Electric vehicles are again the talk of the town as fuel prices continue rising to record levels. Whether a full battery electric vehicle (BEV) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), these EVs can dramatically reduce your monthly fuel costs.

On top of the fuel savings, there are provincial and federal rebates to help lower the cost of buying a new EV. And there are other rebates that impact pre-owned zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) and the charging station you may need to install in your home.

Below, we look at the electric car rebate in BC (British Columbia), how much you can expect to get, how to procure it, and other ways to save money on an EV in BC.

Electric Car Rebate BC

British Columbia’s CleanBC Go Electric Light-duty Vehicle Rebate Program has two main rebates for most new plug-in vehicles. Eligible vehicles for this rebate program include new battery electric vehicles (BEVs), hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The difference between the two programs is the amount of the rebate.

$3,000 Incentive Program

The program with the widest reach is the $3,000 vehicle rebate, which covers all new BEVs, FCEVs, and PHEVs with an all-electric driving range of 85 km or more. The other caveat is the vehicle cannot carry an MSRP over $55,000. Not considered in the $55,000 limit are optional accessories and various fees, like destination, documentation, and others — only the vehicle’s base MSRP at the trim level you choose matters.

This incentive is available whether you purchase or lease a qualifying vehicle. If you lease a car, you’re eligible for 100% of the rebate only if you enter a 36-month or longer lease. A 24-month lease qualifies for 66.7% of the rebate, and a 12-month lease qualifies for 33.3%.

$1,500 Incentive Program

New PHEVs with an all-electric driving range under 85 km will qualify for BC's $1,500 EV rebate. The $55,000 maximum MSRP and lease term proration also applies to this program.

How to Get Your CleanBC Go Electric Rebate

The electric car rebate in BC is a point-of-sale incentive managed by the New Car Dealers Association of BC. The rebate is automatically applied to the sale of the vehicle and deducted from the price, so there is no application process or waiting for a cheque to arrive.

Other Electric Vehicle Rebates and Incentives Available

BC zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) buyers can extend their savings by stacking other incentives on top of the CleanBC Go Electric Light-duty Vehicle Rebate Program. Here are other ZEV rebate and incentive programs available in BC and across Canada.

BC SCRAP-IT Program

The BC SCRAP-IT Program incentivizes Canadians to send high-pollution vehicles to early retirement and replace them with reduced-emissions vehicles. You can get a $500 rebate for scrapping your old car and replacing it with a new or used BEV. If you replace your old car with a new or used PHEV, you can get a $400 rebate for scrapping the old car.

While the BC SCRAP-IT Program is not automatic like the electric car rebate in BC, it is still relatively simple. After buying your BEV or PHEV, you apply online for the program, then wait for an approval email to arrive within two business days. You then bring your scrap vehicle to an approved drop-off location within 30 days of receiving the approval email.

After dropping off your scrap vehicle, simply claim your rebate online and await your payment.

You can also have this process handled at the car dealership if you purchase your vehicle at a car dealer.

Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles (iZEV) Program

You can also stack the federal government’s ZEV rebate on top of the BC electric car rebate and significantly increase your savings.

The nationwide iZEV Program incentive plan offers a $5,000 rebate on all new BEVs, FCVs, and new PHEVs with an all-electric driving range of 50 km or more. For PHEVs with an electric driving range under 50 km, there is a $2,500 rebate from the iZEV program.

Like the electric car rebate in BC, the iZEV program is a point-of-sale rebate that the dealership subtracts from the car’s price when you purchase it. There is no application process or waiting period to get your rebate.

There is also an MSRP limitation to qualify for the program, and they are as follows:

  • Passenger car: Up to a $55,000 base MSRP is eligible, but the maximum MSRP is $65,000 for higher trim levels, so long as the base trim is no more than $55,000.
  • Station wagon, light truck, SUV, minivan, van, or special purpose vehicle: Up to a $60,000 base MSRP is eligible, but the maximum MSRP is $65,000 for higher trim levels, so long as the base trim carries a retail price of $60,000 or less.

This incentive is available for those who purchase a qualifying vehicle or lease it for at least 12 months. However, you must lease it for 48 months or longer to get the full rebate. Shorter-term leases will receive a prorated rebate.

CleanBC Go Electric EV Charger Rebate

On top of the rebates for the vehicle itself, there are also incentives for installing select EV charging stations in your home.

This rebate is worth up to 50% of the cost of an at-home Level 2 charger with a maximum incentive amount of $350. You can install this charger in a single-family home, duplex, or townhouse with a private garage or dedicated parking.

The rebate is only for BC Hydro customers and FortisBC electricity or municipal electricity customers of Grand Forks, Penticton, Summerland, or Nelson Hydro.

BC Green Car Buyers Can Get $8,850 in Rebates

When you add in all the potential provincial and national incentives, BC EV buyers can get up to $8,850 in total rebates, and up to $8,000 of that comes straight off the MSRP at the dealership. This can be 20%, 30%, or more off the MSRP, so the potential savings are massive.

Plus, this is on top of the savings you’re already getting from a green vehicle, including lower fuel costs, reduced maintenance requirements, and fewer future repairs.

Save Big on a Pre-Owned ZEV at Clutch

Though you won’t qualify for the big electric car rebate in BC or the federal rebate, you can still save big on a pre-owned ZEV at Clutch. Plus, you’ll still qualify for the BC SCRAP-IT program and the CleanBC Go Electric EV Charger Rebate if you choose to use them.

All Clutch pre-owned electric cars go through a 210-point inspection and reconditioning process to ensure they’re top-quality and road-ready. We then add a 90-day or 6,000-km warranty to cover any unforeseen breakdowns. On top of that, you’ll also enjoy a 10-day or 750-km test-own period. If you don’t love your Clutch vehicle during this time, you can exchange it for a new one or return it for a full, no-questions-asked refund.

Plus, at Clutch, you complete the entire purchasing process online. We’ll set up your financing, complete the paperwork, evaluate your trade-in vehicle, and deliver the vehicle to you. You never set foot in a dealership or deal with a pushy salesperson.

Check out our vast pre-owned EV inventory in British Columbia today and find the perfect EV for you.