Changing cars for an electric or electrified one has a new state aid program in 2026. The Auto+ Program replaces the scheme that until last year was articulated through MOVES III and already has its first call open for individuals.
The window opened on August 4, 2026 and will remain open until December 31 at 2:00 PM, although the aids are granted on a first-come, first-served basis and may run out earlier if the budget is exhausted. The call for Line 1 has 350 million euros for individuals.
The main novelty is that the program also allows benefits for certain semi-new vehicles and that the amount no longer depends solely on the type of engine: the calculation combines degree of electrification, vehicle price, and European origin of its manufacture and battery.
Who can apply for the aid
The currently open call is the Line 1 of the Auto+ Program, aimed at individuals.
It can be requested by individuals over 18 years of age, with legal residence in Spain, who do not engage in economic activity. In addition, they must be up to date with their tax obligations and with Social Security and not have pending reimbursements of public aid.
The aid is limited to one vehicle per beneficiary. It is also important to maintain ownership and registration in Spain for at least two years from the granting of the subsidy, except for the exceptions provided in the regulations, such as theft, total loss, or death.
For self-employed individuals and companies, there is a second line, but it is not the call that is currently open for individuals. The Ministry has planned its opening after the summer.
What cars can receive the aid
The program does not subsidize any new vehicle. Only vehicles that have a ZERO environmental label from the General Directorate of Traffic can benefit.
The call includes:
- M1 passenger cars.
- Vans and light commercial vehicles N1.
- Electric motorcycles L3e, L4e, and L5e.
- Electric quadricycles L6e and L7e.
Within passenger and commercial vehicles, both pure electric and extended-range electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids are eligible, as long as they have the ZERO label.
Therefore, conventional hybrids, gasoline or diesel vehicles, and models with label B or C are not included.
Aids for semi-new cars
One of the differences regarding the traditional image of these aids is that it is not necessary for the vehicle to be completely new.
For the 2026 call, certain vehicles whose first registration as a new vehicle has occurred from January 1, 2025, may be eligible, provided they have been purchased through a dealer or sales point of the manufacturer or importer group and no more than 12 months have passed between the first registration and the date of the invoice.
In the case of new vehicles, the call accepts those registered for the first time in the name of the beneficiary from January 1, 2026.
This retroactivity allows those who purchased a vehicle that meets the conditions during the first months of 2026 to now apply for the aid, even if the call was not yet open.
How much money can be received
The maximum amount depends on the type of vehicle. For an individual, the limits of Line 1 are:
| Vehicle | Maximum aid |
|---|---|
| Tourism M1 | 4,500 € |
| Van or light commercial N1 | 5,000 € |
| Motorcycle L3e, L4e or L5e | 1,100 € |
| Quadricycle L6e or L7e | 1,500 € |
Not all buyers will receive the maximum amount. The aid is calculated by cumulatively applying three criteria: electrification, price, and European component.
Pure electric vs. plug-in hybrid
The first criterion favors pure electric vehicles.
For a tourism vehicle, the pure electric vehicle obtains 50% of the maximum amount in this criterion, while a plug-in hybrid or an extended-range electric vehicle obtains 25%.
Price also matters. In tourism vehicles up to 35,000 euros before taxes, the economic factor is 25%. Between 35,000 and 45,000 euros, it drops to 15%. The maximum subsidizable price for M1 is 45,000 euros before taxes.
To this, the European component can be added. If the assembly and final finishing of the vehicle are carried out in an industrial facility of the European Union, an additional 15% of the maximum amount is added. In certain electric vehicles, another percentage linked to the European manufacturing of the battery may also apply.
Therefore, the "up to 4,500 euros" of the headline is a maximum, not an automatic amount.
Do you have to hand over the old car?
No. An important difference compared to previous mobility programs is that the Auto+ does not establish as a general requirement to hand over an old vehicle for scrapping.
The aid is determined by the characteristics of the vehicle being purchased and by the conditions of the applicant. The Royal Decree does not incorporate scrapping as one of the calculation criteria for Line 1.
When does the deadline end?
For individuals, the deadline for the currently open call began on August 4, 2026 and ends on December 31, 2026, as long as the budget has not been exhausted before then.
There is an important issue: applications are processed in order of submission until the funds are exhausted. Therefore, waiting until December does not guarantee that there will be available budget.
The allocation for this first call is 350 million euros for individuals. The overall Auto+ Program has 400 million for 2026, of which 50 million correspond to the future Line 2 for those who develop an economic activity.
How to apply
The processing is electronic and corresponds to the Ministry of Industry and Tourism. The buyer can manage the application directly or have representation, a possibility contemplated by the program to facilitate the relationship with the Administration.
Among the documentation that may be required are the purchase invoice, the definitive circulation permit, the definitive technical sheet, and proof of payment. For new M1 and N1 vehicles, the invoice must also certify the minimum discount of 1,000 euros from the point of sale when applicable. For purchases made before the opening of the 2026 call, there is an exception to this formal requirement of the discount on the invoice.
Once the file has been checked, the aid is paid by bank transfer to the account indicated by the applicant.
The 15% deduction in the IRPF
Buying an electric vehicle in 2026 can also have a tax effect. The IRPF maintains a deduction of 15% of the acquisition value of certain new electric vehicles intended for private use until December 31, 2026.
The maximum base for the deduction is 20,000 euros, so the maximum tax saving can reach 3,000 euros.
The deduction is not calculated, however, on the full price if a public subsidy has been received. The Tax Agency establishes that the subsidized amounts are deducted from the base of the deduction.
For example, if an individual buys a car for 30,000 euros and receives 4,500 euros in aid, the tax base would not be 30,000 euros. In simplified terms, it would be 25,500 euros, although since there is a maximum base of 20,000 euros, the deduction would be limited to 3,000 euros.
The public aid, moreover, has its own tax consideration. The Tax Agency considers public subsidies for the acquisition of sustainable vehicles as capital gains when the beneficiary is a person who does not engage in economic activity.
Therefore, it is important not to confuse the two effects: the subsidy reduces the base on which the deduction is calculated, but the aid received itself must be declared in the IRPF.
Deducting the charging point
Anyone who installs a charging point for their electric vehicle can benefit from another state deduction.
The deduction is 15% of the amounts paid, with a maximum base of 4,000 euros, allowing for a deduction of up to 600 euros. Amounts that have been subsidized by public programs do not form part of the base.
This deduction also has a deadline of December 31, 2026.
Can the aids be combined?
The Auto+ allows compatibility with other subsidies, aids, income, or resources for the same subsidizable costs, generally up to a limit of 80% of the subsidizable cost, as long as they are not instruments of the European Union and the conditions of the respective calls are met.
This means that, before buying, it is advisable to also check if the autonomous community where the buyer resides has any of its own calls. Not all communities necessarily have a program open at the same time, so it would not be correct to preemptively combine an autonomous aid with Auto+ without checking the specific call.
The official call can be consulted at the BOE and the program information at the Ministry of Industry and Tourism.