How we’ve got your back (and your bottom line) with our EV salary sacrifice

When most businesses introduce a car scheme for their team, everyone starts with the same excited question: "Which car should I get?"

But sometimes, a second question follows: "What if things change?"

Whether you’re the employer looking after the company finances or the employee behind the wheel, life can throw curveballs at you. People change jobs, families grow, and sometimes, health can take an unexpected turn.

We don't think "what ifs" should stand in the way of you making significant tax savings by driving electric with salary sacrifice. That’s why our early termination protection isn't just a clause in a contract. It’s a safety net to protect both the business and the driver.

If you have a car with us through salary sacrifice, it’s worth knowing that this is what we cover as standard. Your organisation may have different terms, and it’s their decision to make on how to handle early terminations. So if you need to return your car, check with whoever runs your scheme for your specific details.

For an employer, the biggest worry is being left with cars on the balance sheet if people leave the company. For an employee, it’s the fear of having to pay cancellation fees if your job situation changes.

We’ve kept it simple. If you've had your car for three months or more, you can return it free of charge for the most common work-related reasons:

• Resignation: Moving on to a new chapter? Just hand your car back.
• Redundancy: If the business has to make tough choices, the car shouldn't be an extra burden.
• Dismissal: The business isn't left holding with a bill after a difficult exit. You can return the cost at no cost to the driver or employer. 

When life gets complicated, the last thing you need to worry about is your car. We step in with cover for life events from day one. Both employee and employer have full cover, with no three-month waiting period, on the following life events: 

• Parental leave: While you’re on leave we cover up to 12 months as a ‘payment holiday’. You keep the car and we credit your employer for the cost. Unlike other providers who cap this at £500, we cover the full monthly cost. No catch, no need to repay when you’re back. So you can focus on your growing family with one less financial worry. You’ll just need to show that you’re on Statutory Maternity Pay, or that your pay would drop below the National Minimum wage with your salary sacrifice, to qualify.
• Long-term sickness: If you’re off work because of sickness, for four weeks or more, you can keep the car and we’ll cover the monthly cost for up to three months. You’ll just need to show that you’re on Statutory Sick Pay, or that your pay would drop below the National Minimum wage with your salary sacrifice, to qualify.
• Loss of licence: If you lose your licence for six months or more, for medical reasons, you don’t want a car you can’t drive. So we’ll take it back free of charge.
• Death of the driver, their spouse or partner: The last thing you need to think about is the burden of extra fees when the unimaginable happens. If you want to return your car we'll work with you to return the car free of charge at the right point for you and your family. 

If you’re a details person, read on. 

Some businesses worry about the number of cars they can return. In reality, over 99% of our partners never hit their limit for the number of cars they can return. We’ve made sure it’s comprehensive enough for normal business life.

Every car comes with a £500 damage waiver. We cover fair wear and tear, and only charge for significant damage that falls outside of this. We follow the BVRLA’s guidelines on wear and tear.

If repairs cost over £500, you’ll need to pay the full repair cost. For example, if the repair cost is £600, you’ll need to pay £600, not £100.

If you return a car for a reason not covered by our early termination protection (like a change of heart), the fee is 50% of the remaining finance rental amount. No hidden fees, just a clear, halved cost. Fair and square.

Yes. With Octopus EV, you can return 10% of your fleet or 10 cars a year, whichever is higher.

Very few organisations get anywhere near it. In 2026, from January - July, 99% of organisations that made at least one early return stayed within this cap. If you go over you’ll pay the early termination fees on the cars that go above the cap, within that calendar year. There’s no change to your cover in subsequent years.

We’re part of the Octopus Energy family. We care about two things: the planet and the people on it.

Our EV salary sacrifice scheme is built so employers can offer a brilliant benefit without the risk, and employees can drive an EV with total peace of mind.

Still have a "what if" we haven't answered? Give us a shout. We’re humans, and we’re here to help you get on the road - and stay protected while you're there.