THG bonus 2026: up to €425 for EV owners
The 2026 THG quota is the topic of the day: application deadlines for the THG bonus end at most intermediaries on 31 October 2026. If you keep a purely battery-electric vehicle and still want to collect the bonus — over €300 with good offers, up to €425 at the top end — the time to act is now.
What is the THG quota?
THG is the German abbreviation for greenhouse gas: the greenhouse gas reduction quota is a policy instrument that obliges oil companies to continuously cut the greenhouse gas emissions of their fuels. The goal is to reduce CO₂ emissions in the transport sector and meet Germany's climate targets — climate-harmful mobility becomes more expensive, climate-friendly mobility cheaper. Owners of electric cars produce no greenhouse gas emissions on the road and monetise that saving through the THG bonus.
Who can claim the THG bonus?
🚗 Electric cars
Registered keepers of purely battery-electric vehicles (vehicle registration certificate) — whether bought, leased, or a company car.
🏍️ E-motorcycles & e-scooters
Registration-required vehicles with certificate part I, over 45 km/h and from 11 kW (15 hp) — plus certain light vehicles.
❌ Excluded
Plug-in hybrids, natural gas and hydrogen vehicles do not qualify for the THG bonus.
How high is the bonus — and how is it calculated?
The bonus amount is not set by the state; it is determined freely by market supply and demand — which is why it varies between intermediaries. For 2026, bonuses of over €300 are possible with good offers, and top values currently reach up to €425.
The calculation base for the saved CO₂ emissions is two values: the average yearly electricity consumption of an electric car (currently 2,000 kWh of charging electricity) and the average greenhouse gas emissions of electricity generation in Germany — 119 kg per gigajoule of energy generated for 2026.
The key numbers
Bonus 2026: over €300 (good offers), up to €425 at the top · Calculation base: 2,000 kWh of charging electricity per year · Grid mix 2026: 119 kg CO₂e/GJ · deadline at most intermediaries: 31 October 2026 · submission at the UBA until 15 November of the compliance year.
How to get the THG bonus: via an intermediary
The bonus is processed by an intermediary — an operator that collects many applications and submits them in a bundle to the Federal Environment Agency (UBA). It can be a specialised processor, your insurer, your energy supplier, or an automobile club.
What you need for that:
- a copy of the vehicle registration certificate (part I) — usually a scan or photo is enough,
- your personal data, and
- a bank account.
At the UBA, submission is still possible until 15 November of the respective compliance year — but the shorter deadline at your intermediary is the one that applies to you.
| Deadline | What it means |
|---|---|
| 31 October 2026 | Application deadline at most intermediaries — where your chance to claim the bonus via that operator ends. |
| 15 November 2026 | Last day by which submission at the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) is possible for compliance year 2026. |
Further financial benefits for electric cars
Besides the THG bonus, the electric car brings running savings: until at most the end of 2035 — depending on the date of first registration — the vehicle tax is waived entirely, which often amounts to several hundred euros per year. And running costs stay low: electricity is significantly cheaper than fossil fuels, plus lower inspection and maintenance costs — no engine oil, no spark plugs, reduced brake wear thanks to regenerative braking.
What this means for you
Until 31 October 2026, the application deadlines at most intermediaries are still running. If you drove your electric car in 2026 and still want to collect the bonus, choose an intermediary now, have your registration certificate ready, and submit the application — the payment lands on your own account.