Washington State Launching New EV Rebates Up to $9,000

Washington: EV Discounts Up to $9,000

If you live in the state of Washington, and are considering purchasing an electric vehicle, making the switch to electric just got a lot more financially attractive. The state has just announced a number of new electric car rebates of up to $9,000 for eligible applicants, which can be applied on top of existing federal rebates of up to $7,500.

The state’s new Washington EV Instant Rebates Program, which launches in August 2024, has received funding through June 2025. The state estimates that in that period it will provide rebates for up to 8,000 EV drivers – with a focus on supporting low-income residents who cannot typically afford a new car. The instant rebates, which range between $2,500 and $9,000, can be applied directly at the time of purchase or lease by a dealer – like the federal tax rebate, there’s no need to wait until tax time to apply.

What Are the New Washington Rebates?

The state’s new rebates cover both new and used battery electric vehicles, which have an MSRP of $90,000 or less.

• For new EVs, the rebate is $5,000 for purchase or a two-year lease
• For a three-year lease on a new EV, the rebate is $9,000
• For used EVs, $2,500 is available for purchase, two-, or three-year lease

What does that mean if you are thinking about buying or, especially, leasing a new electric vehicle? With such attractive terms for a three-year lease, Washington state provided example lease payments for some select EVs on its Department of Commerce website. Using the $9,000 rebate as a down payment, and combining it with the federal EV incentive and manufacturer rebates where applicable, the monthly payments for some electric cars dropped to below $150 a month:

• Toyota bZ4X – $56
• Hyundai Kona – $78
• Nissan Leaf – $87
• Hyundai Ioniq 6 – $93
• Subaru Solterra – $123
• Kia Niro Wind – $135

Who Is Eligible for the Washington EV Rebate?

With a focus on enabling EV ownership for low-income residents of the state, not everyone is eligible for the Washington EV rebates. It will be available to state residents making 300 percent or below of the federal poverty level for household income – or $93,600 a year for a family of four.

The rebate program, while available to all Washington residents that meet the income requirements, will focus its outreach on communities that are more significantly impacted by vehicle pollution, and on workers who driver more than 19,000 miles a year for work.

How Can I Apply for the Washington EV Rebate?

Washington’s Department of Commerce is finalizing a contract with an experienced clean energy rebate program administrator to run the new EV rebate program. The program will reimburse dealers who provide the rebate as a point of sale discount to eligible purchasers of EVs, which should make getting the rebate easy. The state says that the rebates should require no advance or post-purchase application.

These new rebates for EVs in Washington will be available starting in August 2024.