EV stamp duty, rego and road charges by state
Most states now charge EVs the same stamp duty and registration as petrol cars. The main exceptions in 2026 are Queensland (2% duty on EVs up to $100,000), the NT (free rego and a duty discount until June 2027) and the ACT (cheaper emissions-based rego). NSW has legislated a per-kilometre EV charge of about 3.1c from July 2027, but it may not survive a legal challenge, and there's no national charge yet. Federally, EVs on a novated lease are still free of fringe benefits tax.
Duty, rego and road charges in every state
As at October 2026. Rules change often, so check with your state revenue office before you buy.
| State | Stamp duty on EVs | Registration | EV road charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Full duty (the EV exemption ended 1 January 2024) | No EV discount | A per-km charge is planned from 1 July 2027: about 3.1c/km for EVs and 2.5c/km for plug-ins at 2026–27 rates. Not yet in force. |
| Victoria | Standard rates. EVs avoid the higher luxury rates other cars pay above about $80,800. | The $100 EV discount ended 1 January 2026 | None. Victoria's old EV charge was struck down by the High Court in 2023. |
| Queensland | Lower rate of 2% on EVs and hybrids up to $100,000 (3% for a typical four-cylinder petrol car) | No EV discount | None |
| South Australia | Full duty | The three-year free rego offer has closed | None |
| Western Australia | Full duty | No EV discount (the $3,500 rebate closed in May 2025) | None |
| Tasmania | Full duty (the exemption ended in 2023) | No EV discount | None |
| ACT | Tiered rates: 2.5% to $45,000, 4% to $80,000, 8% above. EVs were exempt until 31 August 2025. | Moving to emissions-based rego: zero-emission cars pay less | None |
| NT | Up to $1,500 off duty on EVs up to $50,000, until 30 June 2027 | Free rego for EVs and plug-ins until 30 June 2027 | None |
How much stamp duty will I pay?
Stamp duty (motor vehicle duty) is charged once, when the car is first registered to you. In most states it works out at roughly 3–5% of the price for a mid-priced car, so a $50,000 EV attracts about $1,500–2,500. Drive-away prices already include it; "before on-road costs" prices don't. Our cost-to-own figures add about $4,000 for on-road costs, which covers duty, rego and dealer delivery for a typical car.
Is EV registration cheaper?
Usually not any more. Most states that offered EV rego discounts have ended them. Rego is mostly set by vehicle weight or type, plus compulsory third party (CTP) insurance, so an EV costs about the same to register as a similar petrol car. The ACT and NT are the exceptions.
Will EVs pay a per-km road charge?
Not yet, and it's still being argued about. Here's why it's coming up, where things stand and what it would cost.
Why governments want EVs to pay
Petrol and diesel drivers pay fuel excise on every litre, about 54c a litre in 2026, and that money helps pay for roads. EV drivers buy little or no fuel, so they pay almost no excise. As more people switch, that revenue shrinks, and governments are looking at a distance-based charge instead. Almost everyone, including EV owner groups, agrees EVs should pay their share; the arguments are about how much, how it's worked out, and when it starts.
Where things stand (October 2026)
- Victoria: brought in 2.8c/km for EVs and 2.3c/km for plug-ins in 2021. The High Court ruled in October 2023 (Vanderstock v Victoria) that it was an excise, which only the federal government can charge, so it was scrapped.
- NSW: a charge of 3.095c/km for EVs and 2.476c/km for plug-ins (2026–27 rates, rising with inflation) is set to start on 1 July 2027, or earlier if EVs reach 30% of new car sales. NSW is still assessing what the High Court ruling means for it, and a NSW parliamentary inquiry has examined the scheme.
- National: federal and state treasurers agreed in 2025 to work on a national charge designed "not to impede EV uptake". In April 2026 the federal transport minister said it "may not be the time for it right now", and the May 2026 budget didn't include one. Any national charge would need new federal laws, and no bill has been released.
- Other states: no EV distance charge.
What a road charge would cost you
Driving 250 km a week (13,000 km a year). Fuel excise at 53.7c a litre.
| Vehicle | Per km | Per year | Per week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric car (NSW proposed charge) | 3.1c | $402 | $7.74 |
| Plug-in hybrid (NSW proposed, 80%) | 2.5c | $322 | $6.19 |
| Petrol SUV using 8.5 L/100 km (fuel excise) | 4.6c | $593 | $11.41 |
| Small petrol car, 6.5 L/100 km (fuel excise) | 3.5c | $454 | $8.73 |
| Hybrid using 4.5 L/100 km (fuel excise) | 2.4c | $314 | $6.04 |
Even with the charge, an EV would still be far cheaper to run than a petrol car, because charging at home costs much less than fuel. Our running-cost figures don't include the NSW charge yet, because it isn't in force; we'll add it if it starts.
Do heavier EVs damage roads more?
EVs are typically 200–400 kg heavier than a similar petrol car because of the battery, and that has led to claims they wear out roads faster. The evidence is more nuanced:
- Road engineers have long used a rule of thumb from 1950s US road tests: wear rises with the fourth power of axle weight. By that rule, a 2-tonne EV causes roughly twice the wear of a 1.7-tonne petrol car.
- But "twice" a tiny amount is still tiny. By the same rule, one heavily loaded truck axle does thousands of times more damage than a car axle, so trucks and buses cause the vast majority of road wear.
- Modern pavement engineers say the fourth-power rule is a poor predictor for today's roads and that a few hundred kilograms on a passenger car makes little measurable difference to road life.
- Where weight does matter is in fairness: under a flat per-km charge, a small EV would pay the same as a 3-tonne electric SUV. That's why some groups want weight included.
The options being debated
- Flat per-km charge for EVs (the NSW model): simple, but ignores weight and taxes EVs while petrol cars keep paying excise.
- Distance and weight charge for every vehicle: favoured by the Australian Electric Vehicle Association. Every car pays per km scaled by weight, while fuel excise stays on petrol and diesel as a pollution tax. New Zealand's road user charges use distance and weight.
- Delay until EVs are a bigger share of the fleet: the federal government's position so far, to avoid slowing the switch.
- Higher registration for EVs: simpler to collect, but doesn't reflect how far you drive.
What it means if you're buying now
Plan for a possible charge of around 3c/km (about $7.74 a week at 250 km) in NSW from mid-2027 and possibly nationally later. It narrows the running-cost gap but doesn't close it for most drivers. If you drive long distances, a heavier EV could pay more under a weight-based scheme.
Official sources by state
- NSW: Revenue NSW
- Victoria: State Revenue Office Victoria
- Queensland: Queensland Revenue Office
- South Australia: RevenueSA
- Western Australia: WA Department of Finance
- Tasmania: State Revenue Office Tasmania
- ACT: ACT Revenue Office
- NT: Territory Revenue Office
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Common questions
Do you pay stamp duty on electric cars in Australia?
Yes, in most states. NSW, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania charge full duty on EVs. Queensland charges a lower 2% on EVs up to $100,000, the NT gives up to $1,500 off for EVs up to $50,000 until June 2027, and Victoria and the ACT have their own rate scales.
Is EV registration free in Australia?
Only in the Northern Territory, where battery EVs and plug-in hybrids get free registration until 30 June 2027. Elsewhere EVs pay normal registration, although the ACT's emissions-based rego is cheaper for zero-emission cars.
Are there still EV rebates in Australia?
No state offers a purchase rebate for new EVs in 2026; the last ones closed in 2024 and 2025. The biggest remaining saving is the federal FBT exemption for EVs bought through a novated lease.
Do EVs pay a road user charge in Australia?
Not yet. Victoria's charge was struck down by the High Court in 2023. NSW plans 3.095c per km for EVs from 1 July 2027, but is still assessing whether it can legally collect it, and there is no national charge.
How much would the EV road user charge cost?
At NSW's proposed 3.095c per km, driving 250 km a week costs about $402 a year, or $7.74 a week. A petrol SUV pays about $593 a year in fuel excise for the same driving.
Do electric cars damage roads more?
Slightly, because they're heavier, but cars cause very little road wear overall. Heavy trucks cause the vast majority of it. Engineers say a few hundred extra kilograms on a passenger car makes little measurable difference.
Why don't EV drivers pay fuel excise?
Fuel excise is charged per litre of petrol and diesel. EVs run on electricity, so they don't pay it, which is why governments are designing a distance-based charge to replace it.
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How we work it out, and our sources
Weekly cost = the car's energy use × 250 km × your electricity or fuel price, with 90% of charging at home. Prices are list prices at November 2026; check with the dealer.
- Electricity: 2026–27 default rates (AER, Victorian Default Offer, state retailers). Public charging: Sydney network prices, July 2026.
- Petrol and diesel: capital-city daily averages from state government price feeds, via FuelRadar, 12 November 2026. Diesel for Hobart, Canberra and Darwin is estimated from the national fall.
- Cars: maker figures via CarExpert, Drive, CarsGuide and EV Central. Plug-in electric range is taken as 80% of the claim.
- Servicing: published capped prices; marked as an estimate where not yet published (CarExpert comparison).
- Tyres: an EV set lasts about 35,000 km, a petrol or hybrid set 50,000 km (RACV); prices from Gridly.
- Home charger: about $2,000 installed ($1,000–$3,000). Novated leases: PwC summary.
Printed from EV Pick Australia · evpick.com.au. Prices and costs are estimates; check with the dealer. © 2026 EV Pick (T. Crouch). For personal use only; not to be copied, republished or sold without permission.
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✓ You now know
- Most states now charge EVs the same stamp duty and rego as petrol cars
- Queensland, the NT and the ACT still have EV discounts
- NSW plans a per-kilometre EV charge from July 2027
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