New EV incentive scheme promises ‘up to €9,000’ in Croatia
Croatia will launch a new EV incentive program in October 2026 which will offer up to €9,000 in purchase subsidies for consumer EVs. The grant amount per person depends on the car's purchase price, with light vehicles also set to benefit.
Image: Mer Germany
In October 2026, Croatia is set to launch a new incentive programme for electric vehicles, as announced by the Croatian Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund (FZOEU). The government has allocated a budget of €20 million for this purpose, which is expected to cover around 3,000 funding applications for new electric vehicles. While Croatia has had EV incentive schemes in the past, this new programme differs from previous approaches.
Price caps and percentage limits
The amount of funding granted per person is now based on the gross purchase price of the vehicle, including VAT. For electric cars priced up to €35,000, the maximum subsidy is €9,000. For vehicles priced between €35,000 and €62,500, the incentive is capped at €7,000. Vehicles costing more than €62,500 are not eligible for any government funding.
The programme also covers the purchase of light electric vehicles in categories L1 to L7, including mopeds, motorcycles, and three- and four-wheeled vehicles. For these vehicles, the maximum incentive is €2,500, with a maximum purchase price of €35,000 required to qualify for the funding.
Additionally, the new incentive scheme includes a percentage cap: the government bonus covers a maximum of 40 per cent of the gross purchase price, applicable to both electric cars and light electric vehicles. To receive the maximum incentive of €9,000, the gross purchase price of the electric car must therefore be at least €22,500.
An online application process
With the relaunch of the environmental bonus, the Croatian authorities are also updating the application process. Applications will no longer be processed through dealerships but directly via the digital platform eFZOEU. Applicants must be verified through the electronic identification system NIAS. Additionally, the application requires a binding price quote from the car dealer, including the manufacturer, model, drivetrain type, and vehicle class. A residence certificate no older than 30 days and a signed declaration are also required to submit the application.
Applications will be processed in the order they are received. Since funding in previous programmes was exhausted quickly, the Fund recommends early preparation of digital access.
Only one funding application per person is permitted. In addition to cash purchases, vehicles acquired through finance leasing are also eligible. However, operational leasing is excluded. The vehicle must not have been paid for before the official start of the incentive programme. However, it is permissible to have made a deposit, provided it was done in 2026.
Croatia’s strategy for reducing emissions
In recent years, Croatia has allocated around €63 million through various national programmes for the purchase of more than 11,000 environmentally friendly vehicles. Last year, businesses also received €21 million in funding for around 2,500 commercial vehicles under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
The incentive scheme aims to create synergies with the decentralised expansion of renewable energy, particularly for households with their own photovoltaic systems, which are also state-supported. The official start date for funding applications is expected to be announced during October.
