EV Stamp Duty, Rego and On-Road Costs by State in Australia (2026)

EV stamp duty in Australia ranges from $150 in the Northern Territory to $3,575 in Western Australia on a $55,000 car. That is a $3,400-plus difference depending entirely on which state you register it in. Add registration fees, CTP insurance, and the threat of a future road user charge, and the total on-road cost of an EV varies more between states than most buyers expect.

Many buyers still assume the EV stamp duty exemptions from 2022 and 2023 are active. Most have expired. Here is what you actually pay in every state and territory in 2026, which concessions remain, and why the EV road user charge is not the problem people think it is.

For the full picture on federal incentives including the FBT exemption and how it is changing, see our federal EV incentives guide. If you are comparing the total five-year cost of running an EV against petrol, our EV total cost of ownership breakdown covers fuel, servicing and depreciation alongside on-road costs.

EV stamp duty by state

Stamp duty (also called transfer duty or motor vehicle duty) is a one-off state tax you pay when you register a new or used vehicle. It is typically the single largest on-road cost after the purchase price.

New South Wales

NSW charges standard stamp duty rates on EVs. The Zero Emission Vehicle Stamp Duty Exemption that waived duty on EVs priced under $78,000 expired on 31 December 2023. Many websites still list it as active. It is not.

Standard rates: $3 per $100 on the first $45,000, then $5 per $100 on the amount above $45,000.

Example on a $55,000 EV: $1,850 stamp duty ($45,000 x 3% = $1,350 + $10,000 x 5% = $500). Example on a $90,000 EV: $3,600 stamp duty ($45,000 x 3% = $1,350 + $45,000 x 5% = $2,250).

NSW still offers concessional registration rates for low-emission vehicles and a $100 discount on all private vehicle registration from September 2026 to August 2027.

Source: Revenue NSW

Victoria

Victoria charges a concessional rate for “green vehicles” (vehicles with CO2 emissions of 120 g/km or less, which includes all BEVs). The rate is $8.40 per $200 of market value, which works out to 4.2%. This avoids the higher-tier rates that apply to non-green passenger cars above $80,809 from 1 July 2026.

Victoria previously offered a $100 annual registration discount for EVs. This ended on 1 January 2026.

Example on a $55,000 EV: $2,310 stamp duty. Example on a $90,000 EV: $3,780 stamp duty.

Source: State Revenue Office Victoria

Queensland

Queensland offers a concessional stamp duty rate of 2% for battery electric vehicles valued up to $100,000. Over $100,000, the electric vehicle rate is $4 per $100. QLD also classifies EVs in the lowest cylinder class for registration, saving roughly $200 per year on rego, and offers a $200 annual EV registration discount.

Standard rates for comparison (four-cylinder vehicles): $3 per $100 up to $100,000, and $5 per $100 over $100,000.

Example on a $55,000 EV: $1,100 stamp duty (2% concessional rate). Example on a $90,000 EV: $1,800 stamp duty (2% concessional rate).

Source: Queensland Government

South Australia

South Australia charges standard stamp duty rates on all vehicles. The rate structure is $1 per $100 on the first $1,000, $2 per $100 on $1,001 to $2,000, $3 per $100 on $2,001 to $3,000, and $4 per $100 on amounts above $3,000. SA’s three-year registration exemption for EVs ended 30 June 2025.

Example on a $55,000 EV: approximately $2,140 stamp duty. Example on a $90,000 EV: approximately $3,540 stamp duty.

Source: RevenueSA

Western Australia

Western Australia charges standard vehicle licence duty with no EV-specific concession. The $3,500 EV rebate ended in May 2025. The rate applies to the full value: 2.75% up to $25,000, a sliding scale from 2.75% to 6.5% between $25,000 and $50,000, and 6.5% above $50,000. That makes WA the most expensive state for a mid-priced EV.

Example on a $55,000 EV: $3,575 stamp duty (6.5% of $55,000). Example on a $90,000 EV: $5,850 stamp duty (6.5% of $90,000).

Source: Government of Western Australia

ACT

The ACT introduced a minimum stamp duty rate for zero-emission vehicles from 1 September 2025, replacing its previous full exemption. New EVs now pay $2.50 per $100 under $45,000, then $1,125 plus $4 per $100 above $45,000 up to $80,000, and $2,525 plus $8 per $100 above $80,000. These rates run to 31 January 2027, and the ACT has published new rates from 1 February 2027.

This adds roughly $1,525 to the cost of a $55,000 EV that previously attracted no duty at all. The ACT Government cited revenue sustainability as the reason for the change.

Example on a $55,000 EV: $1,525 stamp duty ($1,125 + $10,000 x 4% = $400). Example on a $90,000 EV: $3,325 stamp duty ($2,525 + $10,000 x 8% = $800).

The ACT also offers low-interest loans of up to $15,000 through the Sustainable Household Scheme for eligible purchases including EVs and batteries (3% fixed rate from 1 July 2025).

Source: ACT Revenue Office; The Driven, August 2025

Northern Territory

The NT waives stamp duty on EVs valued up to $50,000. On EVs priced above $50,000, duty applies only on the amount exceeding $50,000 at the standard rate of 3%.

This concession is extended until 30 June 2027.

Example on a $55,000 EV: $150 stamp duty (3% on $5,000 excess above $50,000). Example on a $90,000 EV: $1,200 stamp duty (3% on $40,000 excess).

The NT also waives registration fees for new and existing EVs until 30 June 2027. This is the most generous combined stamp duty and rego concession in Australia.

Source: NT Government

Tasmania

Tasmania charges standard stamp duty rates with no EV-specific concession. A previous EV exemption expired in 2023. The rate is $3 per $100 up to $35,000, then $1,050 plus $11 per $100 above $35,000 up to $40,000, and $4 per $100 of the full value above $40,000.

Example on a $55,000 EV: $2,200 stamp duty (4% of $55,000). Example on a $90,000 EV: $3,600 stamp duty (4% of $90,000).

Source: State Revenue Office Tasmania

Stamp duty comparison table

On a $55,000 EV, here is what you pay in each state as of August 2026:

State/Territory	EV Stamp Duty on $55,000	EV Stamp Duty on $90,000	EV Concession?
NT	$150	$1,200	Exempt first $50,000 (until Jun 2027)
QLD	$1,100	$1,800	2% concessional rate (under $100k)
ACT	$1,525	$3,325	Reduced zero-emission rates (was exempt before Sep 2025)
NSW	$1,850	$3,600	None (expired Dec 2023)
SA	~$2,140	~$3,540	None
TAS	$2,200	$3,600	None (expired 2023)
VIC	$2,310	$3,780	Green vehicle rate (4.2%)
WA	$3,575	$5,850	None

Use our EV stamp duty calculator to run the numbers on any vehicle price and state.

Registration and CTP costs

Annual registration and CTP (compulsory third party) insurance are separate from stamp duty and are paid every year.

Registration fees for passenger vehicles are broadly similar for EVs and petrol cars. The vehicle’s weight, not its fuel type, determines the fee in most states. Typical annual registration costs range from $300 to $800 depending on the state.

Two states stand out:

• Northern Territory: Waives registration fees entirely for battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles until 30 June 2027.
• Queensland: Classifies EVs in the lowest cylinder class, reducing annual rego to roughly $293. An additional $200 annual EV registration discount also applies.

CTP insurance (called green slip in NSW, TAC charge in Victoria, or CTP premium elsewhere) is set by insurers and based on factors like vehicle type, driver age, and location. EVs are generally priced similarly to petrol equivalents, though some insurers apply a small premium due to higher repair costs for EVs (specialised parts, high-voltage safety procedures). Shop around. CTP costs for a typical EV range from $350 to $750 per year depending on state and insurer.

The EV road user charge: dead for now

Victoria introduced a per-kilometre road user charge for EVs in 2021, charging EV drivers 2.8 cents per kilometre. In October 2023, the High Court of Australia ruled the charge unconstitutional because it was effectively an excise tax, which only the federal government can levy. Victoria refunded all revenue collected under the scheme.

No state or federal per-kilometre road user charge currently applies to EVs in Australia.

NSW has legislated a road user charge set to commence from 1 July 2027 (or when EVs reach 30% of new sales, whichever comes first), at a proposed rate of 3.095 cents per kilometre for BEVs. Whether this can proceed without federal legislation remains legally uncertain following the High Court ruling.

A national road user charge has been discussed for potential introduction around 2028 to offset declining fuel excise revenue as EV adoption grows. With EV market share reaching 16.4% in April 2026 (Electric Vehicle Council, 2026), the revenue gap is widening. But no federal legislation has been introduced, and the 2026 Budget explicitly deferred the issue.

For now, EV drivers pay no fuel excise and no road user charge. This is one of the financial advantages that makes EV ownership cheaper on a per-kilometre basis than petrol.

Luxury Car Tax on EVs

Luxury Car Tax (LCT) is a federal tax of 33% applied to the amount a vehicle’s GST-inclusive price exceeds the LCT threshold. For fuel-efficient vehicles, which includes all battery electric vehicles, the 2026-27 threshold is $91,661 (ATO).

Most EVs fall below this threshold. But premium models attract significant LCT:

EV Model	Price (before ORC)	GST-Inclusive	LCT Payable
BYD Seal Dynamic	$46,990	~$51,689	$0
Tesla Model Y RWD	$58,900	~$64,790	$0
Hyundai IONIQ 5 SR	$69,800	~$76,780	$0
Kia EV6 Air	$72,590	~$79,849	$0
Kia EV9 Earth AWD	$115,490	~$127,039	~$11,675
Hyundai IONIQ 9	$119,750	~$131,725	~$13,221
Kia EV9 GT AWD	$129,250	~$142,175	~$16,670

LCT is paid by the dealer and built into the drive-away price, so you may not see it as a line item. But it is there, and it adds thousands to premium EVs.

The before-ORC prices above are from manufacturer websites as of August 2026. GST-inclusive values are calculated at 10% GST. LCT is calculated as 33% of the amount exceeding $91,661.

Note: the FBT exemption price cap uses this same $91,661 threshold. An EV priced above it is ineligible for the FBT exemption through a novated lease.

First-year on-road cost comparison

Combining stamp duty, registration, and CTP for a $55,000 EV gives you the total first-year on-road cost by state:

State	Stamp Duty	Rego (approx.)	CTP (approx.)	Total First Year
NT	$150	$0 (waived)	~$400	~$550
QLD	$1,100	~$350	~$450	~$1,900
ACT	$1,525	~$450	~$500	~$2,475
NSW	$1,850	~$600	~$550	~$3,000
TAS	$2,200	~$400	~$400	~$3,000
SA	~$2,140	~$450	~$500	~$3,090
VIC	$2,310	~$500	~$550	~$3,360
WA	$3,575	~$450	~$500	~$4,525

These are indicative figures based on publicly available rate schedules as of August 2026. Actual CTP premiums vary by insurer, driver profile, and vehicle model. Registration fees vary by vehicle weight and use class.

The gap is striking. Registering a $55,000 EV in the NT costs roughly $550 in year one. The same car in Western Australia costs roughly $4,525. That is a $3,975 difference on day one, and the rego advantage in the NT continues every year until the waiver expires in June 2027.

What about used EVs?

Stamp duty on used vehicles works the same way as new vehicles in most states, but the dutiable value is based on market value at the time of transfer, not the original purchase price.

This matters because EV depreciation is steep. A three-year-old Tesla Model 3 that sold new for $55,000 might have a market value of $33,000 in 2026. Stamp duty on that transfer is calculated on the lower market value.

In Victoria, stamp duty on a $33,000 used EV is $1,386 (4.2% of $33,000). In Queensland, it is $660 (2% concessional rate). In the NT, it is zero (under the $50,000 threshold).

The practical takeaway: if you are buying a used EV, depreciation at least lowers your stamp duty bill. And states with concessional EV rates like QLD and the NT provide the biggest savings on used vehicles too.

Browse electric vehicles to compare models, or use our EV stamp duty calculator to run the exact figures for your state and vehicle price.

Frequently Asked Questions