Up to 9,000 euros: New electric vehicle subsidy in Croatia
Croatia will launch a new electric vehicle subsidy program in October 2026. A bonus of up to 9,000 euros is available. The amount per person depends on the car’s purchase price, and light vehicles are also eligible for this support.
Image: Mercedes Germany
A new subsidy program for electric vehicles is set to begin in Croatia in October 2026, according to the Croatian Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency (FZOEU). The government has allocated a budget of 20 million euros for this purpose. This amount is intended to cover around 3,000 applications for new electric vehicles. While Croatia has had previous electric vehicle subsidies, the new program differs from previous approaches.
Price Caps and Percentage Limits for Electric Vehicle Subsidies
The amount of subsidy paid per person is now based on the vehicle’s gross purchase price including VAT. For electric vehicles priced up to 35,000 euros, the maximum subsidy is 9,000 euros. For vehicles priced between 35,000 and 62,500 euros, the subsidy is limited to 7,000 euros. If the vehicle costs more than 62,500 euros, no government subsidy is available.
The program also covers the purchase of lightweight electric vehicles in categories L1 to L7, including mopeds, motorcycles, and three- or four-wheeled vehicles. For these vehicles, the subsidy amounts to up to 2,500 euros, with a maximum purchase price of 35,000 euros required to qualify for the subsidy.
In addition, the new subsidy comes with a percentage cap, as the government bonus covers up to 40 percent of the gross purchase price, which applies both to electric cars and to light electric vehicles. To qualify for the maximum amount of 9,000 euros, the gross purchase price of the electric car must therefore be at least 22,500 euros.
Shift to Online Application Process
With the renewal of the Environmental Bonus program, the Croatian authorities are also adjusting the application process. Applications will no longer be processed through dealerships but directly via the eFZOEU digital platform. Applicants must first be verified through the NIAS electronic identification system. Additionally, the application requires a binding price offer from the car dealer that includes the manufacturer, model, type of propulsion, and vehicle class. A registration certificate valid for no more than 30 days and a signed declaration are also necessary to submit the application.
Applications are processed in the order they are received. Since funds were exhausted quickly in previous programs, the fund recommends preparing digital access in advance.
Only one subsidy application can be submitted per person. In addition to cash purchases, cars purchased through financing leases are also eligible for subsidies. Operational leasing, however, is excluded. The car must not have already been paid for before the official start of the subsidy program. It is allowed to make an advance payment, provided it was made in 2026.
Croatia’s Strategy for Reducing Emissions
In recent years, through various national programs in Croatia, around 63 million euros have been allocated for the purchase of more than 11,000 environmentally friendly vehicles. The previous year, companies also received subsidies totaling 21 million euros for around 2,500 commercial vehicles under the National Reconstruction and Resilience Plan.
The subsidy is intended to create synergies with the decentralized development of renewable energy, especially for households with their own photovoltaic systems, which are also supported by the government. The official start date for submitting subsidy applications is expected to be announced in October.
