Utah EV incentives, tax credits and rebates

Current EV incentives in Utah

If you’re a Utah resident, you can only take advantage of a few financial incentives when purchasing an EV or installing EV charging equipment. The state’s lackluster approach to EV ownership means you must rely on the federal Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Tax Credit for savings. Depending on the vehicle’s battery capacity, this program can provide up to $7,500 for the purchase of a new EV.

Utah’s support for EV charging equipment also leaves a lot to be desired, with the only rebate programs available through utility providers. Rocky Mountain Power steps in to fill this gap by offering a rebate of up to $200 for the installation of a home EV charger. The federal tax credit program also offers up to $1,000 in tax credits.

These incentives are critical to reducing the cost of EV ownership — especially since you have to pay extra to register your EV in Utah.

Electric vehicle purchase incentives in Utah

Utah doesn’t offer financial incentives if you purchase an electric vehicle in the state. However, you can still take advantage of the federal tax credit when switching to electric.

The federal tax credit is one of the most significant incentives for EV buyers, offering up to $7,500 in credits when you purchase a new electric vehicle. To qualify for the federal EV tax credit, you must purchase an EV for personal use and have a modified adjusted gross income within set limits.

The vehicle MSRP also must be less than $70,000 for vans, SUVs and pickup trucks and less than $55,000 for other EVs. It must weigh less than 14,000 pounds, have a battery capacity of at least seven kilowatt hours and have undergone final assembly in North America.

Not only does Utah not offer direct financial incentives for purchasing new electric vehicles, but the state charges higher registration fees for EVs than other vehicles — $138.50 instead of $60.25 for plug-in hybrids and $23.25 for gas hybrids. The Utah Department of Transportation (UTDOT) indicates this makes up for the fact that EV owners “contribute little or no gas tax revenue as compared to owners of conventional vehicles.”

» LEARN: What are tax credits?

EV charging equipment incentives in Utah

EV charging equipment incentives are available for Utah residents through the federal government and one local utility company.

Utah doesn’t offer any tax credits if you install a residential EV charger at your home. However, you can still take advantage of the federal Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Tax Credit. This program provides up to $1,000 in tax credits for installing a qualified vehicle charger at your home or business.

If you’re a Rocky Mountain Power customer, you can further reduce the cost of installing a charger through its EV Charging Station Grant and Rebate Program. This program provides rebates up to 75% of the charger and/or installation cost up to $200. There is a limit of one charger per EV, and you must meet additional eligibility requirements.

Contact your utility provider to see if rebates are available and to determine your eligibility.

How much can EV incentives save you in Utah?

EV incentive eligibility varies by driver, so we can’t calculate the exact savings available when purchasing an electric vehicle. However, we compiled potential savings examples for Utah residents based on the purchase of a used Chevy Bolt EV and a new Tesla Model Y. Here’s how available financial incentives in Utah can affect the overall cost of these cars:

Example savings