An electric car pays no engine-size excise — it has no engine size. That makes the import clearly cheaper than a big diesel. Duty and VAT still apply.
The real questions start after registration. Where do you charge? What does the battery hold in winter on mountain roads? Who repairs it when the electronics fail?
- Charging at home is the real answer. Without a safe socket in the yard or garage, life with an electric car turns tiring.
- Check battery condition before buying — a battery health report tells you more than the odometer.
- Ask where the nearest workshop for the brand is. For some models it is outside the country.
Hybrids are the compromise for many: lower excise than a pure petrol car, without depending on the charging network.