Most of the big electric vehicle incentives that state governments offered from 2021 have now closed. What is left in October 2026 is a short list of duty concessions, a couple of registration breaks and one government loan scheme, and they differ sharply by state. Below is each state and territory, checked against its own government pages on 27 October 2026, followed by a worked example of how a duty concession changes the amount you finance.
This is general information only. Incentives change at budget time, so confirm the current position with the agency linked for your state before you sign a contract.
New South Wales: the exemption and rebate have ended
NSW exempted eligible battery electric and hydrogen vehicles valued up to $78,000 from stamp duty and paid a $3,000 rebate. Both ceased for vehicles bought from 1 January 2024, with transitional access only where the car was purchased or a deposit paid before that date (Revenue NSW). A new EV in NSW now pays ordinary motor vehicle duty.
NSW has legislated a distance based road user charge for EVs that would start on 1 July 2027 or when EVs reach 30 per cent of new sales, whichever comes first. The NSW Government says it is still assessing what the High Court's Vanderstock decision, which struck down Victoria's charge, means for that scheme (NSW Government). Treat it as unresolved rather than a cost to budget for today.
Victoria: green car duty rate, no per km charge
Victoria's per kilometre charge on zero and low emission vehicles no longer applies. After the High Court's decision on 18 October 2023, owners stopped being invoiced and refunds closed on 30 June 2024 (VicRoads). The state's ZEV purchase subsidy is also closed (Victorian Government).
What remains is the green car duty rate. Passenger cars emitting 120 grams of CO2 per kilometre or less, which includes pure EVs, pay $8.40 per $200 at every value. Other passenger cars pay that rate only up to $80,809 and move to higher rates above it (State Revenue Office Victoria). The benefit is real only on dearer cars. For registration, check the VicRoads fee calculator.
Queensland: a lower duty rate and cheaper rego
Queensland's ZEV rebate of up to $6,000 closed to new applications on 2 September 2024 (QRIDA). Two ongoing advantages remain. Electric and hybrid light vehicles pay duty of $2 per $100 up to $100,000, against $3 for a four cylinder car (Queensland Government). And an electric car is charged the same registration fee as a 1 to 3 cylinder car, $303.10 as at 1 October 2026, compared with $385.45 for a four cylinder (Queensland Government).
South Australia: subsidy and rego exemption closed to new cars
SA's $3,000 subsidy ended on 1 January 2024. Its three year registration exemption applied only to eligible new EVs valued below $68,750 and first registered by 30 June 2025, so cars first registered from 1 July 2025 get nothing. Stamp duty was always payable on these cars (Department of Treasury and Finance SA).
Western Australia: rebate closed, standard duty
WA's $3,500 ZEV rebate closed at midnight on 10 May 2025 (Transport WA). WA's published vehicle licence duty scale is based on value, with no separate EV rate: 2.75 per cent up to $25,000, a sliding rate to $50,000 and 6.5 per cent above that (WA Government).
Tasmania: duty exemption ended
Tasmania exempted electric and hydrogen vehicles from duty between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2023, with a tail to 31 December 2023 only for new cars contracted before 25 May 2023. EVs now pay the ordinary passenger vehicle rates (State Revenue Office Tasmania).
ACT: lowest duty band and a 3 per cent loan, but no exemption
The ACT exempted new and used zero emission vehicles from duty until 31 August 2025. Since 1 September 2025 they pay duty, though at the lowest emissions band: $2.50 per $100 below $45,000, and $1,125 plus $4 per $100 above $45,000 up to $80,000 (ACT Revenue Office). Higher emitting cars pay more, and those rates rise again on 1 February 2027 while the ZEV band does not. ACT registration is moving to an emissions based system, so lower emission vehicles pay lower fees (Access Canberra).
The Sustainable Household Scheme is often described as zero interest, but for most households it is not. Loans for new and used electric cars carry a 3 per cent rate, no establishment fees and terms up to 10 years, with a $20,000 cap for households approved from 1 July 2026 (ACT Government). The car must be fully electric, cost less than $60,000 and be bought through an accredited supplier, and you need an ACT driver licence (SHS guidelines, September 2026). Zero interest loans exist only for eligible concession card holders through the Home Energy Support Program.
Northern Territory: the most generous, until 30 June 2027
From 1 July 2022 until 30 June 2027 the NT gives free registration (MAC charges still apply) and a stamp duty concession of up to $1,500 for battery electric and plug in hybrid vehicles, new or used. A car valued up to $50,000 pays no duty; above that you pay 3 per cent on the amount over $50,000 (NT Government). The NT concession covers plug in hybrids as well as battery electric cars.
Worked example: how duty changes the amount financed
Assumptions, all illustrative: a new battery electric car with a dutiable value of $50,000, duty rolled into the loan, an 8 per cent interest rate over five years, and no fees. Duty figures use the published rates linked above.
- ACT, now: $1,125 plus $4 x 50 = $1,325 of duty. Before 1 September 2025 the same car was exempt, so a buyer financing drive away today borrows $1,325 more.
- ACT, petrol comparison: a new car in the 131 to 175 g/km band at the same price pays $1,350 plus $5.22 x 50 = $1,611 now, and $1,462.50 plus $5.59 x 50 = $1,742 from 1 February 2027.
- Queensland: $2 x 500 = $1,000, against $1,500 for a four cylinder car.
- Northern Territory: $0. At $60,000 it would be 3 per cent of $10,000, or $300.
On the assumed loan terms, financing the ACT's $1,325 adds about $26.87 a month, $1,611.97 over 60 months, of which $286.97 is interest (monthly repayment = 1,325 x 0.006667 / (1 minus 1.006667 to the power of minus 60)). Small on its own, but duty has no resale value, so every dollar financed widens the gap between the loan and the car's worth, the negative equity problem that surfaces at trade in.
How EV incentives by state change your loan application
Ask for a drive away breakdown so you can see duty and registration as separate lines, then decide whether to pay the duty in cash. A lender assesses the car loan on the full amount financed, so a smaller amount helps with serviceability. Compare quotes on the comparison rate and run the repayments through the calculators. For the full duty formulas, including petrol cars, see our car stamp duty by state guide.
The federal piece: salary packaging
Separately from state incentives, the ATO says employers pay no fringe benefits tax on eligible battery electric or hydrogen cars first held and used from 1 July 2022 that were never subject to luxury car tax, and plug in hybrids no longer qualify from 1 April 2025 except in certain conditions (ATO). That is what drives most EV novated leases. Our EV FBT phase down article covers the announced changes from 2027, and novated leases explained covers the mechanics.
