Factsheet for measure
NL-2026-1/4283
– measures in Netherlands
Trade-in subsidy for fossil-fuel vehicles to support the purchase of second-hand electric cars
Inruilregeling fossiele brandstofauto's
Background information
The energy price shock triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz placed a disproportionate financial burden on lower- and middle-income households, who tend to drive older, less fuel-efficient vehicles and have limited capacity to reduce fuel consumption. As part of the 'Acties Weerbaarheid Energieschok' package announced on 20 April 2026, the Dutch cabinet accelerated the introduction of a previously planned trade-in scheme for fossil-fuel vehicles. The scheme had originally been planned for 2027, but was brought forward to the fourth quarter of 2026 through a budgetary advance (kasschuif), shifting funds from 2029 to enable earlier opening. The measure explicitly aims to avoid a criticism levelled at earlier Dutch electric vehicle subsidies, notably the SEPP scheme, discontinued in January 2025, that tax advantages for electric vehicles disproportionately benefited higher-income groups and company car drivers. By targeting older vehicles and lower-income households, the 2026 scheme is designed to make the transition to electric driving accessible to a broader population while simultaneously reducing fossil fuel dependence.
Content of measure
The scheme offers households with lower and middle incomes a subsidy to trade in an old petrol or diesel vehicle for a second-hand fully electric car. The scheme specifically targets vehicles in emission class 1 to 4, broadly, petrol cars registered before approximately 2009 and diesel cars registered before approximately 2010, which must be scrapped as a condition of receiving support. The purchase must be of a used, fully electric vehicle; new electric vehicles are not covered. The total budget for the scheme is €52 million. Of this, €2 million is available in 2026, rising to €30 million in 2027 and €20 million in 2028. Funding comes from the Climate and Energy Fund (Klimaat- en energiefonds). The exact subsidy amount per vehicle, income thresholds, and the maximum purchase price of the eligible second-hand electric vehicle had not yet been confirmed at the time of announcement. Applications will be processed via RVO (Netherlands Enterprise Agency).
Use of measure
No uptake data available at time of entry. The scheme had not yet opened at the time of writing (June 2026). Given the €2 million budget in 2026, uptake in the first year is expected to be limited — an estimated 500 to 600 households.
Target groups
Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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National government
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National funds
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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No involvement
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No involvement
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Form
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Not applicable
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Not applicable
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
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No involvement
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Main level of involvement: N/A
Involvement
No involvement reported.
Views and reactions
No specific reaction to this measure was identified from trade unions or employer organisations.
Sources
