Registering an electric vehicle

Electric cars in NSW

Electric cars are growing in popularity. The 2019 Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Plan explains how the NSW Government is preparing for and fast tracking the adoption of electric vehicle technologies.

Cost of electric cars

Electric vehicles are becoming more affordable in Australia, with new battery electric passenger vehicles available for under $50,000.

Electric vehicles are much cheaper to run and maintain than petrol vehicles. You can save up to 70% on fuel and 40% on maintenance costs with an electric car. A typical car travelling 13,700 km a year would save an average of $1000 (or $1200 if the vehicle charges overnight on an off peak electricity tariff rate).

Find out the total cost of ownership of an electric car.

Registration of electric vehicles

Electric vehicles and some low emission petrol-electric hybrid vehicles receive a concession on motor vehicle tax. There's a small discount on registration costs depending on the tare weight of your car and whether you use it for business or private purposes. The discount is automatically applied when you register your car.

To be eligible for the concession, the car must be a manufacturer designated petrol-electric hybrid, diesel-electric hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or electric vehicle, with carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions no higher than 150 grams/kilometre (g/km) in the ‘combined’ driving cycle.

Vehicles with a Green Vehicle Guide rating of 4½ or 5 stars may also be eligible for the lower tax.

Transport for NSW stopped using the Green Vehicle Guide ‘star rating’ system to determine lower taxed vehicles from 6 October 2015. It was replaced by a rating on CO2 emissions.

See the list of lower taxed vehicles.

Eligible new or used battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell light vehicles under 4.5 tonne gross vehicle mass (including motorcycles) that cost up to $78,000 (dutiable value) are exempt from stamp duty if registered from 1 September 2021 in NSW. See the list of guidelines for more information. 

Find out the process to register a vehicle.

Number plate labelling of electric cars

All electric, hybrid and hydrogen light vehicles must display a safety label on the front and rear number plates.

All electric, hybrid and hydrogen heavy vehicles manufactured or modified after 1 January 2019 must also display the labels.

Electric or hybrid vehicles must display an EV label and hydrogen vehicles must display an H label.

Find out what you need to do to correctly label your electric car.

Charging an electric car

There are more than 300 public charging points for electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in NSW.

Find out how to charge an electric vehicle and your nearest charging stations.

Find out more about licence plate labelling requirements for EVs.