From purchase to payout
The EV premium 2026 is not granted automatically when you buy the car — you have to apply for it. The path is manageable, but at a few points you can make mistakes that cost you the entitlement. This guide walks you step by step through the process and warns of the typical pitfalls, above all the holding period. If you don't yet know how high your premium will even be, check it in advance in the <a href="/en/ev-premium-calculator">EV premium calculator</a>.
Step 1: Check eligibility in advance
Before you sign a purchase contract, you should know whether you are eligible at all. Three details are decisive: the vehicle type, your taxable income and the number of your children under 18. If your income is above the applicable limit, there is no subsidy — you should not find that out only after the purchase.
Step 2: Choose an eligible new vehicle
Only new passenger cars of class M1 with first registration in Germany from 1 January 2026 are subsidised. When buying, make sure it is not a day registration with an earlier first-registration date or a re-import. Pure electric and fuel-cell vehicles receive the full base premium, plug-in hybrids and range extenders half.
Step 3: Register the vehicle
First registration is the starting point for the application and at the same time the beginning of the holding period. Keep the registration certificate carefully — you need it for the application, and it documents the decisive date.
Step 4: Submit the application
The subsidy has been granted since 19 May 2026. The application usually runs online via the responsible funding body. You typically need the purchase contract, the registration certificate and details of your income as well as, where applicable, of your children. Submit the application in full — missing documents cost time, and in a first-come, first-served programme time can decide the entitlement.
Step 5: Payout and notice
After review you receive a notice and, if the result is positive, the payout of the premium. Keep the notice safe: it is the proof of the granted subsidy and the associated obligations — in particular the holding period.
The holding-period trap: 36 months
The most common and most expensive mistake concerns the holding period of 36 months. The vehicle must remain registered in your name for at least three years after registration. Anyone who sells earlier, deregisters the car or permanently takes it abroad must expect a fully or partly reclaimed premium. A leasing or financing model with an early vehicle change can also become a problem here — check the contract conditions carefully.
Further stumbling blocks
Besides the holding period there are smaller traps: a first-registration date before 2026, a registration abroad, an incomplete application or confusing gross and taxable income. Each of these points can jeopardise the entitlement. Those who plan cleanly in advance and know their figures avoid almost all of them.
Conclusion
The application for the EV premium is no rocket science, but it demands care: the right vehicle, a first registration from 2026, a complete application and the willingness to keep the car for three years. Calculate your entitlement beforehand in the <a href="/en/ev-premium-calculator">premium calculator</a>, have the necessary documents ready and submit the application promptly after registration — then nothing stands in the way of the subsidy.