The 76 plate officially arrived on 1 September 2026, and the autumn plate-change window is always one of the busiest times of year for new car sales. Last September, the SMMT reported a record 72,779 battery-electric registrations in a single month — and 2026 looks set to be even bigger, with new model launches, fresh finance offers and the government's Electric Car Grant adding up to £3,750 off many models.
Whether you're after a cheap city runabout, a family SUV or something with a bit of sparkle, here's our round-up of the best 76-plate EV deals available this September.
New arrivals on the 76 plate
Volkswagen ID.Polo — from £23,945 (on sale 10 September)
VW's all-electric supermini is the most hotly anticipated launch of the autumn. Series-production models go on sale from 10 September 2026 priced from £23,945, and every 52 kWh / 211 PS version qualifies for the government's £1,500 Electric Car Grant. Expect around 250 miles of range and fast charging in a compact package.
Nissan LEAF — Auto Express Car of the Year 2026
The third-generation LEAF only launched earlier this year, but it's already picked up Auto Express Car of the Year 2026. Nissan has just announced September PCP deals timed for the 76 plate:
- LEAF 52kWh Engage: £321/month (3yr) / £289/month (4yr) — 5.49% APR, £5,000 deposit, £2,450 dealer contribution
- LEAF 75kWh Engage: £362/month (3yr) / £329/month (4yr) — 5.49% APR, £5,000 deposit, £2,450 dealer contribution
The 75 kWh version delivers up to 387 miles WLTP. The 52 kWh model qualifies for the full £3,750 Electric Car Grant. All versions are built at Nissan's Sunderland plant.
Hyundai Ioniq 3 and Range Rover Electric
Two more arrivals are landing in the 76-plate window. The Hyundai Ioniq 3 is expected late autumn at an estimated sub-£25,000 price point. At the luxury end, Range Rover's first electric model opened for orders on 2 September from £154,070, with deliveries October–December.
The best value EVs right now
Under £20,000
Dacia Spring — from £11,429. The cheapest new car on sale in the UK, full stop. The Expression model gets 139 miles of range. PCP from £206/month at 2.9% APR. Ideal as a city runabout or second car.
Hyundai Inster — from £17,250. The base 01 trim has a 40 kWh battery with 203 miles of range and a heat pump as standard — rare at this price. PCP from just £224/month at 0% APR. One of the best value picks on the market.
Citroën ë-C3 — from £20,595 (after £1,500 grant). Comfort-focused and great value. 44 kWh battery, ~199 miles WLTP, and a ride quality that punches well above its weight.
£20,000–£30,000 (after grant)
Renault 5 E-Tech — from £294/month salary sacrifice. The reborn Renault 5 is a best-seller. The 52 kWh version qualifies for the full £3,750 grant, bringing list price under £26,000. Higher-rate taxpayers can drive one for as little as £294/month via salary sacrifice. Use our VED and BIK calculator to see what you'd pay.
Ford Puma Gen-E — from £24,745 (after £3,750 grant). The electric version of Ford's best-selling Puma SUV gets the full grant and comes with 0% APR finance. Great to drive and well-equipped.
Nissan Micra 52kWh — from £18,450 (after £3,750 grant). Shares its platform with the Renault 5 but undercuts it on price. PCP from £227/month. 198 miles range plus a heat pump. Find it in our EV car database for full specs.
Family SUVs
Hyundai Kona Electric — full £3,750 grant. One of the few family-sized SUVs to qualify for the full grant. Up to 319 miles of range with 0% APR finance. Compare it with rivals using our car comparison tool.
Kia EV3 — from £359/month salary sacrifice. Award-winning compact electric SUV with a practical interior and long warranty. The 58.3 kWh Air trim is great value for growing families.
Tesla Model Y — from £600/month salary sacrifice. Britain's best-selling electric SUV. Up to 374 miles Long Range, supercharger access, and massive interior space.
Electric Car Grant explained
There are two bands of the government's Electric Car Grant (ECG):
- Band 1 — £3,750 off: for EVs with the lowest manufacturing CO₂ footprint, priced under £37,000
- Band 2 — £1,500 off: for cars above the Band 1 threshold but still under £37,000
Cars must achieve over 100 miles of range and meet warranty requirements. Higher trim levels up to £42,000 can still get the grant if the base model qualifies. Currently 18 models qualify for the full £3,750, including the Abarth 500e, Alpine A290, BMW iX1, Hyundai Kona Electric, Nissan LEAF, Renault 5 and Renault 4.
Why salary sacrifice beats PCP
If your employer offers a salary sacrifice scheme, it's almost always the cheapest way to drive a new EV. You pay from your gross salary, saving income tax and NI. Benefit-in-Kind on pure-electric cars is just 4% for 2026/27, versus up to 37% for the most polluting petrol and diesel models.
For a 40% taxpayer, that can cut the effective monthly cost by 30–40% compared with a personal lease or PCP. Our VED calculator includes BiK estimates so you can compare.
Our top picks
- Best budget buy: Hyundai Inster 01 — £17,250 / 0% APR / £224/month
- Best supermini: Renault 5 E-Tech — £3,750 grant / £294/month via salary sacrifice
- Best family car: Hyundai Kona Electric — full £3,750 grant + 0% APR
- Best new launch: Nissan LEAF 75kWh — 387 miles range, Car of the Year
- Best for business users: Tesla Model Y — 4% BiK / supercharger network
Ready to compare?
Before you sign anything, use our charging cost calculator to work out real running costs, and try our car comparison tool to pit your shortlisted models against each other. To find chargers near you, check our UK charging point directory.
The 76-plate window runs until 28 February 2027, but for the best selection and strongest offers, September is the sweet spot. If luxury is your thing, don't miss our coverage of the Range Rover Electric launch — deliveries start this autumn.
Sources: Nissan UK (2 Sep 2026), The Electric Car Scheme (14 Aug 2026), Top Gear (29 Jul 2026), What Car? (29 Aug 2026).
