Electric car tax 2026: exemption, calculation, and guide by region
Feb 4, 2026
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Electric car tax 2026: the complete guide to exemption
Have you chosen an electric car? Great news: you don't have to pay road tax. For the first 5 years after registration, electric vehicles are completely exempt from road tax. And if you live in Lombardy or Piedmont, the exemption lasts forever. No road tax, ever.
In this guide, we explain everything you need to know about electric car tax in 2026: how long the exemption lasts in your region, what happens after 5 years, how the amount is calculated, and what's new this year. One thing is certain: driving electric is convenient, even from a tax perspective.
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The golden rule: 5 years without road tax for all electric cars
The national legislation is clear: all 100% electric cars (BEVs) are exempt from road tax for the first 5 years from the date of first registration. This exemption applies throughout Italy, regardless of your region of residence. Whether you have purchased an electric city car or a premium sedan, you will not have to pay a single euro in car tax for 60 months.
The exemption applies to both new and used electric cars. If you buy a second-hand electric vehicle, check the registration date on the logbook: you will be able to enjoy the remaining months of exemption. A car registered in 2023, for example, will be exempt until 2028.
How much will you actually save? A medium-power gasoline car (100 kW) pays around €250-280 in road tax per year. In 5 years, with an electric car you save between €1,250 and €1,400. What you don't spend on car tax you can invest in recharging: on the Electra fast charging station network, for example, this saving is equivalent to thousands of kilometers traveled.
Electric car tax by region: who never pays
Road tax is a regional tax, so each region can decide whether or not to extend the exemption beyond the five years provided for by national law. The result is a patchy map, with some regions being particularly virtuous.
Lombardy and Piedmont: lifetime exemption
If you live in Lombardy or Piedmont, you are among the luckiest in Italy. These two regions have decided to extend the road tax exemption for electric cars indefinitely. In practice, as long as you drive an electric vehicle, you will never pay road tax. Not even after 5, 10, or 20 years.
This means that a resident of Lombardy or Piedmont who buys a Tesla, a Fiat 500e, or any other electric car today will never have to worry about road tax. A permanent tax advantage that makes electric cars even more affordable in these regions.
Campania and Valle d'Aosta: up to 8 years without road tax
Other regions have chosen to extend the exemption beyond the standard 5 years. In Valle d'Aosta, the exemption lasts for 8 years from the date of first registration. In Campania, anyone who scraps a Euro 0 to Euro 4 vehicle can benefit from a 7-8 year exemption, provided that the electric car does not exceed 100 kW of power (Regional Law 24/2023).
Here is a summary of the electric car tax exemption by region:
Region | Duration of exemption | After the exemption |
Lombardy | Lifetime | €0 |
Piedmont | For life | €0 |
Aosta Valley | 8 years | 25% rate |
Campania | 5-8 years | 25% of the rate |
Other regions | 5 years | 25% of the fee |
Note : Campania: 8 years with Euro 0-4 scrapping, only for vehicles up to 100 kW.
After 5 years: how much does the electric car tax cost?
Once the exemption period has ended, in regions that do not offer lifetime exemption, electric car owners must pay road tax. But beware: the amount is reduced by 75%. In practice, you only pay a quarter of the rate for a gasoline car of the same power. An advantage that lasts for the entire life of the vehicle.
The secret of continuous power: why you pay less than you think
There is a technical detail that works in favor of electric car owners. The calculation of the road tax is based on the continuous power indicated in the vehicle registration document (item P.2), not on the peak power. This distinction is fundamental.
An electric car can have very high peak power (what you feel when accelerating), but the continuous power recorded is often much lower. A Tesla Model 3 Performance, for example, has a peak power of over 350 kW, but the continuous power in the registration document is only 88 kW. And the road tax is calculated on that 88 kW, not on the 350.
Furthermore, unlike combustion engine cars, there is no surcharge for electric cars above 100 kW. The base rate (approximately $3.50/kW for Euro 6) always applies, regardless of power. This means that even a very powerful electric car pays a ridiculous road tax compared to an equivalent combustion engine car.
How to calculate the amount of road tax
The calculation is simple: multiply the power in kW indicated in the logbook by a coefficient that varies from region to region (on average $3.58/kW), and then apply the 75% reduction. The formula is:
Road tax = (kW × regional coefficient) × 25%
Practical example: Tesla Model 3 RWD with 88 kW of continuous power, resident in Veneto. From the sixth year onwards:
88 kW × $2.84/kWh = $249.92 (full rate)
€249.92 × 25% = €62.48 per year
By comparison, a gasoline car of equivalent power would pay around €250-280 per year. The savings are clear.
Regional coefficients for calculating the electric car tax (after exemption):
Region | Coefficient €/kW (25% reduced rate) |
Lombardy, Piedmont | €0 (lifetime exemption) |
Emilia-Romagna, Friuli V.G., Puglia | 0.65 €/kW (= 25% of 2.58 €) |
Veneto, Liguria, Marche | €0.70-0.71/kW |
Lazio, Abruzzo, Calabria | €0.71/kW (= 25% of €2.84) |
Campania | €0.78/kW (= 25% of €3.12) |
For an exact calculation of the amount, use the official simulator at bollo.aci.it, entering your vehicle's license plate number.
What's new in 2026: changes for electric car owners
From January 1, 2026, a number of changes to the management of vehicle tax came into force. Here are the main changes that also affect electric vehicle owners.
Personalized deadlines: for vehicles registered from 2026, the road tax will be linked to the month of registration. Payment must be made by the last day of the month following the deadline.
Single payment: for new registrations, it will no longer be possible to pay the road tax in installments. The tax must be paid in a single installment.
Administrative detention: important news. From 2026, the tax must be paid even if the vehicle is subject to administrative detention. The exemption introduced by the Constitutional Court in 2017 will no longer apply.
Possible exemption for low incomes: a possible total exemption from road tax for those with an annual income of less than €8,000 is being considered. The measure is not yet final: details on requirements and recognition procedures are still under discussion. We recommend monitoring regional updates.
Enhanced digital checks: the new National Vehicle Tax Archive cross-references data between the PRA, ACI, and regional administrations to automate checks and speed up collection in the event of non-payment.
How to pay your car tax: all available methods
When it comes time to pay your car tax (after the exemption, of course), you have several options available. As with recharging your car via the Electra app, car tax payment is also becoming increasingly digital.
Online: the fastest method. You can pay via the ACI's Bollonet portal (bollo.aci.it), regional websites that participate in PagoPA, the IO app with automatic notifications, or via home banking with major banks. All you need is your vehicle's license plate number.
In person: if you prefer physical channels, you can go to ACI offices, post offices, Lottomatica-affiliated tobacconists, Mooney points, or authorized car registration agencies. Please note: variable service fees may apply.
ACI reminder: a useful service to help you remember the deadline. By downloading the ACI app or registering on the portal, you will receive an email or text message a few days before the deadline with the date and amount to be paid.
Frequently asked questions about electric car tax
Do electric cars pay road tax?
No, they are completely exempt for the first 5 years after registration. In Lombardy and Piedmont, the exemption is permanent. In other regions, from the sixth year onwards, a reduced rate of 25% compared to gasoline cars is payable.
How much does the road tax for an electric car cost after 5 years?
It depends on the power and the region. For a car with 100 kW of continuous power, the average amount is around €65-78 per year (25% of the full rate). In Lombardy and Piedmont, it remains at zero euros.
Does the exemption also apply to used electric cars?
Yes. The exemption is based on the date of first registration of the vehicle, not on the date of purchase. If you buy a used electric car registered in 2022, you will be able to enjoy the exemption until 2027 (5 years from the date of first registration).
How do I know if my car is exempt?
You can check this on the ACI portal (bollo.aci.it) by entering the vehicle's license plate number. The system will show you whether you are in compliance, the amount to be paid, if any, and the expiration date. If the car falls within the exemption period, the amount will be zero.
Do hybrid cars have the same benefits as electric cars?
No. Hybrid cars (full hybrid, plug-in, mild hybrid) have different benefits that vary greatly from region to region. In general, they can benefit from exemptions for 3-5 years, but they do not have the permanent 25% reduction provided for pure electric cars. Always check the regulations in your region.
Driving an electric car is also advantageous from a tax point of view. Between road tax exemptions, competitive charging costs, and reduced maintenance, annual savings can exceed €1,000. And with an increasingly widespread network of ultra-fast charging stations, recharging is now as quick and easy as filling up with gas.
Written by Giulia, Electra mobility expert
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