Used EV Rebates in BC in 2026: The PST Exemption Ended. Here's What's Left

1. The PST exemption ended on April 30, 2025

From February 23, 2022, BC exempted used zero-emission vehicles (battery-electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen) from PST, at dealers and on private sales. It was scheduled to run until February 22, 2027, but BC Budget 2025 ended it early: “Effective May 1, 2025, used zero-emission vehicles are subject to provincial sales tax.”

The Ministry of Finance's PST bulletin on vehicles (revised August 2026) and its zero-emission vehicle page both confirm that PST applies to used EVs bought or leased after April 30, 2025, and BC Budget 2026 made no change to it. If a page tells you used EVs are PST-free in BC, it is out of date. An earlier version of this guide said so too, and we have corrected it.

2. The tax you pay on a used EV now

At a dealership you pay 5% GST plus PST on the price. On a private sale there is no GST, and you pay 12% PST when you register the car with ICBC, on the purchase price or the Canadian Black Book average wholesale value, whichever is higher. A used EV and a used gas car are taxed the same way, with one exception at dealers:

Private-sale PST is charged on the price or the Black Book value, whichever is higher; the table assumes they match. Rates from the Ministry of Finance's Bulletin PST 308 and Bulletin PST 116.

The exception: until February 22, 2027, a zero-emission vehicle bought from a dealer keeps the 7% rate up to $75,000, where a gas car pays 8% from $55,000, 9% from $56,000 and 10% from $57,000. So a used EV priced between $55,000 and $77,000 at a dealer still pays less PST than a gas car at the same price. After February 22, 2027 the bulletins say EVs go back to the standard thresholds. Most used EVs sell for under $55,000, where there is no difference at all. The full tax picture for every used car is in our BC used-car tax guide.

3. Rebate status in October 2026: CleanBC, federal EVAP and SCRAP-IT

The bottom line: in 2026 a used EV has to make sense on its price and its running costs alone, and many do. BC holds a provincial election on October 24, 2026. If the next government changes EV incentives, we will update this guide.

4. Charger rebates that are still open

Houses, duplexes and row homes: the CleanBC home charger rebate, paid through BC Hydro or FortisBC, covers 50% of an eligible Level 2 charger and its installation, up to $350 (75%, up to $750, for Indigenous applicants). Apply within 180 days of installing it; Tesla-brand chargers have not been eligible since March 12, 2025. BC Hydro adds $200 for an EV power-management device and a $250 bill credit when you enrol the charger in its Peak Saver program, and it is running limited-time top-ups in some neighbourhoods until December 31, 2026, so check your postal code.

Condos, apartments and townhome complexes: stratas can apply for building charger rebates of up to $137,000 per complex, with pre-approval. If you live in one, check your building's charging plan before you buy: charging access, not the car, is the thing to sort out first. Our EV & hybrid buying guide covers apartment charging in detail. All of these rebates are offered while funding lasts.

5. The running-cost math on BC Hydro rates

This is where the case for a used EV in BC is still strong. At BC Hydro's 2026 residential rates of 11.87¢ and 14.08¢ per kWh, an EV using about 18 kWh per 100 km costs roughly $2.10 to $2.55 per 100 km to charge at home. A gas SUV using 10 L per 100 km costs about $20 per 100 km at Vancouver's mid-October 2026 pump price of about $2.01 a litre.

For a 15,000 km year, that is roughly $1,700 to $2,700 saved, depending on how thirsty the gas car you compare is, before the maintenance gap (no oil changes, and much less brake wear thanks to regenerative braking). Public fast charging costs more than charging at home, so the savings are biggest if you can plug in where you park.

6. Buying a used EV well

The battery is the main question on a used EV, and you can check it. Compare the indicated full-charge range with the car's original rating, ask for a battery health report where one is available, and prefer cars with a documented charging history (home Level 2 charging is gentler than a steady diet of DC fast charging). Most EV batteries carry an 8-year or 160,000 km warranty, but it counts from the date the car was first sold new, not from your purchase, so a 2018 or 2019 EV may already be at the end of it. Ask a dealer of that brand to look up the remaining coverage by VIN.

We stock used EVs and hybrids regularly: browse used electric cars and used hybrids, each with a CARFAX report and a 150-point inspection. For the monthly payment on a specific car, use our payment calculator.