New Jersey EV incentives, tax credits and rebates

True to its name, The Garden State has powerful incentives to go green

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    Edited by: Joseph Santos

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      New Jersey lives up to its “Garden State” nickname by offering generous incentives to go green. From halved sales tax to a $4,000 credit on EV purchases made in late summer, New Jersey has a lot to offer eco-conscious residents in addition to the existing federal grants.

      So let’s break it all down and determine roughly how much you can save buying an EV — and installing a charger at home — in The Garden State.


      Key insights

      In addition to the existing pair of federal EV incentives, New Jersey offers a handful of state incentives to drive the price down even further. You may also find discounts and rebates with your local utilities provider.

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      New Jersey waives half the sales tax (6.625%) on new or used EV purchases and you may also qualify for up to $4,000 off through the Charge Up New Jersey program — provided you buy between July and November (when funding typically dries up).

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      Charge Up New Jersey can also knock $250 off the cost of installing a Level 2 charger at home and you may also find additional incentives from your home energy supplier.

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      All told, combined state and federal EV incentives could save you around $14,800 on a new $50,000 EV or $5,300 on a used $20,000 EV.

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      Current EV incentives in New Jersey

      New Jersey currently provides three ways to lower the cost of your electric vehicle and one incentive to offset the price of a home charger:

      • Electric vehicle tax exemption: 3.3125% sales tax waiver (half the usual rate) on new or used zero‑emission cars, including leases. This could save you several thousand dollars right off the bat. This sales tax exemption is being phased out as of July 1, 2025.
      • Charge Up New Jersey: Up to $4,000 off a qualifying EV plus $250 toward a Level 2 home charger.
      • Green Pass discount: 10% off‑peak EZ‑Pass rates on the Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. Depending on how often you hit the Turnpike, this could add up to hundreds of dollars of savings each year.
      • Utility and federal add‑ons: Stackable programs from PSE&G and the IRS (details below).

      The next sections spell out exactly who qualifies, when to apply and how to stack each discount.

      EV purchase incentives in New Jersey

      In addition to the pair of federal tax credits, New Jersey has three EV incentives at the state level as of July 2024.

      Let’s start at the federal level and then zoom in to the state and city levels from there.

      • The federal EV tax credit offers a tax credit of up to $7,500 on a new EV purchase up to $80,000 and a tax credit of up to $4,000 on a pre-owned EV purchase up to $25,000. There are income limits and the list of eligible vehicles is narrowing, but it’s still worth looking into since it can make a serious dent in your EV budget.

      For more details and a list of vehicles that qualify for full or partial credit, check out our full feature on how the EV tax credit works.

      Now, let’s look at credits that are state-specific:

      • Charge Up New Jersey offers a rebate of up to $4,000 on the purchase or lease of a brand-new EV and up to $250 on an EV charger. You’ll get $25 back for every EPA-rated mile of all-electric range, meaning any vehicle with more than 160 miles of range should qualify for the full $4,000. Vehicles must also be under $45,000 MSRP to qualify for the full rebate. Vehicles priced between $45,000 and $55,000 may qualify for a smaller rebate of $1,500.

        Historically, Charge Up New Jersey begins taking applications in July and runs out of funding in November. “That means EV shoppers in New Jersey should absolutely be looking to buy or lease during the months of July, August, September and October,” a Polestar dealer in New Jersey told ConsumerAffairs.

        Single tax filers will need to show a maximum modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of $75,000 on their most recent tax filing to be eligible. Heads of household can have a MAGI of up to $112,500, and joint tax filers can have a maximum MAGI of $150,000.

        Here’s how to apply for the Charge Up+ incentive online:

        1. Gather documents: Your New Jersey driver’s license and most recent tax filing (or proof of enrollment in an eligible public assistance program).
        2. Create an account: Applications must be submitted through the online portal. It takes about 10 minutes to complete your application, and you’ll receive notifications about your application at the email you used to create your account.
        3. Get your prequalification ID: If your application is successful, you’ll receive a prequalification ID number within about five business days.
        4. Bring your prequalification ID to a participating dealership: By showing your ID, you can apply the $4,000 incentive directly when you purchase or lease an eligible EV.

        You don’t need to complete an online application for the $2,000 Charge Up program. Simply find an eligible EV and dealership, and the incentive will be applied at the point of sale.

      • The Electric Vehicle Tax Exemption is exactly what it sounds like. As of May 2004, New Jersey no longer charges a “sales and use tax” on the sale, rental or lease of zero-emission vehicles. For a list of eligible models, click here.

        Not having to pay half the state’s 6.625% sales tax means you could save roughly $1,656 on the average price of a new EV (about $50,000) or roughly $994 on the average price of a used EV (about $30,000).

        This sales tax waiver is being phased out on July 1, 2025.

      • The Green Pass Discount offers drivers of select low-emissions vehicles a 10% discount on off-peak New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway tolls. While this may only amount to $0.45 in savings each way, that could quickly add up to $200-plus in annual savings if you already pay these tolls on a daily basis.

      All things considered, if you purchase a new, $40,000 EV in New Jersey, you could save:

      • $7,500 thanks to the federal tax credits
      • $4,000 thanks to Charge Up New Jersey
      • $1,325 in sales taxes
      • $25 per year in tolls (or much more if you’re a regular commuter)

      That’s a combined $14,175 in savings or 35.4% of the vehicle’s MSRP. Here’s a summary of each incentive and its maximum benefit:

      » LEARN: What are tax credits?

      EV charger incentives in New Jersey

      As mentioned, the state of New Jersey offers just one EV charging incentive as of April 2025. As part of the Charge Up New Jersey Program, you could save up to $250 off the cost of a Level 2 charger at home. This could reduce the total cost of an installation by roughly 10% to 20%.

      Beyond that, you may find additional rebates and discounts with your local home energy provider. PSE&G is the only New Jersey-based utilities provider we could find that currently offers a discount on Level 2 charger installs. However, there may be more and it’s certainly worth visiting your current energy provider’s website to see what green discounts are available.

      How much can EV incentives save you in New Jersey?

      Now that we’ve covered New Jersey incentives for both EV purchases and charger installs, let’s put it all together to see how much you could potentially save on a new or used EV purchase — including the federal tax credits.

      Keep in mind that these are just ballpark figures and that not every vehicle will qualify for every credit at all times of the year. But if the stars should align (and you buy between July and October), you could be in for some serious net savings if you go green in the Garden State.

      Example savings with New Jersey EV incentives

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        FAQ

        Does New Jersey offer EV rebates?

        Yes, New Jersey has rebates for electric vehicle owners. The Charge Up New Jersey program can provide a rebate of up to $4,000 when you purchase or lease a new electric vehicle. Funding usually launches in July and may be depleted by November, so timing your purchase is important.

        Does New Jersey have tax credits for home chargers?

        Yes, electric vehicle owners in New Jersey can qualify for local tax credits in addition to the federal tax credit for charging equipment. The Charge Up New Jersey program offers up to $250 off a Level 2 charger. Some utility providers, including PSE&G, may provide additional rebates of up to $1,500 for installation costs.

        Does New Jersey offer tax credits for installing solar panels?

        Yes, New Jersey offers tax credits for installing solar panels. The Successor Solar Incentive (SuSI) program allows residents to earn certificates called SREC 2s for every 1,000 kWh of solar production for 15 years. The value of each SREC 2 is $85.

        Do extended warranties cover electric vehicles?

        No, most extended warranty providers don’t adequately cover electric vehicles. That means they either refuse to cover EVs in the first place or refuse to cover the components that make them unique, like their traction batteries and drive units.

        That being said, some extended warranty companies are starting to offer full EV coverage and new companies specializing in coverage for EVs may crop up.

        How do I apply for New Jersey EV rebates?

        To apply for New Jersey EV rebates, visit the Charge Up New Jersey website. To apply for the Charge Up+ incentive in New Jersey, you’ll need your driver’s license and most recent tax filing or proof of public assistance. Then, create an account and apply through the online portal. If approved, you’ll receive a prequalification ID, typically within five business days.

        Bring that ID to a participating dealership to get the $4,000 incentive when you buy or lease an eligible EV.

        For the separate $2,000 Charge Up incentive, no application is needed. Just buy from an eligible EV from a qualifying dealership, and the discount is applied at the point of sale.


        Article Sources

        ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:

        1. DSIRE, “Programs.” Accessed June 25, 2024.
        2. J.D. Power, “How Much Does It Cost To Install An EV Charger?” Accessed June 25, 2024.
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