EVADC offers this guide to some of the many available tools you can use when shopping for new or used EV's and PHEV's.
4/14/2026 UPDATE: The only remaining part of the prior tax code related to EVs, the 30C (federal EV charger credit), ends on 6/30/2026. In 2025, EVADC heard that several automakers made down payments on new EV's in stock just prior to 9/30/25, meaning that those vehicles would be priced as if the EV tax credit was still in effect. It doesn't hurt to ask your dealer if these are still available.
Had enough of high gas prices? If you're thinking about a used EV, here's a useful guide. Remember, the most valuable EV component, the battery, almost always has an 8 year, 100,000 mile warranty. There is no longer a federal used EV tax credit, but there are wonderful deals out there on used EV's coming off lease. See Finding Cars below.
Here's another useful general guide to EV's, PHEV's and hybrids. Education leads to knowledge which leads to action.
Ask-An-EV-Owner
If you would like to talk to real EV owners and drivers to get advice on what to buy and how to charge it, consider coming to our monthly zoom meeting Ask-An-EV-Owner. We're regular folks who will advise and answer questions in a friendly, no-pressure format. Our members have driven over one million electric miles, just about every model out there, and charged in every setting from single family homes to apartments. We sell nothing, we only want to help you succeed in making the transition from gasoline to electricity.
This is a maintained list of current EV lease offers. Leases are generally best if you drive less than 10,000 miles/yr.
The federal EV charger credit (Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit) expires 6/30/2026. For EV drivers who live in certain low-income and non-urban census tracts, they can get a 30% up to $1000 credit on EV charging equipment and installation.
LOCAL INCENTIVES
Maryland offers a 40% rebate of up to $700 residential, $4000 commerical on the purchase and installation of an EVSE (AKA "charger"). This often runs out of funds, so check the MEA site first.
Maryland also offers an excise tax credit on EVs ($3000, purchase after 7/1/23 and before 7/1/27, base price (aka MSRP) under $50k, one vehicle per individual). Maryland recommends, but does not require, the credit be applied for through your dealer. To understand if a vehicle base price qualifies if there are options, rebates, etc, see these examples from the MVA of vehicles that do qualify and don't qualify. If your window sticker refers to MSRP, treat that as "base price". The Maryland excise tax credit often runs out of funds, so check the MVA site first. Plug-in hybrid vehicles are not exempt from VEIP emissions inspections after their first 72 months, but EVs are. Maryland has also adopted a flat surcharge, regardless of annual miles driven, for EVs ($125/yr) and plug-in hybrids ($100/yr), which is added to the registration. See the MVA fee schedule.
HOV access stickers are no longer issued as of 9/30/2025. Maryland has published this guide to state and utility incentives.
Montgomery County has a permit to install a curbside L2 charger in the right-of-way ,and also an EV Purchasing Co-op with some nice dealer perks.
DC offers reduced registration fees for two years (see table for passenger vehicle type, class V). After two years, EVs get to subtract 1000 pounds before determining their weight class, which can reduce the registration fee by at least $75. New EVs pay significantly less excise tax. DC also has a 50% tax credit up to $1000 on the purchase and installation of a charger, and a 50% credit up to $19k on converting and ICE car to electric. DC also offers guidance on setting up and implementing curbside EV charging.
Virginia no longer offers an HOV lane exemption, but still offers an emissions inspection exemption. Virginia also collects a "highway use fee" (HUF) at the time of registration for EVs, PHEVs and high-mpg cars, which is tied to the gas tax. You can estimate the HUF using a DMV calculator. As an example, a 2017 Chevy Bolt EV registered in July 2023 would pay a highway user fee of $123.98. If you want to pay your HUF over time, or you drive less than 11,600 miles annually, you can enroll in the Mileage Choice Program, and pay per mile with a dongle which is either GPS or non-GPS enabled. The total amount you pay in Mileage Choice is capped at the HUF.
Maintained official summary of EV incentives for DC, Maryland and Virginia.
FINDING CARS
www.myev.com is a site free to buyers and sellers that shows privately owned and dealer EV's for sale in your area
Current Lease Offers for Selected EVs (Electrek) A maintained nationwide list of the best lease deals on EV's, including deals in our area. Leases are generally best if you drive less than 10,000 miles/yr.
Best EV discounts from US dealers (Electrek) A maintained nationwide list of the best discounts on new EV's. Remember, cars are routinely transported state-to-state and cross country for between about $500-$1500.
CarsDirect Best Green Car Deals Speaks for itself. Maintained monthly survey of best deals on green cars.
AutoTempest Like Trivago for cars. Meta-site that searches 9+ car search sites at once.
PRO-TIP: Enter only your zip code, then click on Advanced Search and select "Electric" for fuel type.
PRO-TIP: When searching for used Nissan Leafs, use our guide for understanding 1st gen Leafs.
PRO-TIP: When searching for Used Chevy Bolts, you can verify if it had its battery replaced and what the warranty is. (If the battery was replaced, GM added a bonus 100,000 miles to the warranty.) Enter the VIN here. Under the Recalls section, click on Complete. It should list several "High Voltage battery" ones and their completion dates. Under Warranties, click on Active, then the Bolt Battery and EV Component warranties.
Hertz has some incredible deals on relatively lightly used EVs.
EV-CPO is designed to efficiently search for certified pre-owned Teslas.
CarBargains Highly rated shopping service in which you tell them the car you want and they interface with dealers and obtain bids. They also have free do-it-yourself instructions.
Shopping for a used EV and want to know what options it originally had and what they cost? Find the original Monroney stickers for any car 1981 or younger at monroneylabels.com
EV AND PHEV REPAIR SHOPS
LAGAS EV Repair, Rockville, MD. Makes house calls.
Charge Auto Center, Fredericksburg, VA. Services both Tesla and non-Tesla.
GENERAL PURPOSE EV AND PHEV GUIDES
Energy Sage offers a nice all-encompassing guide to EV's and PHEV's.
Consumer Reports has extensive ratings and a buying guide.
EXPERIENCED LOCAL RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERICAL CHARGER INSTALLERS:
DaiTechCorp Experienced, local, turnkey, one-stop-shop, ideal for installing charging at everything ranging from single-family homes all the way to commercial locations, multifamily apartments and condos. They handle the whole package including helping you select chargers, contractors, installation and finding incentives. One example of their recent work. 202-918-9373
SWTCH Multifamily, public, retail and workplace charging solutions. Give residents, visitors, customers, property owners and employees a fully supported delightful experience. 844-798-2438
Sample of local residential and commercial EV charger installers:
Ryan Electrical Services ryanelectric@Verizon.net 301-509-9832
Clinton Electric 410-449-7292
Sparrow Electric (Aspen Hill), 301-679-1852
Inca Electric (Silver Spring) 240-354-2431
Double Z Electric (Fulton) 301-704-2073
Luis & James (Petworth DC) 240-551-2446
New Age Electric (Silver Spring) 301-588-4457
You can also find certified charger installers at the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program
If you live in an apartment or condo and want to explore getting the same kind of charging that single-family residences enjoy, start here, which explains a program called Charge At Home that can advise you on how to proceed.
UTILITY INCENTIVES
Your electric utility likely offers a combination of incentives on the purchase and installation of chargers both at home and in condos and apartments, reduced time-of-use electric rates for your EV, and other perks.
Dominion Virginia Pepco MD Pepco DC BGE Potomac Edison
EVSE (CHARGER) SHOPPING:
For a comprehensive look at the world of EV chargers, see YouTuber Tom Moloughney's EV Charging Stations.
How to Choose the Best Home Wall Charger for Your Electric Vehicle by Consumer Reports
L2 chargers are also at Home Depot, Lowe's, Amazon and Costco. L2 lets you add about 30 miles per hour of charging, and is what most EV drivers install at home to increase the utility of their EVs.
QC Charge, EV West and EVSE Adapters offer more specialized EV charging hardware.
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If you hear of any good EV deals, please let us know by email at evaofdc@gmail.com