Illinois pays a rebate on new and used all-electric vehicles: $2,000, or $4,000 for low-income households. It is paid after you buy, and low-income applications are paid first.
The Illinois EV Rebate is a check mailed after you buy, not a discount at the dealer. Illinois EPA pays low-income applications first. Other applications are processed once it is clear that money remains for every eligible low-income applicant, which can be after the cycle closes.
In the status tables we could read for this cycle, applications from buyers outside the low-income tier had been received, but none had been paid. That may change, and we do not know the fund balance because Illinois EPA does not publish one. If you are buying a car, plan your budget without the rebate and treat it as a bonus if it arrives.
Check the status table on the official Illinois EPA page before you decide.
Realistic best case today: a low-income household that buys an eligible electric car for $80,000 or less from an Illinois dealer can receive $4,000, paid by check once the application is processed. Everyone else can receive $2,000, but may wait, and payment is not guaranteed.
The program is run by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. The current application cycle opened August 1, 2026 and is open until December 31, 2026.
| Applicant | Rebate |
|---|---|
| Low-income household (income at or below 80% of the county or regional median) | $4,000 in total ($2,000 plus $2,000 more) |
| Any other eligible household (income at or below 500% of the federal poverty line) | $2,000 |
| Electric motorcycle, any eligible applicant | $1,500 |
Illinois EPA uses the HUD Illinois income limits: your household income must be at or below 80% of the median income for your county or region, for your household size. On top of that, every applicant must have family income at or below 500% of the federal poverty line. Check the current application form for how household income is counted.
The state itself offers nothing for a home charger. With the federal charger credit gone, help comes from your utility, and what you can get depends on who serves your address. Charger money is separate from the vehicle rebate.
Other municipal utilities and co-operatives may run their own programs. We have not verified them, so check your own utility's residential EV page before you buy a charger.
Illinois adds a yearly charge for electric vehicles and does not exempt them from vehicle taxes that we could find.
| Item | What applies |
|---|---|
| Annual registration, all-electric vehicle | $251: the standard $151 passenger fee plus a $100 EV surcharge in lieu of fuel taxes |
| Plug-in hybrid | We found no extra charge beyond the standard registration |
| Proposed increase | SB3566, introduced February 2026, would raise the surcharge to $320 from July 2027 or offer a per-mile option. We found no sign it has become law, so it is not a scheduled increase |
| Vehicle sales or use tax | No EV-specific exemption or credit found. Ordinary vehicle tax rules apply, and the rate depends on where you live |
The federal EV tax credits expired September 30, 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — the $7,500 new EV credit (30D), the $4,000 used EV credit (25E) and the commercial credit (45W). The 30C home charger credit followed on June 30, 2026.
If you signed a binding written contract and made a qualifying payment on or before September 30, 2025, you may still claim the vehicle credit on the return for the year you take delivery (2025 or 2026), using IRS Form 8936, provided the dealer filed a time-of-sale report. Chargers placed in service on or before June 30, 2026 can still be claimed on Form 8911.
One deduction does survive: the OBBBA auto loan interest deduction allows up to $10,000 a year of interest on qualifying new vehicle loans through 2028, for American-made vehicles bought with financing. It shrinks by $200 for every $1,000 of income above $100,000 ($200,000 joint), and cash buyers do not qualify.
Run the numbers without the rebate first, then see what changes if it arrives.
Last Updated: November 7, 2026 | Sources: Illinois EPA (EV Rebate Program), Ameren Illinois, Naperville Electric Utility, ComEd (as reported), Illinois Secretary of State
Incentive data compiled from official sources. Programs change frequently — always verify before purchasing. Verify with official sources before purchasing.