What Are The Cheapest Electric Cars You Can Buy In The UK In 2026?
Image source: Renault Press
The cheapest electric cars in the UK at the moment range from £7,695 to £27,845, and cost between £174 and £302 a month through electric car salary sacrifice. The Dacia Spring is the cheapest electric car at £11,990, though that trim isn't currently available through The Electric Car Scheme. The Citroën Ami undercuts every car here at £7,695, but it's worth noting that it’s a quadricycle rather than a full car, with limits on speed and range.
This guide ranks the seven cheapest electric cars on sale by on-the-road price, shows what each costs on salary sacrifice at three salary bands, and explains why the cheapest car to buy isn't always the cheapest to lease. Every price is checked against the manufacturer's site or The Electric Car Scheme's quote tool.
This is a ranking by price alone. For a broader view that weighs range, equipment and running costs alongside price, see our best value electric cars guide. The Electric Car Scheme was named Best Salary Sacrifice Broker at the Broker News Awards 2026 and holds a Trustpilot rating of 4.8 (Rated Excellent) based on thousands of customer reviews.
Why List Price & Salary Sacrifice Doesn’t Always Match
The cheapest car to buy isn't always the cheapest to salary sacrifice. The BYD Dolphin Surf is a clear example: at £21,950 it sits in the middle of this guide on purchase price, yet on salary sacrifice it becomes the most expensive car here, at £302 a month for a 40% taxpayer, more than the longer-range Renault 5 or the pricier Frontera.
The reason is that a salary sacrifice quote isn't the list price divided by the term. It bundles insurance, servicing, maintenance, breakdown cover and road tax into one monthly figure, built around the funder's assessment of residual value at lease end rather than the price on day one.
The Cheapest Electric Cars in the UK Right Now
Electric car prices have fallen in 2026, with several manufacturers cutting list prices to compete for the sub-£20,000 buyer. The table below ranks the cheapest electric cars on sale by on-the-road price, with WLTP range and monthly cost via The Electric Car Scheme's electric car salary sacrifice scheme at three salary bands, where that trim is available through the scheme.
| Car | OTR Price | WLTP Range | SS £31,000 (20%) | SS £62,000 (40%) | SS £135,000 (45%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citroën Ami | £7,695 | Up to 46 miles (quadricycle) | £221 | £187 | £174 |
| Dacia Spring (Expression 45) | £11,990 | 140 miles | Not available via The Electric Car Scheme | Not available via The Electric Car Scheme | Not available via The Electric Car Scheme |
| Leapmotor T03 | £15,995 | 165 miles | £241 | £214 | £207 |
| Dacia Spring (Expression 70) | £15,990 | 100 miles | £244 | £213 | £205 |
| BYD Dolphin Surf (Boost) | £21,950 | Up to 200 miles | Not available | £302 | £292 |
| Citroën ë-C3 (Max) | £22,315 | 202 miles | £249 | £229 | £223 |
| Renault 5 E-Tech (Techno+) | £26,995 | 252 miles | £298 | £276 | £270 |
| Vauxhall Frontera Electric (GS) | £27,845 | 189 miles | £268 | £249 | £241 |
Figures are illustrative, based on a 36-month term, 10,000 miles a year and a flat payment profile via The Electric Car Scheme's quote tool, and will vary by individual circumstances. Get a personalised quote on any of these cars before deciding.
A car with a stronger resale reputation and lower insurance costs, such as the Frontera (pictured on the left), can undercut a cheaper-to-buy car with a weaker residual profile.
The T03 and the Spring Expression 70 show this from the other direction: at £15,995 and £15,990 on-the-road for fleet and salary sacrifice purchases, they're almost identical on list price, and stay close on salary sacrifice too, at £207 to £241 for the T03 against £205 to £244 for the Spring.
Used electric car salary sacrifice takes this further in the other direction. A lower P11D value on a used car reduces both the salary sacrifice cost and the Benefit-in-Kind charge, so it's worth comparing a used equivalent alongside any new car on this list before deciding.
Is the Dacia Spring the Cheapest EV?
The Dacia Spring has been marketed heavily as the UK's cheapest new electric car, and on price alone that claim holds. In its base Expression 45 trim, discounted to as little as £11,990 in mid-2026, the Spring undercuts every genuine car in this guide bar the Citroën Ami quadricycle.
The trim available through The Electric Car Scheme's electric car salary sacrifice is the Expression 70, which lists at £15,990, around £4,000 more than the entry-level Expression 45. This is the trim behind the salary sacrifice figures quoted elsewhere in this guide, so anyone drawn to the Spring's "cheapest EV" reputation should check which trim they're being quoted before assuming the sub-£12,000 price applies.
The Leapmotor T03: Price, Specs, And Salary Sacrifice Cost
Leapmotor doubled its own LEAP-GRANT discount to £3,000 from 1 July 2026. It is available to private retail customers only and, per Leapmotor's own terms, excludes fleet, business and salary sacrifice sales entirely. That brings the retail price to £12,995 on-the-road, but the price via The Electric Car Scheme is the pre-grant £15,995 on-the-road, since salary sacrifice is a business-funded purchase.
For that money, the T03 offers a 37kWh battery, 165 miles of WLTP range and a usable cabin for a car this size. Leapmotor's UK electric car range has expanded quickly since launch, and the T03 remains the entry point. It isn't built for regular motorway driving, but as an urban or second car it remains one of the cheapest full electric cars on sale via salary sacrifice.
"The cheapest EVs have never been cheaper, but list price isn't the number that matters, it's the monthly cost. On salary sacrifice at 4% Benefit-in-Kind for 2026/27, cars like the Leapmotor T03 undercut almost anything petrol, new or used."
Thom Groot, Co-founder and CEO, The Electric Car Scheme
Through The Electric Car Scheme, the T03 costs £207 to £241 a month, depending on salary, making it one of the cheapest full electric cars available on salary sacrifice.
Other Cheap EVs Worth Considering
Beyond the three cheapest cars, four mainstream models still undercut £30,000 and offer more space, range or equipment for a higher monthly cost.
BYD Dolphin Surf (Boost, 43kWh)
At £21,950 on the road, the Dolphin Surf offers up to 200 miles WLTP range and one of the more spacious cabins in this price bracket. It costs from £302 a month for a 40% taxpayer and £292 for a 45% taxpayer via electric car salary sacrifice, though it isn't available at the £31,000 band.
Citroën ë-C3 (Max, 44kWh Comfort Range)
The ë-C3 lists at £22,315 with 202 miles of WLTP range. It undercuts most rivals of a similar size on both price and monthly cost. It's available on electric car salary sacrifice from £223 a month.
Vauxhall Frontera Electric (GS, 44kWh)
At £27,845, the Frontera is the priciest car in this group, but its SUV-style body and 189-mile WLTP range suit buyers who want more practical space than the hatchbacks above. Salary sacrifice costs start from £241 a month.
Renault 5 E-Tech (Techno+, 52kWh Comfort Range)
The Renault 5 will set you back £26,995 before the £3,750 Electric Car Grant - if you decide to buy it outright. It offers 252 miles WLTP, the longest range of any car in this guide. It's available on electric car salary sacrifice from £270 a month.
The BYD and Citroën trade a higher price for more range than the T03 or Spring, the Renault 5 goes further still, and the Frontera offers the most practical, SUV-style space.
Is the Citroën Ami Worth Considering?
The Citroën Ami is the cheapest car here by a wide margin, at £7,695 on-the-road, but it isn't a car in the conventional sense. It's classed as a quadricycle, limited to 28mph, with a range of around 46 miles and no motorway capability. In the UK it can be driven from age 16 with a moped licence rather than a full driving licence.
It suits short, local journeys, a second vehicle for a household with a main car already, or a low-cost introduction to electric driving, but not family use, longer commutes or motorway driving. With electric car salary sacrifice, it costs £174 to £221 a month, the lowest of any car here at every salary band, so its low list price does carry through to the cheapest monthly cost too.
How Salary Sacrifice Makes Cheap EVs Even Cheaper
Every car in this guide gets cheaper again through electric car salary sacrifice rather than a personal purchase or lease. Employees typically save 20-50% compared with a personal lease, because the monthly cost comes from gross salary before Income Tax and employee National Insurance.
The other factor in employees' favour is Benefit-in-Kind tax, at 4% for electric cars in the 2026/27 tax year, against up to 37% on the highest-emitting petrol and diesel models. That rate rises gradually, to 5% in 2027/28, 7% in 2028/29 and 9% in 2029/30, but stays well below petrol and diesel BiK throughout. Every quote here bundles insurance, servicing, maintenance, breakdown cover and road tax into one fixed payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Cheapest Electric Car in the UK?
The Dacia Spring is the genuine electric car in the UK at £11,990 on-the-road in Expression 45 trim, though this trim isn't currently offered through The Electric Car Scheme. The Citroën Ami is cheaper still at £7,695, but it's a quadricycle with a top speed of 28mph.
Is the Leapmotor T03 Really £12,995?
Only for private retail customers buying outright. Leapmotor's LEAP-GRANT discount is available to retail customers only and excludes fleet, business and salary sacrifice sales entirely, so the price through The Electric Car Scheme is the pre-grant £15,995 on-the-road.
Which Electric Car Is Best Value for Money?
The Leapmotor T03 offers strong value for urban driving among cars available on salary sacrifice, combining a low purchase price with a competitive monthly cost. For longer journeys, the Renault 5 E-Tech offers the best range for the money, at 252 miles WLTP.
Is It Still Worth Buying an Electric Car in the UK?
Yes, for most drivers electric cars remain worth buying or leasing in 2026, with list prices falling and Benefit-in-Kind tax staying at 4% for the 2026/27 tax year. Running costs are also lower than petrol or diesel, particularly for anyone who can charge at home.
What Is the Cheapest EV on Salary Sacrifice?
The Citroën Ami is cheapest on salary sacrifice at every salary band, from £174 a month for a 45% taxpayer up to £221 for a 20% taxpayer. Among full-size cars, the Leapmotor T03 and Dacia Spring Expression 70 are cheapest, at £205 to £244 depending on salary.
Why Are Salary Sacrifice Prices Different from List Prices?
Salary sacrifice cost is based on the funder's assessment of a car's residual value and running costs, not its list price alone. Insurance, servicing, maintenance, breakdown cover and road tax are all bundled into the monthly figure, which is why a cheaper car doesn't always mean a cheaper monthly cost.
The cheapest electric cars in the UK span £7,695 for the Citroën Ami up to £27,845 for the best-equipped car here, with salary sacrifice costs between £174 and £302 a month depending on salary and model. The Dacia Spring is cheapest to buy outright, but the trim offered through The Electric Car Scheme is the pricier Expression 70, and the Leapmotor T03's often-quoted £12,995 price is retail-only, excluding fleet and salary sacrifice sales.
Whichever car suits your budget, electric car salary sacrifice through The Electric Car Scheme brings the monthly cost down further, with Benefit-in-Kind at 4% for 2026/27 and typical savings of 20-50% against a personal lease. Prices move often, so it's worth getting a personalised quote before deciding.
Get an instant quote on any of these cars through The Electric Car Scheme's quote tool
Last updated 23.07.26
