live in Scotland you can apply for both the OZEV grant and
the Energy Saving Trust Domestic Chargepoint Funding Scheme
The Energy Saving Trust Domestic Chargepoint Funding Scheme
The Energy Saving Trust (EST) is an independent organisation that helps people save energy and reduce their carbon footprint.
The EST administrate the Domestic Chargepoint Funding Scheme on behalf of the Scottish government. You sometimes hear the Domestic Chargepoint Funding Scheme referred to as the EST grant or the Energy Saving Trust grant, they are all referring to the same grant.
The Energy Saving Trust’s domestic charge point funding scheme in Scotland offers EV owners up to £400 towards the costs of purchasing and installing a home charge point for an electric vehicle.
It is available for rural EV owners, used EV owners, and those who bought their EV through the Used Electric Vehicle loan.
How much can I get with a Domestic Chargepoint Funding Scheme grant?
The Domestic Chargepoint Funding Scheme provides a grant of up to £400 off the cost of buying and installing a home EV charger. If you combine this with the OZEV grant you can receive funding of up to £750 towards the cost of a new electric car charger.
Are there grants for Hybrid Cars in Scotland?
Hybrid Cars are not eligible for the EV Chargepoint Grant or the Domestic Chargepoint Funding Grant because they are not classified as zero-emission vehicles. In the past, Hybrids were eligible for the Low Carbon Transport Loan scheme but this funding is no longer open to new applicants.
Am I eligible for an Electric Car Grant in Scotland?
There are two groups that are eligible for the Domestic Chargepoint Funding Scheme in Scotland, Rural vehicle owners and Used electric vehicle owners. Let’s take a closer look at how each group can qualify for a grant:
Rural and remote vehicle owners
If you live in a rural part of Scotland or an Island you may be able to qualify for an EST grant as a rural and remote vehicle owner. The eligibility criteria for a rural and remote vehicle owner grant is divided into 4 sections:
- Remote rural areas
– You must live in an area with a population of fewer than 3,000 people
– There should be a drive time of between 30 minutes and 1 hour to a village or town with a population of over 10,000 people - Very remote rural areas
– You must live in an area with a population of fewer than 3,000 people
– There should be a drive time of over 1 hour to a village or town with a population of over 10,000 people - Very remote small towns
– You must live in an area with a population of between 3,000 and 9,999 people
– There should be a drive time of over 1 hour to a village or town with a population of over 10,000 people - Accessible rural areas
– You must live in an area with a population of fewer than 3,000 people
– There should be a drive time of fewer than 30 minutes to a village or town with a population of over 10,000 people
Eligibility is based on your postcode. Postcodes are segmented into categories and to be eligible you need to have a postcode from categories 5,6,7 or 8 (or an Island postcode).
You can check if you are eligible quickly using the Energy Saving Trust Postcode Checker. This is the approval message to look out for:
Postcode eligible
You may be eligible for funding. For more information, please read the eligibility criteria and grant funding process.
Used electric vehicle owners
In order to qualify as a used electric vehicle owner you will need to have purchased an EV through the EST’s Used Electric Vehicle Loan scheme. If you did purchase an EV via the electric car loan in Scotland, you will have received a complete set of instructions on how to move forward with your EST grant in your confirmation email.
How do I apply for Domestic Chargepoint Funding in Scotland?
- Get a quote from an approved installer
Before you apply for a Domestic Chargepoint Grant you must get a quote from an installation company approved by both OZEV and the Energy Saving Trust.
Search for installation companies in your area and double-check with them before they provide a quote that they are approved for both OZEV and the Electric Vehicle Consumer Code for Home Chargepoints (EVCC). - Apply online to the Energy Saving Trust
Here is a link to the Energy Saving Trust Grant application form. You will need to provide a scanned copy of a quote from an approved home EV charger installation company. - Receive the grant offer
If your application has been successful you will receive a formal funding offer from the EST. Once this offer is in you can give the green light to your EV charger installation company to install your charger. It is important that they do not start the work before the official offer is in place, or this will invalidate the grant. - Receive the invoice and installation certificate
The installation company will provide you with an invoice for the work and an EV charger installation certificate (otherwise known as an Electrical Installation Certificate). Make sure you keep them both for the next step! - Complete the claim form online and upload the invoice and certificate.
Head over to the EST online grant portal and complete the grant form, upload both the invoice and the Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) and your claim will be processed.
Can I apply for both the rural resident and the used EV owner grant?
It is not possible to apply for both the rural resident and the used EV owner grant. Even if you qualify as a rural EV owner and a used EV owner, you will only ever be able to claim a maximum grant value of £400.
The Used Electric Vehicle Loan Scotland
Funded by Transport Scotland, the Used Electric Vehicle Loan is an interest-free electric car loan for individuals that is repayable over five years. The maximum loan amounts depend on the type of used vehicle you plan to purchase, and they include VAT:
- Electric moped costing £5,000 or less: Eligible for £5,000
- Electric motorcycle costing £5,000 or less: Eligible for £5,000
- Electric car costing £30,000 or less: Eligible for £30,000
- Electric van costing £30,000 or less: Eligible for £30,000
- Hydrogen vehicle: Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis
The used vehicle purchased with the loan must come from an acceptable dealership. Acceptable dealerships fall into two categories:
- Traditional brick-and-mortar dealerships based in the UK
These dealerships conduct sales both in-person and through their online platforms. They must be accredited by the Motor Ombudsman or be part of a trade association signed up to the National Conciliation Service. Some acceptable associations include the National Franchised Dealers Association, Independent Garage Association/Trust My Garage, Scottish Motor Trade Association, National Motorcycle Dealers Association, Motorcycle Industry Association, and Retail Motor Industry Federation. - Online-only dealerships
These dealerships must have an up-to-date online presence, own the vehicles for sale, provide reputable customer support services, and have robust warranty procedures. They must also transparently outline a vehicle’s age, battery capacity, mileage, and the interior and exterior condition of the vehicle(s) on any sale document(s) provided.
Used Electric Vehicle Loan eligibility criteria
Before applying for the Used Electric Vehicle Loan, ensure you meet the loan eligibility criteria:
- You must have at least six years of address history.
- You must provide your income information to prove your ability to make repayments.
- You must confirm that you will not purchase the used vehicle before receiving a loan offer. If you do, your application will not be accepted.
Used Electric Vehicle Loan application process
If you’re interested in the Used Electric Vehicle Loan, the application process is straightforward:
- Register and apply using this online application form provided by the Energy Saving Trust.
- Fill out the required details including your address history and income information.
- Wait for the loan offer before purchasing your used electric vehicle.
The Used Electric Vehicle Loan is an excellent resource for Scottish residents and helps make the transition to electric vehicles more affordable and convenient.
The EVHS Grant Scotland
The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) is no longer available to residents in Scotland. The Scheme was scrapped in 2022 for all UK residents and replaced with the EV Chargepoint Grant scheme.
The EVHS was a UK-wide initiative that provided funding towards the cost of installing electric vehicle charge points at Scottish homes. Prior to being scrapped in 2022, this scheme offered up to 75% of the installation cost, capped at £350 per household, for eligible electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Here’s how it generally worked:
- Eligibility
The grant was available to electric vehicle owners who had off-street parking, owned their car or had it on a lease, or had ordered an eligible vehicle and had the lease confirmed. - Application Process
The homeowner would generally have to use an installer approved by OZEV to install the charger. The approved installer would apply for the grant on behalf of the homeowner. - Funding
If approved, the grant would cover up to 75% of the cost of installation. The grant amount would be deducted by the installer from the total cost of installation, so the homeowner would pay the remaining balance. - Chargepoint Requirements
The installed charger had to be OZEV-approved, ‘smart’ (connected to the internet for remote access and management), and meet certain technical specifications.
ebike Loans in Scotland
Eco-conscious biking enthusiasts in Scotland have a new funding scheme for second-hand cycles via the ebike loan.
Pedal-assisted electric bikes, commonly known as eBikes, have witnessed a surge in popularity over recent years. If you’re a resident of Scotland, The Energy Saving Trust, with support from Transport Scotland, is offering a decent funding opportunity for ebikes. They’ve rolled out an interest-free loan which is repayable over a comfortable period of four years.
Here’s the ebike loan scheme options:
- Brand New eBike: You can purchase up to 2 brand new eBikes, with a funding cap of £3,000 each.
- Second-Hand eBike: Opt for up to 2 used eBikes, each capped at £2,000.
- Family options: If you’re looking at a new family cargo or ecargo bike, there’s a provision of up to £6,000. Prefer a used one? You can get up to £4,000.
- Special Adapted Cycles: Those seeking new or used adapted cycles can have their value assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Are EV Chargers free in Scotland?
There are plenty of free public electric car chargers in Scotland, in fact, there are more free electric chargers in Scotland than in the rest of the UK. This is thanks to the Government funded ChargePlace Scotland scheme.
The key features and benefits of ChargePlace Scotland are:
- Expansive network
ChargePlace Scotland operates an extensive network of public charge points across Scotland, from city centers to remote locations in the Highlands and Islands. - Good mix of charging options
The network includes a variety of chargers, from slower Level 2 chargers to fast and rapid chargers, to cater to different EV models and charging needs. - Access and payment
To use the charging points, users typically need an RFID card or smartphone app. While some charging points in the network may be free to use, others impose a fee. The cost can vary depending on factors such as the charger’s speed and location. - Online map
The ChargePlace Scotland online map provides real-time information about the location and status of their chargers. This allows drivers to plan their journeys and find available charging points. - 24/7 assistance
ChargePlace Scotland provides round-the-clock customer assistance for any issues related to using the charging points. - Sustainability
By providing an accessible and reliable charging infrastructure, ChargePlace Scotland is supporting the Scottish government’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable transport.
Other free charging options in Scotland include options like Workplaces. Some employers offer chargers as part of their efforts towards green initiatives. As an employee, this can be a cost-effective and convenient way to charge your vehicle while at work.
Supermarkets provide free EV charging options in Scotland, as do a number of retail parks.
Another option for charging could be hotels and hospitality venues. As part of their guest services, many hotels now offer charging stations. These are usually free or discounted for guests. Similarly, several visitor centres, tourist attractions, and other public destinations have also started offering charging points.
The final word on EV Grants in Scotland
Scottish EV owners are in the fortunate position of being able to apply for two different electric car grants and receive double the funding of EV owners in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. If you live in Scotland, you also have the benefit of an interest-free loan to cover the cost of an electric car.
These incentives are the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) EV Chargepoint grant, the Energy Saving Trust (EST) Domestic Chargepoint Funding Scheme, and the Used Electric Vehicle Loan.
The OZEV EV Chargepoint Grant reduces the cost of installing a new EV charger, offering a 75% discount up to £350. However, it is worth noting that since the 2022 OZEV Grant changes, the EV Chargepoint Grant is only available to flat owners or tenants and not to homeowners.
The EST Domestic Chargepoint Grant provides up to £400 off the cost of installing a new EV charger.
Last but not least, the Used Electric Vehicle Loan offers interest-free loans for the purchase of used electric vehicles from approved dealerships. This encourages more residents to make the switch to EVs by making them more affordable.
The great range of financial initiatives available to Scottish residents demonstrates a strong commitment from the Scottish government towards encouraging low-carbon travel and reducing emissions.
John is the Editor and Spokesperson for Electric Car Guide.
With over 20 years of writing experience, he has written for titles such as City AM, FE News and NerdWallet.com, covering various automotive and personal finance topics.
John’s market commentary has been covered by the likes of The Express, The Independent, Yahoo Finance and The Evening Standard.
