What electric cars pay in motor vehicle tax in Ticino, how the tax is calculated and what is changing.
Ticino grants electric cars neither an exemption nor a percentage discount. All cars are taxed on kerb weight and power, with power weighted by energy source: a factor of 0.2 for electric cars, 2.4 for petrol and 2.5 for diesel. An electric car therefore usually pays considerably less than a comparable combustion car, but not nothing.
Kerb weight and power, with power weighted by energy source. Formula since 1 January 2024: ((kerb weight in kg x 0.1) + (kW x coefficient Kv)) x cantonal coefficient K. K is set at 1. Kerb weight is shown under item 30 of the vehicle registration document, power under item 76.
Battery-electric cars (fuel code E) have a power coefficient Kv of 0.2, compared with 2.4 for petrol, 2.5 for diesel and 2.9 for gas (CNG/LPG). The weight component (CHF 0.10 per kg of kerb weight) is the same for every drivetrain. Electric cars with a range extender (code R) have Kv 0.4 and hydrogen/electric (code X) Kv 0.2. There is no time limit and no separate exemption; the traffic office's list of tax exemptions contains no reduction for electric or hybrid vehicles. The formula was adopted by the Grand Council on 11 December 2023 (message 8342) and has applied since 1 January 2024; it is set out in the cantonal motor vehicle tax act (Legge sulle imposte e tasse di circolazione dei veicoli a motore, arts. 1, 1b, 1c).
There is no separate rule for plug-in hybrids. What counts is the fuel code in the registration document: petrol/electric (code C) has Kv 1.4, diesel/electric (code F) Kv 1.9. These values apply to all hybrids with that code, not just plug-ins.
It is not expressly confirmed that the coefficient K is still 1 for 2026; this follows from the statute (Art. 1b) and the cantonal web page. No amendment to the act after 11 December 2023 is known.
The Auto-Check works out how much you save overall with an electric car, using your own assumptions.
As of: January 2024. All information without guarantee. The tax bill and the cantonal road traffic office are authoritative.
