EV tax-free until 2035: vehicle tax exemption now applies to registrations up to end 2030
The vehicle tax for purely electric vehicles does not apply up to 2035 at the latest — that is what the federal cabinet decided, the Bundestag approved on 4 December 2025, and the Bundesrat followed in December. Newly registered EVs benefit from a ten-year exemption, as do newly registered vehicle conversions. The cutoff date for new registrations shifts from 31 December 2025 to 31 December 2030 — the exemption itself ends at the latest on 31 December 2035, regardless of the registration date.
That makes an EV purchase up to 2030 planable: you pay no vehicle tax while the vehicle is in use. After 2035, the tax does not fall away completely — under § 3d KraftStG (Vehicle Tax Act) it is reduced to half the regular amount. For you that means: the half amount is based on the permitted total weight of your vehicle, not on engine displacement and CO₂ as with combustion engines.
Who is tax-free when — the three dates
| Date | What applies | Who it affects |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Dec 2025 | Original cutoff date — no longer relevant, because the exemption was extended | Vehicles registered up to that date |
| 31 Dec 2030 | New cutoff date: new registration or conversion to electric | Everyone who acquires an EV up to that date |
| 31 Dec 2035 | Latest endpoint of the ten-year tax exemption | All exempted vehicles — even those registered in 2030 remain tax-free for five years after that |
Purely electric vehicles (cars, motorcycles, converted vehicles) are affected; hybrid and plug-in hybrid models are not. The incentive from the federal government lands: an early purchase pays off, because the later the registration, the sooner the exemption lapses.
What does the car cost after 2035?
After the exemption ends, the full vehicle tax does not apply — only half. That is a statutory reduction for EVs under § 3d KraftStG — it applies permanently, not only for a transitional phase.
The amount to be paid depends on the permitted total weight (permitted gross vehicle weight on the registration certificate, field 14) and is calculated in steps of 200 kg each. A mid-size EV with a permitted total weight of around 2,200 kg pays, after 2035, half the tax a comparable combustion vehicle pays — for a combustion vehicle the calculation is based on engine displacement and CO₂ emissions.
Practical tip: before you buy, check what your specific model would cost after 2035. The total-weight class depends on the vehicle — heavy SUVs and vans sit higher than compact cars. A look at the registration certificate is enough to read off the vehicle tax class.
Why 2035 — and why an incentive?
The federal government wants to achieve two things:
- Strengthen the automotive location. A strong, planable tax incentive should stabilise demand for EVs until the battery and charging-network infrastructure is built out.
- Meet climate goals in transport. The transport sector should continue to reduce its CO₂ emissions; the vehicle tax exemption is a lever for that.
The extension was already written into the coalition agreement — this article puts it into binding law. The exemption runs from the day of first registration and ends at the latest five years after 2030, or by 31 December 2035, whichever comes first.
In brief
- Vehicle tax for purely electric vehicles exempt up to 2035 at the latest.
- New registrations and conversions up to 31 December 2030 benefit.
- After 2035: only half the regular vehicle tax — not the full tax.
- Hybrid and plug-in hybrid are exclusively excluded.
- The exemption is based on the date of first registration or conversion to an electric drive — not on the purchase date.
- Charging costs at a glance — how the price of electricity, the wallbox, and public networks change the running balance of your EV.
- Charging at home — wallbox selection and costs for the home charging point.
- Charging cards — which roaming options exist when using the charging network and what they cost.