Tusker Alternatives for EV Salary Sacrifice in the UK (2026 Guide)

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Key Insights

  • Tusker is one of the UK's longest-established salary sacrifice providers, founded in 2000, and has been part of Lloyds Banking Group since February 2023.
  • Tusker's Lifestyle Protection covers the employer for early termination, but typically only once a car has been on the road for around three months. On Tusker's published position that qualifying period applies to Lifestyle Protection as a whole, including long-term sickness, rather than to leaver events alone.
  • Tusker offers new and used EVs, selected hybrids, and petrol and diesel vehicles. Used EV availability is no longer a point of difference between the main providers.
  • The Electric Car Scheme includes employer protection from day one for both life events and leaver events, with no excess, no qualifying period and no cap on the number of early returns.
  • The Electric Car Scheme also covers the employee, not just the employer. Employee Life Event Support lets an employee hand the car back without penalty when circumstances change in their household. Tusker does not publish cover for events affecting an employee's partner.

Tusker is a direct leasing provider and salary sacrifice scheme operator. Founded in 2000, it launched what it describes as the UK's first car benefit scheme in 2008, and it has been part of Lloyds Banking Group since February 2023, operating as a standalone business. Its client base is weighted towards the public sector, held partly through government framework agreements.

The salary sacrifice market has changed a lot since 2008. Features that once set Tusker apart, such as the all-inclusive package and established fleet relationships, are now common across most providers. The differences that still matter come down to a smaller set of things: when employer protection starts and what it covers, whether the employee is covered as well as the employer, whether charging can be salary sacrificed, and how pricing is sourced.

This guide sets out what Tusker offers, what its published terms do and do not cover, the questions to ask before signing, and how the alternatives compare. For a direct head to head, the Tusker vs The Electric Car Scheme full comparison sets out the key differences side by side.

What Does Tusker Offer for Salary Sacrifice?

Tusker is a fleet leasing company and salary sacrifice provider. Rather than sourcing cars from a range of outside funders, it leases and manages its own vehicle supply directly, running what the industry calls a risk fleet. Its salary sacrifice scheme bundles everything into one monthly payment: the car, fully comprehensive insurance, servicing, maintenance, breakdown cover and road tax.

Tusker salary sacrifice at a glance

Tusker salary sacrifice at a glance
Legal entity Tuskerdirect Limited, registered in England and Wales, company number 03864648
Regulation Appointed representative of Howden UK Brokers Limited (FRN 307663) for insurance and Product Partnerships Limited (FRN 626349) for consumer credit
Founded 2000. Launched its car benefit scheme in 2008, described by Tusker as the UK's first
Ownership Part of Lloyds Banking Group since February 2023, operating as a standalone business
Head office Watford, Hertfordshire
Scale Over 90,000 vehicles on fleet. More than 2,000 organisations. Available to over 2 million eligible employees
Client base Weighted towards the public sector: NHS organisations, councils and police forces, held partly through Pan Government Collaborative Framework agreements
Funding model Direct leasing from its own risk fleet
Vehicles New and used ("pre-loved") EVs, selected hybrids, plus petrol and diesel
Included in the monthly payment Fully comprehensive insurance, road tax, replacement tyres, routine servicing and maintenance, MOTs, full RAC breakdown cover, and Lifestyle Protection
Not included Fuel and electricity, fines, engine oil, AdBlue outside servicing, damage due to driver misuse, excess mileage charges
Employer protection Lifestyle Protection. Typically available three months into the scheme, covering redundancy, resignation, long-term sickness and paternity leave
Early exit routes Novation to a new employer, subject to the new employer agreeing to take on the agreement
End of agreement Order a new car, return the vehicle, or buy it at market value
Charging No salary sacrifice arrangement. Fuel and electricity are explicitly excluded from the monthly payment. Zap-Map integrated for charge point location and cost comparison
Deposit None required
Setup cost None
Eligibility PAYE employees only, subject to post-sacrifice pay staying above the National Living Wage
Sustainability States that it offsets tailpipe emissions of salary sacrifice cars, and grid charging for EVs, against Verified Carbon Standard projects, since 2013. No B Corp certification claimed
Service partners Fleet Assist (servicing), RAC (breakdown), Kwik Fit (tyres)

Checked 12 August 2026 against Tusker's employers page, fleet manager FAQs and help and support FAQs, plus Lloyds Banking Group's acquisition announcement. Tusker advises checking your individual scheme policy, as terms vary between schemes. Tusker can flag anything out of date to marketing@electriccarscheme.com.

Tusker’s Lifestyle Protection

Tusker's employer protection is called Lifestyle Protection. It covers the employer for the cost of ending a lease early when an employee's circumstances change, including redundancy, resignation, retirement, TUPE, long-term illness and parental leave. Tusker states that it does not cover an employee simply changing their mind, in which case the lease stands.

Tusker's own guidance is specific on timing: "Typically this is available 3 months into the scheme." Importantly, that three month point applies to Lifestyle Protection as a whole rather than to leaver events alone. Tusker lists redundancy, resignation, long-term sickness and paternity leave together as the events it protects against, then states the three month position for all of them.

That distinction matters. At Octopus EV, life events are covered from day one and only leaver events wait three months. At Tusker, on its published position, an employee going on long-term sick leave in month two is in the same position as one who resigns in month two.

Tusker offers novation, transferring the lease to a new employer if an employee leaves and wants to keep the car. That depends on the new employer agreeing to take on the agreement, so it is a route rather than a guarantee.

Two things Tusker does not publish: whether disciplinary or capability dismissals fall within Lifestyle Protection, and whether there is any limit on how many vehicles a scheme can return early. Tusker's own customer FAQ advises checking your individual scheme policy "to understand what is and isn't included", which suggests terms vary by scheme. Ask for yours in writing.

Vehicle Range

Tusker offers new electric vehicles, selected hybrids, and used ("pre-loved") EVs through salary sacrifice, describing its range as "cars from all leading manufacturers across our New and Used car offering". Used stock comes from its own risk fleet as vehicles come off contract or terminate early.

Used EVs are typically cheaper per month than the new equivalent. Tusker's managing director has publicly reported an average difference of around £130 a month, which can make the scheme viable for employees on lower salaries. Tusker also offers petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles, which suits a workforce that is not ready to go fully electric.

The monthly payment covers fully comprehensive insurance, road tax, replacement tyres, routine servicing and maintenance, MOTs and RAC breakdown cover. It excludes fuel and electricity. At the end of the agreement employees can order a new car, return the vehicle, or buy it at market value.

Pricing

Tusker sets its pricing through its own leasing and vehicle supply rather than comparing rates across several outside funders. A broker model works differently: it sources the same car from a network of funders and quotes the most competitive option.

Which approach gives a better price varies by car and by deal, so it is worth comparing quotes directly rather than assuming either model always wins. The only reliable test is a like-for-like quote on the same vehicle, term and annual mileage, compared on net monthly cost after Benefit-in-Kind.

Charging

Tusker does not offer a way to salary sacrifice EV charging costs. Its own customer FAQ lists fuel among the things not included in the scheme. Employees who lease a car through Tusker pay for home, workplace and public charging out of their take-home pay, without the pre-tax saving a charging salary sacrifice arrangement would give them.

Tusker does integrate Zap-Map into its website and app, so drivers can locate charge points and compare running costs against petrol and diesel. That is a useful tool rather than a saving.

Who Tusker Suits

Tusker is likely to be the right fit in three situations.

If you are a public sector body procuring through a government framework, Tusker holds Pan Government Collaborative Framework agreements, which can shorten the procurement route. If you already run a traditional company car fleet and want salary sacrifice managed alongside it by the same supplier, its fleet leasing background supports that. And if part of your workforce cannot yet run a fully electric car, Tusker offers petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles, which EV specialists do not.

It is less likely to suit you if you need employer protection to apply from the first day of every lease, if you want employees to be able to salary sacrifice their charging costs, or if you want cover that extends to changes in an employee's household rather than the employer's exposure alone.

What Tusker Does Not Publish

We could not find the following on Tusker's website. That does not mean the answers are unfavourable, only that you should ask before signing:

  • Whether disciplinary or capability dismissals fall within Lifestyle Protection

  • Whether any excess applies to a claim

  • Whether there is a limit on how many vehicles can be returned early in a scheme year

  • Whether any cover extends to events affecting an employee's partner or household

  • Whether parental leave cover is capped, and at what level

Tusker's own customer FAQ advises checking your individual scheme policy "to understand what is and isn't included", which indicates terms vary between schemes rather than being uniform. Ask for yours in writing. Any provider should be able to supply these in a single email.

Key Takeaways

  • Tusker was founded in 2000 and has been part of Lloyds Banking Group since February 2023

  • Lifestyle Protection is typically available three months into the scheme, and on Tusker's own published position that applies to long-term sickness and paternity leave as well as leaver events

  • Novation to a new employer is available if an employee leaves and wants to keep the car

  • Tusker offers new and used EVs, hybrids, petrol and diesel. Vehicle choice is not a point of difference

  • Tusker does not offer salary sacrifice on charging costs, and lists fuel among the exclusions from the monthly payment

Tusker vs The Electric Car Scheme

Tusker and The Electric Car Scheme compared Terms as published by each provider. Where a term is not published, that is stated rather than assumed.
  Tusker The Electric Car Scheme
Provider type Direct leasing provider, funding cars from its own risk fleet. Part of Lloyds Banking Group EV salary sacrifice specialist, operating as a multi-funder broker
Founded 2000. Car benefit scheme launched 2008 2020
Employer protection
Cover for life events After 3 monthsTusker applies the three month point to Lifestyle Protection as a whole, including long-term sickness and paternity leave From day 1Parental leave, long-term sickness, loss of licence, death
Cover for resignation and redundancy After 3 months From day 1
Cover for dismissal Not published From day 1
Excess on a claim Not published None
Limit on early returns Not published No cap
Consistency of terms Tusker's customer FAQ advises checking your individual scheme policy to understand what is and is not included, so terms are not uniform across schemes Complete Employer Protection is included as standard, with no premium tier
Novation if an employee leaves Available, subject to the new employer agreeing to take on the agreement Available, and not required in order to avoid a termination cost
Employee life event support
Cover for events in the employee's household Not publishedLifestyle Protection covers events affecting the employee directly 8 household events coveredIncludes a partner's redundancy, long-term sickness or death, and an involuntary fall in household income
Vehicles
New and used electric cars Both. Used stock comes from Tusker's own risk fleet as cars come off contract Both. Sourced from across the UK leasing market
Other fuel types Selected hybrids, plus petrol and diesel Hybrids on selected models. Electric-focused
Electric Car Grant Applies to eligible new cars under £37,000 Applies to eligible new cars under £37,000
Charging
Salary sacrifice on charging costs NoTusker lists fuel among the exclusions from the monthly payment, so charging is paid from net income Yes, through The Charge SchemeHome, workplace and public charging on any network, based on actual usage
Charging support Zap-Map integrated for charge point location and running cost comparison Charger and installation available alongside the scheme
Pricing and scheme admin
Vehicle sourcing Own risk fleet, priced from its own supply arrangements Quoted across multiple funders, with a price match guarantee
Included in the monthly payment Fully comprehensive insurance, road tax, replacement tyres, routine servicing and maintenance, MOTs, RAC breakdown cover Fully comprehensive insurance, road tax, replacement tyres, routine servicing and maintenance, MOTs and breakdown cover
Not included Fuel and electricity, fines, engine oil, AdBlue outside servicing, damage due to driver misuse, excess mileage charges Excess mileage and damage charges apply. Charging can be salary sacrificed separately
End of agreement Order a new car, return the vehicle, or buy it at market value Order a new car, return the vehicle, or buy it
Setup cost for the employer None None
Eligibility PAYE employees only PAYE employees only
B Corp certified Not claimedTusker's published sustainability position is Verified Carbon Standard offsetting since 2013 Yes

Swipe the table sideways to see both columns.

Tusker entries checked 12 August 2026 against Tusker's employers page, fleet manager FAQs and help and support FAQs, plus Lloyds Banking Group's acquisition announcement. A yellow underline marks a term the provider does not publish, so ask for it in writing rather than assuming it is excluded. Benefit-in-Kind is set by HMRC and is the same whichever provider you choose: 4% in 2026/27, rising to 9% by 2029/30, so advertised savings percentages are not a point of difference between providers. Terms change, so confirm the current position directly with Tusker. Tusker can flag anything out of date to marketing@electriccarscheme.com.

Employer Protection Compared

Employer protection covers the business against the cost of ending a lease early when an employee leaves. It is not cover for vehicle damage, which is handled through the insurance and the fair wear and tear standard.

Tusker's Lifestyle Protection is typically available three months into the scheme, and on Tusker's own published position that timing applies to long-term sickness and paternity leave as well as to resignation and redundancy. The Electric Car Scheme's Complete Employer Protection applies from the first day of every lease, across both life events and leaver events, with no excess, no waiting period, no premium tier to opt into and no cap on the number of early returns.

Tusker does not publish whether any excess applies, whether there is a limit on early returns, or whether disciplinary dismissals are covered. Its own FAQ tells customers to check their individual scheme policy "to understand what is and isn't included", which means the terms are not uniform. Ask for your scheme policy in writing and compare it against the terms above.

For an employer with normal staff movement, the practical difference is that agreements start throughout the year, so a qualifying period creates a rolling exposure rather than a one-off risk.

Employee Life Event Support Compared

This is the difference most comparison tables miss, because it is not about the employer at all.

Employer protection covers the business. Employee Life Event Support covers the employee, letting them hand the car back without penalty when something changes at home. The Electric Car Scheme covers eight household events, including a partner being made redundant, a partner taking family-friendly leave, a partner's long-term sickness or death, an involuntary fall in household income of 20% or more, and divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership.

Tusker publishes cover for events affecting the employee directly. It does not publish cover for events affecting an employee's partner or household.

For an HR or reward team, this is the difference between a scheme that is safe to offer and a scheme that feels safe to take up. It tends to show up in uptake rather than in procurement.

Vehicles Compared

Both providers offer new and used electric cars and hybrids through salary sacrifice, so availability is not a point of difference. Tusker also offers petrol and diesel, which The Electric Car Scheme does not.

Where it is worth comparing is range, delivery times and monthly cost for the specific car and salary band. Tusker sources used stock from its own risk fleet, so availability depends on what has come off contract. The Electric Car Scheme sources new and used cars from across the UK leasing market.

The monthly package is the same on both sides. Both include fully comprehensive insurance, road tax, replacement tyres, routine servicing and maintenance, MOTs and breakdown cover. All-inclusive pricing is not a point of difference between the two.

One thing to factor in: the Electric Car Grant applies to eligible new cars only, so the used route and the grant route pull in different directions and both are worth modelling.

Charging Compared

Tusker covers the car only. Employees pay for charging from their take-home pay.

The Electric Car Scheme offers The Charge Scheme, a salary sacrifice arrangement covering home, workplace and public charging on any network, based on actual usage. Because the deduction comes from gross salary, the saving applies to charging spend itself rather than to the price of a charger or a fixed credit. Employees can save 20% to 50% on charging costs.

Pricing Compared

Both providers are cost-neutral to the employer, with scheme costs covered by employer National Insurance savings.

The variable is the lease rate, because that is the only part of an employee's monthly figure that changes between providers. Income Tax, National Insurance and Benefit-in-Kind savings are set by HMRC and are identical whoever runs the scheme. That is why advertised savings percentages are not a useful comparison between providers: a provider quoting "up to 50%" and one quoting "up to 40%" are describing the same tax mechanism across different tax bands.

Tusker prices from its own supply. The Electric Car Scheme quotes across multiple funders and backs its pricing with a price match guarantee. Neither model always wins on any given car, so run like-for-like quotes: same vehicle, same term, same annual mileage, same tax band, compared on net monthly cost after Benefit-in-Kind.

How EV Salary Sacrifice Providers Differ: What to Evaluate

Not all electric car salary sacrifice schemes are the same. When comparing Tusker with any other provider, these are the points that make the most difference.

When Does Employer Protection Start?

Ask three things: does cover apply from the contract start date or after a qualifying period, which events are covered, and is there an excess or a cap on the number of early returns.

Providers publish this differently and some do not publish it at all. Tusker's Lifestyle Protection typically becomes available around three months in. Octopus EV splits its cover, with life events from day one and leaver events after three months. Some providers, including The Electric Car Scheme, apply protection from day one across both.

Is Employee Life Event Support Included?

Employer protection covers the business. Employee life event support covers the employee.

Every provider in this guide publishes cover for events affecting the employee directly. Cover for events affecting the employee's partner or household, such as a partner's redundancy, a partner's long-term sickness, or an involuntary fall in household income, is much less commonly published. If uptake and employee confidence in the scheme matter to you, ask about this specifically and ask for it in writing.

Is There a Used EV Option?

A scheme that offers used EVs as well as new ones extends the tax saving to employees on lower salaries without committing them to the monthly cost of a brand-new car. Tusker, The Electric Car Scheme, Octopus EV and loveelectric all offer used EVs through salary sacrifice, so check the range, terms and monthly cost each one offers rather than assuming this is a point of difference.

Can Employees Salary Sacrifice Their Charging Costs?

Charging is a recurring cost, so it is worth checking how each provider handles it. There is a real difference between a discount, a one-off credit and a salary sacrifice arrangement.

A charger discount or an energy credit is a one-off saving. A salary sacrifice arrangement on charging applies Income Tax and National Insurance relief to charging spend for the length of the lease. Ask which of the three a provider is offering, and if it is the last one, whether it is based on actual usage or a pre-agreed allowance.

How Is Pricing Structured?

A direct leasing provider like Tusker sets prices from its own supply arrangements. A broker sources the same car from several funders and quotes the most competitive option. Neither model always wins on price, so the most reliable check is a like-for-like quote across providers using the same vehicle, lease term, mileage and tax band, compared on net monthly cost after Benefit-in-Kind.

Ignore headline savings percentages when comparing providers. They are set by the tax system, not the provider.

What Do Independent Assessments Say?

Third-party awards, verified Trustpilot ratings and named client case studies carry more weight than a provider's own marketing claims. Check the awarding body and the year, and check the review volume alongside the score, because a high average across a small number of reviews is not the same signal as a high average across thousands.

Frequently Asked Questions: Tusker Alternatives

Should I Choose Tusker As My Salary Sacrifice Provider?

It depends on what matters most to your organisation. Tusker fits three situations well: public sector procurement through a government framework, an employer combining salary sacrifice with an existing company car fleet, and a workforce that still needs petrol, diesel or hybrid options.

For employers who want employer protection from the first day of every lease rather than cover that typically becomes available around three months in, The Electric Car Scheme offers that across both life events and leaver events, with no excess, no premium tier and no cap on the number of early returns. It also lets employees salary sacrifice their charging costs, and it covers the employee as well as the employer: if a partner is made redundant, falls seriously ill, or household income drops involuntarily, the employee can hand the car back without penalty. That last part is what most providers do not publish, and it is often what decides whether employees feel confident enough to take the scheme up at all.

The most reliable way to decide is to compare the two on the factors that matter most to you and run like-for-like quotes. You can learn more about our salary sacrifice car scheme here.

 

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Last updated: 08/06/2026

Our lease pricing is based on data collected from The Electric Car Scheme quote tool. All final pricing is inclusive of VAT. All prices above are based on the following lease terms; 10,000 miles pa, 36 months, and are inclusive of Maintenance and Breakdown Cover. The Electric Car Scheme’s terms and conditions apply. All deals are subject to credit approval and availability. All deals are subject to excess mileage and damage charges. Prices are calculated based on the following tax saving assumptions; England & Wales, 40% tax rate. The above prices were calculated using a flat payment profile. The Electric Car Scheme Limited provides services for the administration of your salary sacrifice employee benefits. The Electric Car Scheme Holdings Limited is a member of the BVRLA (10608), is authorised and regulated by the FCA under FRN 968270, is an Appointed Representative of Marshall Management Services Ltd under FRN 667174, and is a credit broker and not a lender or insurance provider.

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Gaurav Ahluwalia

Gaurav, The Electric Car Scheme's Marketing Director, is a seasoned marketing leader with nearly a decade of experience in the Electric Vehicle (EV) industry. Throughout his career, Gaurav has not only honed his marketing skills but has also delved deep into the realm of electric cars, cultivating a wealth of valuable insights and innovative perspectives that make him a prominent figure in the field.

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