Road tax for electric cars 2026–2030: the 30% discount explained

How much road tax discount does an electric car get in 2026?

A fully electric passenger car gets a 30% discount on Dutch road tax in 2026, so you pay 70% of the normal rate. The same 30% applies in 2027 and 2028. In 2029 the discount is 25%, and from 2030 electric cars pay the full rate (Belastingdienst, RVO).

Road tax in the Netherlands is officially called motorrijtuigenbelasting (MRB), and most people simply say wegenbelasting. Three things set the amount: the car's rijklaargewicht (kerb weight, ready to drive), its fuel type and the province you live in. Each province adds its own surcharge on top of the national rate, the provinciale opcenten. Whoever holds the car's registration (kenteken) pays, per quarter.

Unlike diesel and LPG cars, an EV pays no fuel surcharge. But batteries are heavy, and weight is exactly what the tax is based on. That is why plenty of EV drivers are surprised by the bill now the big discount has gone.

Is the EV road tax discount 25% or 30%?

It is 30% for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Many websites, older articles and online calculators still say 25%, but 25% only applies in 2029. Both the government business portal Ondernemersplein (run by RVO) and the ANWB, the Dutch motoring association, list 30% for 2026 to 2028.

Five percentage points sounds minor, yet over three years it adds up, and anyone budgeting with 25% will overestimate their costs. Whatever calculator you use, check which year and which percentage it applies. You can work out the figure for your own car with our road tax calculator.

Discount path 2024–2030 for EVs and plug-in hybrids

Sources: Ondernemersplein (RVO) and the Belastingdienst (Dutch Tax Administration). The 2024 plug-in hybrid rate is as reported by TopGear.

What does a 30% discount mean in euros?

In 2026 you pay 70% of the full rate, up from 25% in 2025. That makes your road tax 2.8 times what it was last year. The exact amount depends on your car's weight and on your province.

A simple example with an invented round number shows how it works. Say the full rate for your car is €100 per quarter.

This is not an average and not the rate of any real car. For your actual amount, enter your registration number, or the weight and your province, in the road tax calculator.

Does the discount apply to a used electric car?

Yes. The discount depends on the type of car, not its age or previous owner. A used EV gets the same 30% in 2026 as a new one, and whoever holds the registration pays.

When you sell, the RDW (the Dutch vehicle authority) handles the switch. Once the car is transferred to the buyer, road tax stops for the seller and anything paid in advance is refunded pro rata. The buyer pays from the transfer date. You don't need to contact the tax office yourself.

Does the discount include the provincial surcharge?

Yes. The discount comes off the total bill, including the provincial surcharge (ANWB, RVO). Each province sets its own opcenten and can change them on 1 January.

So the same car can cost noticeably more in one province than in another, and your road tax changes when you move. Weight matters a lot as well: a large EV with a heavy battery sits in a higher weight band than a small city car, and the 30% comes off that higher amount.

What changes for plug-in hybrids and electric vans?

Plug-in hybrids emitting up to 50 g/km CO2 have paid the full rate since 1 January 2026, after a 25% discount in 2025 (Belastingdienst). Electric vans lost their discount in 2026 too; in 2025 they still got 75% off (Ondernemersplein).

For plug-in hybrids the jump is bigger than for EVs: straight from the three-quarter rate to the full rate, with no step in between. And with both a battery and a combustion engine on board, they are often heavy. If you drive one or are thinking of buying one, budget for the full rate. This article covers passenger cars; vans have their own rates.

What does this mean if you buy or sell an EV?

When buying, budget for every year you expect to keep the car, not just 2026. Buy an EV now and keep it for five years, and you'll pay 70%, 70%, 70%, 75% and then 100% of the full rate.

If you're buying:

• Compare monthly running costs, not just the purchase price. The EV vs petrol comparison puts an electric and a petrol car side by side.
• Look at the weight. Two EVs with the same price can fall into different weight bands.
• Check what support is left. The old SEPP subsidy has ended and a new scheme has been announced. See what subsidy is left for a used EV.

If you're selling:

• Put the current road tax per quarter in your listing. Buyers will ask, and a concrete figure avoids surprises later.
• Don't quote 2025 amounts. They were based on a 75% discount and are far below what the buyer will pay now.
• The buyer pays from the transfer date, and any overpayment comes back to you automatically.

Where can you check the amount for your car?

The Belastingdienst has an official road tax calculator on its website. Enter the correct weight, fuel type and province, and make sure the year is set to 2026.

Whatever source you use, check the year first. A figure from last year's article, or a calculator still applying 25% for 2026, will give you the wrong picture of your costs. If in doubt, compare two sources and go with the most recent one.