When you buy an EV (electric vehicle) in Saitama Prefecture, where do the subsidies come from, and how much can you get? To state the conclusion first: for the 2026 fiscal year (Reiwa 8), Saitama is a two-tier structure of "no prefectural purchase subsidy; the national CEV subsidy (up to ¥1.3 million for an EV) plus municipal add-ons". Saitama City is running subsidies, on a first-come, first-served basis, of ¥50,000 for a standard-size EV, ¥30,000 for a mini EV, ¥500,000 for an FCV, and ¥100,000 for V2H. This article organizes the 2026 fiscal year information from primary sources: how to use the national, prefectural, and municipal programs, points to note when applying, the reduction of automobile tax on EVs, and whether subsidies are taxed.
Think of Saitama's EV subsidies as a "two-tier" structure
CEV subsidy (the lead role in purchases)
A national subsidy usable by individuals and corporations alike. For the 2026 fiscal year, up to ¥1.3 million for an EV and so on — the largest in amount.
Independent add-ons such as Saitama City
Availability and amounts differ by municipality. Saitama City offers ¥50,000 for an EV plus ¥100,000 for V2H, etc. It can be combined with the national subsidy.
No prefectural purchase subsidy for the 2026 fiscal year
Saitama Prefecture has announced that its "Electric Vehicle Introduction Cost Subsidy" is not planned for the Reiwa 8 fiscal year. Do not count on the prefecture; build your plan with national + municipal.
[National] CEV subsidy for the 2026 fiscal year (the lead role in purchases)
"Up to ¥1.3 million" is a cap. The subsidy amount is decided for each vehicle type by an evaluation of the vehicle's environmental performance and the like, and differs, such as ¥1 million or ¥800,000. An add-on may apply for power-supply functions (V2H, external power supply). Check the exact subsidy amount for the car you are buying against the figures published by the Next Generation Vehicle Promotion Center. Applications close once the budget runs out, and a subsidized vehicle carries a mandatory holding period (in principle 4 years); if you dispose of it within the period, repayment may be required.
The overall picture of the CEV subsidy and the situation in every prefecture is explained in our guide to EV subsidies in all 47 prefectures.
[Saitama Prefecture] No prefectural purchase subsidy for the 2026 fiscal year
Saitama Prefecture used to run the "Electric Vehicle Introduction Cost Subsidy Program," but the prefecture's official page states that it is not planned for the Reiwa 8 fiscal year (2026). There is no need to "wait for the prefectural subsidy before buying"; for the 2026 fiscal year, the right approach is to combine the national CEV subsidy with municipal add-ons.
Meanwhile, neighboring Tokyo continues generous subsidies for individuals (see the Tokyo EV subsidy guide), so there is a large gap between the two. Even if you commute outside the prefecture, subsidies are determined by your address (the base of use of the vehicle), so note that Saitama residents are subject to Saitama's rules. For Kanagawa Prefecture, see Kanagawa EV subsidies.
[Municipalities] Saitama City: ¥50,000 for an EV, ¥500,000 for an FCV, ¥100,000 for V2H
Saitama City's "Electric Vehicle Promotion Subsidy" (Reiwa 8 fiscal year) is as follows.
| Eligible item | Subsidy amount (per vehicle or unit) |
|---|---|
| EV (standard-size car, new) | ¥50,000 |
| EV (mini or small car, new) | ¥30,000 |
| FCV (fuel cell vehicle, new) | ¥500,000 |
| V2H charge/discharge equipment (new installation) | ¥100,000 |
- Eligible applicants: individuals living in the city, and corporations or sole proprietors with a place of business in the city (for leases, the "user" applies)
- Eligible vehicles: new vehicles registered between April 1, 2026 and March 19, 2027. PHEVs are not eligible
- Application period: June 1, 2026 to March 19, 2027. First-come, first-served; it closes when the budget (approximately ¥21.1 million) is reached (a lottery is held if same-day applications exceed it)
- Can be combined with the national CEV subsidy and other subsidies. There is a property-disposal restriction period; selling within the period requires an approval application
Beyond Saitama City, municipal-level programs are scattered around — for example, Kawaguchi City supports EV and FCV purchases through its "Global Warming Countermeasure Activity Support Grant." Amounts, conditions, and application status change during the year, so search "your municipality's name + EV subsidy" and check the official site. Some municipalities also offer support bundled with solar power and storage batteries.
Check the "tax" on EVs too (reductions in automobile tax)
Apart from subsidies, EVs are also favored on the tax side. The environmental performance levy of the automobile tax is exempt (the 2026 fiscal year tax reform also decided to abolish the levy itself), and the type-based levy of the automobile tax for the following fiscal year is reduced by roughly 75% under the greening special provision. If you switch from a gasoline car, a fuel-cost gap remains even after the abolition of the provisional gasoline tax rate at the end of 2025. Details are explained in EV taxes and the 2026 automobile tax reform.
Is a subsidy taxed?
An EV subsidy an individual receives is treated as occasional income. Occasional income has an annual special deduction of ¥500,000, so it is not taxed if, combined with other occasional income (such as lump-sum life insurance receipts), it stays within ¥500,000 a year. Even the national and city subsidies combined usually stay within ¥500,000, but be careful about the total in a year when you receive multiple large subsidies, such as the ¥500,000 FCV subsidy. The treatment differs for vehicles bought for business use, so check with a tax accountant or the like.
What to do today
What to do today
- Check the national CEV subsidy amount for your candidate vehicle in the Next Generation Vehicle Promotion Center's list (your own car's amount, not "up to ¥1.3 million")
- Search "EV subsidy" on your municipality's official site and check the application status and remaining budget (Saitama City is first-come, first-served)
- Build your application schedule backward from the delivery date (check three things: registration date, application deadline, and budget exhaustion)
FAQ
Q. Is Saitama Prefecture's EV subsidy gone?
A. The prefecture has announced that its "Electric Vehicle Introduction Cost Subsidy Program" is not planned for the Reiwa 8 fiscal year. For the 2026 fiscal year, the basic approach is to combine the national CEV subsidy with municipal subsidies (Saitama City, Kawaguchi City, and others).
Q. Can Saitama City's subsidy be combined with the national CEV subsidy?
A. Yes, it can. For example, for a standard-size EV, you can combine the national CEV subsidy (the amount for your vehicle type, up to ¥1.3 million) + Saitama City's ¥50,000, and installing V2H at the same time adds another ¥100,000.
Q. Are PHEVs (plug-in hybrids) also eligible?
A. They are eligible for the national CEV subsidy (up to ¥850,000), but PHEVs are not eligible for Saitama City's Reiwa 8 fiscal year subsidy. Municipal subsidies often narrow down the eligible vehicle types, so check the eligibility category before buying.
Q. What happens if you sell a subsidized car right away?
A. The national CEV subsidy has a mandatory holding period of, in principle, 4 years; if you dispose of the car within the period, partial repayment of the subsidy may be required. Saitama City's subsidy also has a property-disposal restriction period, and disposal requires an approval application.
Reference links (sources)
* Subsidy amounts, requirements, and application status are as of August 2026. Programs may end early depending on budget consumption. Always check the latest information on each official site before applying.