How to get an electric car on the NHS with salary sacrifice

Want a brand-new EV without breaking the bank? 

If your NHS Trust takes part in a salary sacrifice scheme, you could be behind the wheel in no time. Let’s break down exactly how you can get there.

In this guide to NHS EV salary sacrifice, we’ll cover:

• How to get an electric car on the NHS with salary sacrifice
• What is an NHS salary sacrifice car lease?
• Who can get an NHS EV lease?
• How does the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) fit in?
• What you’ll actually save – and how
• Trade offs to keep in mind
• How to get an EV through NHS salary sacrifice, step by step
• Can I get an EV through Octopus EV’s salary sacrifice scheme?

With EV salary sacrifice, your car payments come straight out of your pre-tax salary. That means you pay less tax and National Insurance, and more of your money stays in your pocket.

Our scheme also covers insurance, maintenance, and breakdown cover, so there are no hidden fees lurking in the fine print. We’ll even install a home charger for free, or give you £600 Electroverse credit (that’s our public charging network). 

Maintenance

Servicing, maintenance and repairs to keep your car in top condition.

Breakdown cover

At home or on the road breakdown assistance included.

Insurance

Comprehensive insurance included as standard.

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Keep in mind that only some NHS Trusts offer this, so check with your HR department first. And of course, exactly how much you save will depend on your salary and the car you pick.

Most people can jump straight on the scheme. Here’s the usual checklist:

• A qualifying NHS employment contract
• A salary above a certain threshold
• A Trust that’s part of a CCS framework or similar approved scheme.

Found out your Trust isn’t participating? Sadly, no EV for you – at least not through this scheme. But you can always ask HR if they’d be up for joining. 

Don’t forget to send them our handy employee survey template, which they can use to gauge interest among your colleagues before they commit.

Think of CCS as the NHS’s official buying club. They set up frameworks – pre-agreed deals for goods and services – so Trusts can buy what they need easily and at a fair price.

If your Trust uses a CCS framework, you can access EV salary sacrifice deals without any extra hassle. It basically means less paperwork, better rates, and a smoother process.

Switching to an EV through salary sacrifice can save you a noticeable chunk of cash compared with running a petrol car. 

On average, that’s around £2,194 over the course of a lease – roughly enough for a family holiday or a very fancy new bike. For higher-rate taxpayers, the savings can be even higher.

Here’s where that money actually comes from:

1. Lower monthly costs: Because payments come from your gross salary, your take-home cost is often lower.
2. Lower Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax: EVs have much lower BiK (company car tax) rates than petrol and diesel cars.
3. Cheaper running costs: Charging costs less than petrol, and EVs have fewer moving parts, so maintenance tends to be cheaper.
4. Lower emissions: Driving an EV reduces local air pollution, which means you’ll dodge the highest ULEZ charges.

For Ben Burrows, Interim Chief Medical Officer at Sirona Care & Health, these savings have made a huge difference. 

“Before getting my electric car, I had a Golf GTI,” he explains. “When I moved to the BMW i4, it’s far more rapid, more enjoyable, and more comfortable. And when I charge at home on Octopus Energy’s agile tariff, it costs just £6 or £7 for a full charge. It’s a huge saving compared to petrol.”

Trade offs to keep in mind

Even EVs have some drawbacks. Depending on your car’s range and the charging options you’re using, you might need to plan ahead for longer journeys. Also, leaving a lease early can sometimes involve fees, so it’s important to check your contract carefully before signing.

Getting an EV through NHS salary sacrifice is easier than it sounds. Just follow these steps:

1. Check your Trust’s status

Ask HR if your Trust is signed up for a CCS framework that includes EV salary sacrifice. 

2. Find out if you’re eligible

Your contract length, salary, and employment type all matter. Not everyone qualifies, so it’s worth double-checking.

3. Pick your dream car

Choose from a selection of zero-emission models. Consider range, charging options, and features that fit your lifestyle.

4. Sign your agreement

Everything’s straightforward from there, because monthly payments are automatically taken from your gross salary.

5. Drive and save

It’s time to get behind the wheel and start saving!

Top tip: With Octopus EV, there’s no deposit to pay and no personal credit check, so getting started is hassle-free.

Salary sacrifice can feel a bit tricky at first, but don’t worry: we’ve answered the questions NHS staff ask most.

A: Not quite. Only Trusts that use a relevant CCS framework (or a similar approved arrangement) can offer the scheme. If you’re not sure, your HR team will be able to help. 

A: Nope – and for good reason. Rising Benefit-in-Kind rates mean hybrids have lost their tax advantage, so employees are usually better off leasing them privately. EVs, on the other hand, remain cheaper on salary sacrifice, with lower costs for both employers and employees, and no tailpipe emissions to boot.

A: Then you won’t be able to use the salary sacrifice benefits we offer. But don’t give up – check with HR. There may be other lease options available. And you can always try encouraging them to sign up to our scheme - it’s quick, easy, and totally free.

A: Nope. Many salary sacrifice programmes, including ours, let you drive away without a deposit, with payments taken straight from your gross salary. There are no personal credit checks either, so there’s no extra hassle to worry about.

A: We’ve got you covered. If you leave due to resignation, redundancy (including voluntary), or dismissal, and you’ve had the car for more than three months, you can return it without any termination fees.

Yes – if your NHS Trust is part of a CCS framework. Check with your HR team to see if your Trust takes part. 

If it does, you could drive a brand-new electric car with lower monthly payments, tax and National Insurance savings, and zero-emission driving, all while supporting a greener NHS.

Find out if your NHS Trust offers salary sacrifice and see what you could save. Still not sure? No worries – have a quick chat with our team and we’ll walk you through how it all works.