The car Ecobonus: what the 2021 budget law provides. From January, some changes in terms of requirements, funds and application procedures. What you need to know.
From 1 January 2021, with the approval of the 2021 budget law, incentives for the purchase of new cars are back, this year with some changes also aimed at supporting the automotive sector.
With the final approval of the budget law, the incentives for the purchase of new low-environmental-impact vehicles have been refinanced (with some variations), broadening the "pool" of vehicles eligible for the bonus and also providing a discount based on the buyer's Isee.
A measure called for loudly by the automotive industry, which was hard hit by the crisis caused by coronavirus, and an attempt by the government to incentivise, albeit gradually, the transition to more sustainable mobility that would also allow Italy to meet the targets set by the European Union in terms of emissions: cutting them by 55 per cent by 2030 and being carbon neutral in 2050.
The main change introduced by the budget law concerns petrol and diesel cars: having confirmed the Ecobonus for the purchase of electric and plug-in hybrid cars, an incentive has also been added for those purchasing a petrol, diesel, mild or full hybrid vehicle, provided that CO2 levels are below 135 grams per kilometre and that an old car is scrapped at the time of purchase.
The new feature for 2021 concerns the discount available to those with an Isee of up to 30,000 euros who wish to purchase an electric car. In this case, a forty per cent discount can be obtained on the price of an electric vehicle with a power output of up to 150 kW and a maximum price of 30,000 euros (excluding VAT, Ipt and on-road costs), an incentive that cannot be combined with the Ecobonus.
Those wishing to purchase a new car in 2021 therefore have two options available: taking advantage of the Ecobonus and the additional incentives provided for 2021, or using the forty per cent discount applied to electric cars for those with an annual Isee below 30,000 euros.
The Ecobonus remains the same as in 2019; what changes are the incentives. The total funds available amount to 490 million euros, broken down as follows: 250 million for incentives on the purchase of petrol, diesel, mild or full hybrid cars, 120 million for the purchase of electric cars, and the 120 million already provided for in the 2019 budget law for plug-in hybrid and exclusively battery-powered vehicles.
The bonus is available to those purchasing a brand-new M1 vehicle (type-approved as a passenger car), and the amount varies – as already mentioned – depending on the CO2 emissions measured under the Wltp protocol. The maximum limit is 135 grams per kilometre travelled, and within this three bands have been established, each entitling buyers to a different incentive.
In the band covering vehicles that emit from 0 to 20 grams of CO2 per km – in practice electric cars – with a maximum price of 50,000 euros (excluding VAT, Ipt and on-road costs), incentives of up to 10,000 euros are available with scrappage, and 6,000 without.
By scrapping an M1 vehicle below Euro 5 standard and older than 1 January 2011 (over ten years old), therefore, one receives 6,000 euros in Ecobonus, 2,000 euros in incentives provided under the 2021 budget law, and 2,000 euros in dealer discount. Without scrappage, the Ecobonus is 4,000 euros, to which 1,000 euros from the budget law and a further 1,000 euros discounted by the dealer are added.
Those who decide to purchase a new car falling within the second emissions band, between 21 and 60 grams of CO2 per kilometre (plug-in), benefit from 6,500 euros (2,500 in Ecobonus plus 2,000 in incentives, plus 2,000 in dealer discount) with scrappage, or 3,500 euros (1,500 + 1,000 + 1,000) without. In this case too, the purchase price of the vehicle must not exceed 50,000 euros including optional extras, plus VAT and the costs relating to vehicle registration, the Ipt, which must be indicated in the purchase contract and invoice.
The third band of incentives is the new addition, and covers vehicles emitting from 61 to 135 grams of CO2 per km, primarily new Euro 6 cars whose cost must not exceed 40,000 euros (excluding VAT, Ipt and on-road costs).
This represents a raising of the previous limit, which was set at 110 grams per kilometre, but to benefit from the incentive it is compulsory to scrap an old car registered before 1 January 2011. In return, 3,500 euros are received (1,500 from the budget law + 2,000 dealer discount).
On the subject of deadlines, for the first two bands the bonus can be claimed by 31 December 2021, and for the third band by 30 June 2021, and in any case (in both instances) only while funds last. To check the incentives and the remaining budget, the Mise website must be consulted.
The incentives are provided in the form of a discount on the price of the car, and no special procedures need to be followed: the seller will take care of applying the discount, if the buyer is entitled to it, and may also choose to combine it with any promotions offered by the manufacturer. The Ecobonus can therefore be combined with other private incentives, bringing the purchase price of the new vehicle down even further.
The Ecobonus also applies to cars purchased on lease, and registered in the name of either a private individual or a company. In the event of scrappage, the used vehicle must have been registered in the name of the buyer or one of their cohabiting family members for at least twelve months, and must necessarily be sent for demolition.