For example, Auto Express’s 2025 Car of the Year, the Skoda Elroq, starts from £31,710 for the SE 50 model and is therefore eligible for the ECG. However, the Government’s system focuses on powertrain specifications, rather than trim levels. 

This means that buyers can step up to the racy-looking SportLine 60 model and still get the grant because, while this starts from £37,410, the cheapest model with the 60 powertrain is in SE L trim, which costs just £33,560. Buyers cannot select the 85 or vRS models and benefit from the discount, though, because these start from more than the £37,000 threshold.

That said, the government later introduced a limit of £42,000 for a vehicle’s overall specification. This essentially means that the most expensive trim levels, or cars with every option box ticked, may not qualify. 

For example, while the Volkswagen ID.3 Pro S Essential starts from under £37,000, stepping up to the Pro S Match trim level and selecting every optional extra means the car’s list price can, in theory, be in excess of £48,000. Under the new rules, however, a car with such a price tag would not get the discount.