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Information checked on 28 July 2026. The support programme is currently active, but it may end before 31 December 2029 if the entire available €40 million budget is used. Always check the current status of the programme and the eligibility of the specific vehicle in the EKII list before reserving a car.
The advertising headline sounds extremely convincing: the state is offering several thousand euros towards the purchase of an electric vehicle. Buyers with a Latvian Honorary Family card may receive even more, while an additional €2,000 may be available for scrapping an old car.
At first glance, it appears that all the buyer needs to do is choose a vehicle, subtract the support amount from the price and enjoy an excellent deal.
However, state support is not an ordinary discount without further obligations. The buyer agrees to keep the vehicle in their ownership or possession, report its mileage every year, refrain from using it for commercial activity and cover at least 60,000 kilometres within five years.
This completely changes the question. It is no longer enough to ask: “How much support will I receive?” The correct question is: “Will I be able to comply with every obligation, and will this particular electric vehicle genuinely cost less over five years than a petrol, diesel or hybrid alternative?”
The short conclusion: support can make an electric vehicle highly economical for someone who drives at least 12,000–20,000 km per year and can charge at home. With low annual mileage or exclusively expensive public charging, it may not pay off even after several years.
Quick answer: how much support is available?
| Vehicle | Standard buyer | Honorary Family, at least 5 seats | Honorary Family, at least 7 seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| New electric vehicle | €4,000 | €6,750 | €9,000 |
| Used electric vehicle | €3,000 | €5,000 | €6,750 |
| New plug-in hybrid | €4,000 | €6,750 | €9,000 |
| Used plug-in hybrid | Not eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible |
| New hydrogen vehicle | €4,000 | €6,750 | €9,000 |
| Used hydrogen vehicle | €3,000 | €5,000 | €6,750 |
Honorary Families with more than three children may receive an additional €1,000 for every further child, provided that the family card and programme requirements are satisfied.
A further €2,000 may be available when an eligible old internal-combustion vehicle is scrapped and delivered to an authorised treatment facility or donated without payment to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Illustrative maximum-support example:
An Honorary Family with four children purchases a new seven-seat electric vehicle:
€9,000 basic support;
+€1,000 for the fourth child;
+€2,000 for scrapping the old vehicle — €12,000 in total when every condition is met.
The most important hidden condition: at least 12,000 km per year
The new programme is not particularly suitable for someone who drives only 4,000, 6,000 or 8,000 kilometres per year.
The support recipient must maintain average annual mileage of at least 12,000 km over a five-year period or until the vehicle has covered a total of 60,000 km after purchase.
This means that the purpose of the programme is not simply to help someone buy an electric vehicle. Its purpose is to ensure that the supported vehicle replaces a sufficiently large number of journeys that would otherwise have been made in an internal-combustion car.
Warning: if 60,000 km is not reached within five years, part of the support may have to be repaid. The applicable European Central Bank rate may also be added to the repayment calculation.
Repayment example for low mileage
Assume that a buyer receives €4,000 in support but drives only 40,000 km over five years.
Required mileage: 60,000 km.
Actual mileage: 40,000 km.
Unfulfilled share: 20,000 / 60,000, or 33.33%.
Simplified basic repayment amount: approximately €1,333.33 plus the applicable rate.
The first calculation before visiting a dealership should therefore not be the vehicle price. The first calculation should be your genuine annual mileage.
Which vehicles qualify for support?
| Requirement | New electric vehicle | Used electric vehicle | New plug-in hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | M1 or N1 | M1 or N1 | M1 or N1 |
| Emissions | 0 g CO₂/km | 0 g CO₂/km | Up to 50 g CO₂/km |
| Minimum electric range | At least 150 km in the urban cycle | At least 150 km in the urban cycle | At least 50 km in the urban cycle using electricity only |
| Maximum speed | At least 90 km/h | At least 90 km/h | At least 90 km/h |
| Age | Used for less than 6 months or driven less than 6,000 km | First registered no more than 7 years before receiving support | Used for less than 6 months or driven less than 6,000 km |
| Maximum mileage | New-vehicle criterion applies | No more than 150,000 km | New-vehicle criterion applies |
| Registration in Latvia | Must be registered in Latvia | Must not have been registered in Latvia for more than 12 months | Must be registered in Latvia |
Used plug-in hybrids are not eligible for support. This is important because used-car listings may contain many attractive rechargeable hybrids, but the €3,000 support for a used vehicle does not apply to them.
What are the vehicle price limits?
The programme is not intended to subsidise premium vehicles without any price limit.
• up to €45,000 excluding VAT for a vehicle in its basic specification;
• up to €60,000 excluding VAT for a vehicle with at least six seats.
The price limits apply to the base specification. Optional equipment, the structure of the final invoice and the eligibility of the selected version must be checked with a seller approved under the programme.
Do not automatically assume that a vehicle qualifies merely because its advertised price is below €45,000. The exact version registered in the EKII list, the number of seats, base price and technical specifications must all be verified.
Support may not exceed 90% of the vehicle price
The fixed support amount is not guaranteed in full when the vehicle is extremely inexpensive. Total support intensity may not exceed 90% of the vehicle’s sale price.
| Used electric-vehicle price | Standard support | 90% price limit | Maximum possible support |
|---|---|---|---|
| €15,000 | €3,000 | €13,500 | €3,000 |
| €5,000 | €3,000 | €4,500 | €3,000 |
| €3,000 | €3,000 | €2,700 | €2,700 |
Who may receive support?
The support recipient must be an individual who is a permanent resident of the Republic of Latvia.
The programme is not intended for a company, taxi fleet or business that will use the vehicle for commercial activity. Companies and municipalities may be eligible for other support programmes with different requirements.
Support cannot be granted when, at the time of application approval, the applicant has tax or mandatory social-insurance debts exceeding €150 in total or is subject to other restrictions specified in the regulations.
One person may purchase one supported vehicle during the programme period. A further opportunity may arise after the obligations under the previous agreement have been completed.
Support is not available through every seller
The buyer cannot simply purchase a car and later submit the receipt to the state. The vehicle must be purchased from a seller approved under the programme and holding an agreement with the Latvian Environmental Investment Fund.
The specific vehicle or version must also appear on the list of eligible vehicles.
Do not purchase or re-register the vehicle before support is approved. The application must be submitted before the buyer becomes the vehicle’s owner or, in a lease arrangement, its registered keeper.
How does the purchase process work?
1. Check the current EKII programme status and available funding.
2. Choose a seller approved under the programme.
3. Check whether the specific vehicle appears on the eligible-model list.
4. Calculate whether you can cover at least 60,000 km within five years.
5. Submit the support application and required documents through the seller.
6. The seller assesses the application and coordinates it with the Environmental Investment Fund.
7. A support agreement is prepared after approval.
8. Only then should the purchase or lease transaction be completed.
9. The vehicle is registered in Latvia in your ownership or possession.
10. Submit an annual mileage-monitoring report until every obligation has been fulfilled.
What obligations does the buyer accept?
| Obligation | Practical meaning |
|---|---|
| Five years or 60,000 km | The vehicle must remain in the recipient’s ownership or possession until one of these conditions is reached |
| At least 12,000 km per year | At least 60,000 km must be covered during the five-year period |
| May not be sold | The car cannot simply be sold after one year if market prices fall or the owner’s needs change |
| May not be used for commercial activity | It is not intended for taxi services, paid deliveries, rental or other business use |
| Annual monitoring | Mileage information must be submitted every year |
| Continuous registration in Latvia | The vehicle must remain registered in Latvia during the obligation period |
If the vehicle is stolen, destroyed or declared a total loss by the insurer, the regulations provide a special procedure. An ordinary wish to replace the vehicle with another one is not an exceptional circumstance.
How can you receive an additional €2,000 for an old car?
The old-vehicle scrappage bonus is not available for any abandoned or long-unused wreck.
The vehicle being scrapped must meet several requirements:
• it must be an M1 or N1 vehicle with an internal-combustion engine;
• it must have been registered in Latvia for at least the previous year;
• it must have been registered in the support recipient’s ownership for at least the previous three months;
• it must have held a valid permit to participate in road traffic for at least 11 months;
• at least 5,000 km per year must have been covered between the two most recent periodic inspections;
• the vehicle must be delivered to an authorised treatment facility and a certificate of destruction must be obtained.
Check the required document sequence before scrapping the car. If it is scrapped at the wrong stage or without the necessary evidence, the additional support may not be available.
The old vehicle may also be donated to the Armed Forces of Ukraine
The additional €2,000 may also be received when an eligible internal-combustion vehicle is donated without payment to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In that case, documents are required to confirm:
• re-registration of the vehicle to an eligible non-governmental organisation;
• issuance of a transit registration document;
• import of the vehicle into Ukraine with a customs declaration.
A simple handover document or verbal confirmation is not sufficient.
Does the support cover a home charger?
This vehicle programme supports the purchase of the vehicle itself, not every cost connected with electric-car ownership.
The buyer may have to pay separately for:
• inspection of the home electrical installation;
• a wall-mounted charging unit or wallbox;
• cabling and protective equipment;
• an increase in connection capacity;
• installation of a charging space at an apartment building;
• public-charging subscriptions or operator cards.
A simple charging point at a private house may cost relatively little when the electrical installation is already suitable. A complicated installation requiring additional capacity, excavation and a long cable run may cost considerably more.
First cost example: a used electric car with home charging
Assume that a buyer is comparing a used electric vehicle with a similarly sized petrol car.
| Item | Used electric vehicle | Petrol car |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | €18,000 | €12,000 |
| State support | −€3,000 | €0 |
| Net price paid by buyer | €15,000 | €12,000 |
| Price difference | +€3,000 | — |
Assume annual mileage of 15,000 km:
| Calculation | Electric vehicle | Petrol car |
|---|---|---|
| Consumption | 18 kWh/100 km | 6.5 l/100 km |
| Energy price | €0.20/kWh | €1.70/l |
| Energy used per year | 2,700 kWh | 975 litres |
| Annual cost | €540.00 | €1,657.50 |
| Electric-vehicle saving | €1,117.50 per year | — |
In this scenario, the electric vehicle recovers its €3,000 higher purchase price through energy savings in approximately 2.7 years.
Over five years, the energy saving would reach €5,587.50. After covering the initial price difference, approximately €2,587.50 of benefit would remain, before taking taxation, maintenance, insurance and depreciation into account.
The same electric vehicle using only public charging
Now assume that electricity at public charging stations costs an average of €0.45 per kWh.
2,700 kWh × €0.45 = €1,215 per year.
Petrol cost: €1,657.50 per year.
Saving: only €442.50 per year.
Over five years: €2,212.50 — less than the original €3,000 price difference.
The same electric vehicle with the same state support may therefore be financially attractive to a homeowner and unattractive to an apartment resident who must rely entirely on expensive rapid-charging stations.
Second example: a new electric vehicle versus a full hybrid
| Item | New electric vehicle | New full hybrid |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | €32,000 | €26,000 |
| State support | −€4,000 | €0 |
| Net price | €28,000 | €26,000 |
| Annual energy cost | €540 with home charging | €1,275 at 5.0 l/100 km |
| Annual difference | Electric vehicle saves €735 | — |
With home charging, the €2,000 price difference is theoretically recovered in approximately 2.7 years.
If the same electric vehicle is charged only publicly at €0.45/kWh, annual electricity costs reach €1,215. The difference compared with the hybrid’s €1,275 is only €60 per year.
State support reduces the purchase price, but home charging often determines whether the electric vehicle genuinely pays off.
Third example: a seven-seat electric vehicle for an Honorary Family
Assume that an Honorary Family with four children chooses a seven-seat electric vehicle priced at €52,000 and scraps its old car.
| Vehicle price | €52,000 |
| Basic support for a seven-seat vehicle | −€9,000 |
| Additional support for the fourth child | −€1,000 |
| Old-vehicle scrappage | −€2,000 |
| Calculated net price | €40,000 |
In this situation, state support can completely change the purchasing decision. An electric vehicle that was initially considerably more expensive than a seven-seat petrol SUV may become similarly priced or even cheaper after support.
However, the family must still check whether the vehicle will genuinely cover at least 12,000 km per year, whether home charging is available and whether all seven seats can be used together with the required amount of luggage.
Is a used electric vehicle the most economical programme purchase?
A used electric vehicle priced between €13,000 and €20,000 with €3,000 of support can appear especially attractive. The support represents a much larger share of the purchase price than it does for an expensive new vehicle.
| Vehicle price | Support | Support as a percentage of price |
|---|---|---|
| €14,000 used electric vehicle | €3,000 | Approximately 21.4% |
| €30,000 new electric vehicle | €4,000 | Approximately 13.3% |
| €50,000 seven-seat vehicle for an Honorary Family | €9,000 | 18.0% before other bonuses |
However, the greatest risk when buying a used electric vehicle is the condition of its battery, not the support amount.
What should be checked on a used electric vehicle?
• battery State of Health;
• remaining battery warranty;
• real driving range in summer and winter;
• maximum rapid-charging power and charging curve;
• charging-connector standard;
• whether the vehicle has a heat pump;
• corrosion, brakes, suspension and tyres;
• accident and repair history;
• whether the five-year programme obligation extends beyond the remaining battery warranty.
A €3,000 subsidy does not turn a poor vehicle into a good one. An expensive battery or charging-system repair can quickly exceed the entire support amount.
Plug-in hybrid: a good solution or an expensive compromise?
A new plug-in hybrid qualifies for the same €4,000 basic support as a new electric vehicle.
It may be a good solution for someone who drives 30–60 km on a typical day, charges every night and occasionally completes very long journeys.
However, a plug-in hybrid combines two powertrains:
• an internal-combustion engine;
• a fuel system;
• exhaust-gas treatment;
• an electric motor;
• a high-voltage battery;
• a charging system.
When the vehicle is not charged regularly, the driver carries a heavy battery while using petrol most of the time. In this situation, real fuel consumption may be much higher than the advertised figure.
Illustrative driver comment: “I bought a plug-in hybrid because of the €4,000 support, but after moving home I could no longer charge it. The car now uses more petrol than expected, but I cannot sell it yet because the five-year or 60,000 km condition has not been completed.”
Electric-vehicle annual road tax
A pure electric vehicle that uses electricity stored in the vehicle as its only source of mechanical propulsion is exempt from Latvia’s vehicle operation tax.
The saving depends on the internal-combustion vehicle against which it is compared. The tax on an economical small car may be low, while the five-year difference compared with a large, high-CO₂ vehicle may be substantial.
A plug-in hybrid is not a pure electric vehicle, so not every electric-vehicle tax exemption automatically applies to it.
Maintenance: an electric vehicle is not free to run
An electric vehicle has no engine oil, spark plugs, conventional exhaust system, clutch or many other components found in an internal-combustion car. This can reduce routine maintenance requirements.
However, the following still require servicing or replacement:
• tyres;
• brake fluid;
• cabin filter;
• suspension components;
• air-conditioning and heat-pump system;
• reduction-gear oil when required by the manufacturer;
• 12-volt battery;
• high-voltage-system cooling and diagnostics.
High vehicle weight and immediate torque may contribute to tyre wear, particularly when the driver frequently uses maximum acceleration.
Insurance can consume part of the saving
An electric vehicle may have low energy costs, but comprehensive insurance depends on the vehicle’s value, repair costs, parts availability and the risk profile of the specific model.
When state support encourages someone to buy a much more expensive vehicle than originally planned, the buyer may pay more for:
• financing interest;
• comprehensive insurance;
• a winter-tyre set;
• bodywork repairs;
• depreciation.
A €4,000 subsidy is not a saving when it leads the buyer to choose a vehicle that costs €15,000 more than they genuinely need.
Leasing: support reduces the price but not necessarily the monthly risk
The programme permits the use of leasing. During the leasing period, the finance provider may be the vehicle’s owner, while the support recipient is its registered keeper and user.
Before signing the agreement, calculate:
• the deposit after support;
• the interest rate;
• contract and administration charges;
• mandatory comprehensive-insurance cost;
• residual value;
• early-repayment conditions;
• what happens if your job, residence or charging options change after three years.
The state-support obligations and the leasing agreement are two separate groups of commitments. Ending one agreement does not automatically cancel the other.
Can the seller simply increase the price by the support amount?
State-support programmes can increase demand. When buyers focus only on the “price after support”, they may fail to notice that the initial price, optional equipment or financing conditions have changed.
Before buying, compare:
• the price of the same model from several sellers;
• its price in Latvia and other European markets;
• its price before and after a manufacturer promotion;
• the cost of compulsory optional equipment;
• the leasing interest rate;
• the vehicle price without state support.
The genuine benefit is the difference between a fair market price before support and the amount paid after support, not merely the large figure displayed in an advertising banner.
Winter driving range in Latvia
The programme requirement for at least 150 km of urban-cycle range does not mean that every supported electric vehicle will cover 150 km on a Latvian motorway in winter with a full passenger compartment and the heating switched on.
Real driving range is influenced by:
• outside temperature;
• driving speed;
• cabin and battery heating;
• headwinds and wet roads;
• tyres and tyre pressure;
• vehicle weight and luggage;
• battery age and temperature.
Before purchasing, look for real winter tests of the specific model and plan a reserve of at least 20–30% beyond your longest regular journey.
Who benefits most from the support?
| Driver situation | Value of support | Main reason |
|---|---|---|
| 15,000–25,000 km per year with home charging | Very good | Large energy savings and an easily achievable mileage requirement |
| Honorary Family needing a five- or seven-seat vehicle | Very good | Substantially higher purchase support |
| Used electric-vehicle buyer with a verified battery | Good | €3,000 represents a large share of the used vehicle’s price |
| Apartment resident with inexpensive workplace charging | Good | No private charging point is needed while the energy price remains low |
| Public rapid charging only | Moderate or weak | Electricity costs may approach a hybrid’s fuel costs |
| Less than 10,000 km per year | Risky | The 60,000 km requirement may not be met, creating a repayment obligation |
| Plug-in hybrid without a charging location | Weak | Heavy powertrain and high real petrol consumption |
| Vehicle intended for deliveries or taxi work | Not suitable | A vehicle supported under the household programme may not be used for commercial activity |
Common myths about electric-vehicle support
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| The state simply transfers €4,000 to the buyer’s bank account | Support is arranged through an approved seller and a formal agreement process |
| The vehicle can be sold after one year | It must be kept for five years or until 60,000 km has been reached |
| Mileage does not matter | Average annual mileage of at least 12,000 km is required |
| Support applies to any used plug-in hybrid | Used plug-in hybrids are not supported under the programme |
| The vehicle may be purchased from any classified-advertising website | Both the seller and the specific vehicle must be approved under the programme |
| An electric vehicle is always cheaper | The result depends on purchase price, mileage, charging tariff, insurance and depreciation |
| The old-car bonus applies to any wreck | The vehicle must have been actively used and meet the registration, inspection and mileage requirements |
Mini test: is this support suitable for you?
Answer these questions:
1. Do I reliably drive at least 12,000 km per year?
2. Do I expect my living and working arrangements to remain similar during the next five years?
3. Can I charge the vehicle regularly at home or work?
4. Do I have no need to use the vehicle for commercial activity?
5. Am I willing to keep the vehicle for five years or until it has covered 60,000 km?
6. Can the selected vehicle complete my longest regular winter journey with a reserve?
7. Have I checked the price of comprehensive insurance and winter tyres?
8. Has an independent battery check been completed on a used vehicle?
9. Have I compared the price without support between several sellers?
10. Would I still choose the electric vehicle if the support were €1,000 lower?
When you cannot confidently answer “yes” to the first five questions, the purchase should be postponed while the obligations are examined more carefully.
Can support be received after the vehicle has already been purchased?
Generally, no. The application and support approval must be arranged before the buyer becomes the vehicle’s owner or registered keeper. The vehicle should not be purchased or re-registered in the expectation that funding will be obtained afterwards.
Can an electric vehicle be purchased from a private seller?
Not through the programme’s standard procedure. The vehicle must be purchased from an approved vehicle seller and must comply with all programme requirements.
May the supported vehicle be used for commuting?
Private everyday travel, including commuting to work, is not automatically the same as using the vehicle for commercial activity. However, the car may not be used for taxi services, paid deliveries, rental or other business purposes. Written clarification should be obtained from the Environmental Investment Fund when the situation is unclear.
What happens when I drive less than 12,000 km in one year?
The total mileage achieved during the obligation period is important. When 60,000 km is not reached within five years, the programme rules provide for proportional recovery of ineligible funding, potentially together with the applicable rate.
Can the vehicle be sold after 60,000 km if five years have not passed?
The obligations apply for five years or until at least 60,000 km has been reached, when that occurs earlier. Before selling the vehicle, the recipient should wait for official confirmation that the monitoring obligation and contractual commitments have been completed.
Is support available for a used Tesla, Volkswagen, Hyundai or another electric vehicle?
The brand alone does not determine eligibility. The specific vehicle must comply with the age, mileage, registration, price and technical requirements and must be available through a seller approved under the programme.
Will I always receive €2,000 for scrapping my old car?
Only when the old vehicle complies with every registration, ownership, roadworthiness, mileage and disposal requirement and the additional support is correctly arranged together with the purchase of the new vehicle.
Does state support guarantee that an electric vehicle will be cheaper than a petrol car?
No. The comparison must include the net purchase price, financing, energy, insurance, tyres, maintenance, charging installation and expected value after five years.
Practical five-year cost formula
Total electric-vehicle cost:
purchase price − state support
+ financing interest and charges
+ home-charging installation
+ electricity over five years
+ insurance, tyres and maintenance
− resale value at the end of the period
+ possible repayment of support when obligations are not fulfilled.
The same formula must be prepared for the comparable petrol, diesel or hybrid vehicle. Only then is it possible to determine honestly which option costs less.
Conclusion: state support can be highly valuable, but it is not a free-money cheque
The new programme is much broader than a simple €3,000 or €4,000 discount. For Honorary Families and buyers who scrap an old vehicle, the combined support can represent a very substantial share of the purchase price.
The most favourable situation is that of a driver who covers at least 15,000 kilometres per year, can charge at home at a reasonable tariff and intends to keep the vehicle for at least five years.
For such a buyer, state support reduces the initial price, while inexpensive charging continues to create savings every month.
By contrast, the programme may be unsuitable for someone with low mileage, an unstable living situation, exclusively expensive public charging or plans to replace the vehicle after two years.
It is especially dangerous to choose a more expensive vehicle merely because the state covers part of its price. Support cannot compensate for an excessive lease payment, expensive insurance, unsuitable winter range or the poor condition of a used battery.
Before purchasing, four questions must be answered: will I cover 60,000 km, where will I charge, what will the vehicle cost over five years and can I keep it throughout the obligation period?
The driver’s final takeaway: first choose a suitable vehicle and only then apply the state support. Do not choose a vehicle merely because a large subsidy figure is attached to it.