Roulez vert Rebate: Last Chance to Save on a Used Electric Vehicle Before December 31, 2026

Thinking of going electric, but not keen on paying the price of a new vehicle? The Quebec government still offers a $1,000 rebate on the purchase of an eligible used electric vehicle, but the clock is ticking: the Roulez vert program ends on December 31, 2026, and no provincial assistance is planned to replace it in 2027.

In this article, we untangle what remains of the program in 2026: the amounts, the conditions specific to used vehicles, the registration-date rule that trips up many buyers, and the best time to act.

Roulez vert takes its final bow on December 31, 2026

Roulez vert, the Quebec government’s financial assistance program for electric vehicles, has been winding down for a few years: the amounts were cut roughly in half in 2026, and the program officially ends on December 31, 2026. As of January 1, 2027, no provincial subsidy will remain for the purchase of an electric vehicle, new or used.

In other words, the buyer who hesitates a few more months could leave $1,000 on the table. It is not a life-changing sum, but on a well-negotiated used vehicle, it is the equivalent of several months of free charging.

How much can you get in 2026?

Here are the amounts in effect for vehicles registered in 2026:

Note: only 100% electric vehicles are eligible on the used side. A used plug-in hybrid, however appealing, earns no rebate. And since November 2025, the $65,000 eligibility ceiling (manufacturer’s suggested retail price) includes option packages, which has excluded some high-end versions.

The rule that changes everything: the registration date

This is the detail too many buyers discover too late: eligibility and the rebate amount are determined by the date the vehicle is registered in your name, not by the date of the order, the deposit or the contract signature.

Concretely, a vehicle ordered in December 2026 but registered in January 2027 receives nothing. For a used vehicle in stock, the risk is low since delivery happens within days, but it grows as year-end approaches and applications pile up. Prudence says do not gamble with the last weeks of December.

What are the conditions for a used electric vehicle?

The $1,000 rebate comes with precise conditions. The main ones to know before shopping:

• The vehicle must be 100% electric and appear on the official list of eligible used vehicles published by the government, which also governs the vehicle’s age and origin.
• It must never have been subsidized by Roulez vert before: the same vehicle cannot benefit from the rebate twice.
• Proof of an inspection of the battery’s remaining capacity is required, a welcome protection for the buyer since the battery is the heart (and the value) of a used EV.
• The purchase must be made from a Quebec car dealer: a transaction between private individuals does not qualify for the rebate.
• You must reside in Quebec and keep the vehicle for at least 12 months, failing which the government can demand repayment.

These conditions may seem numerous, but they work in your favour: they weed out vehicles with questionable batteries and transactions without protection. The official list of eligible models evolves; check it (or have your advisor check it) before setting your heart on a specific model.

Why buying from a dealer simplifies everything

Good news: you do not have to advance the $1,000 or fill out the application alone. The dealer can apply the rebate directly to your purchase contract, and the law forbids charging administration fees to do so. You can also choose to submit the application yourself online, but the payment then takes several weeks.

One point of vigilance on the invoice: taxes are calculated on the vehicle’s price before the government rebate is applied. The rebate therefore reduces the amount to pay, not the taxable amount. A transparent advisor will show you this calculation in black and white rather than sweeping it under the rug.

Is a used EV still a good deal without the rebate?

Let us be honest: $1,000 should never be the only reason to buy an electric vehicle. The real savings of an EV play out over years, in avoided fuel and reduced maintenance, as we detailed in our comparison of the total cost of ownership over 5 years. If an EV fits your commutes and your charging situation, it will still make sense in 2027; if not, no rebate will make it make sense.

The rebate does, however, change the ideal time to act. If your decision is already made, pushing it past December 31 amounts to paying $1,000 more for the same vehicle. To choose your model well, our comparative guide to the best used electric vehicles covers the safe bets.

The battery: what the required inspection tells you

The proof of inspection of the battery’s remaining capacity, required to obtain the rebate, deserves a closer look. The battery represents the largest share of an electric vehicle’s value, and its degradation varies greatly from one example to the next depending on the first owner’s usage, climate and charging habits.

This inspection therefore gives you information that few gasoline vehicle buyers get about their engine: a measured picture of the costliest component’s condition. Ask to see the result, have the remaining capacity percentage explained to you, and compare it with the range you actually need for your daily commutes. A vehicle that has lost a little range but still covers three times your round trip to work remains an excellent purchase.

The residential charging station: an often forgotten $600

The $600 assistance for installing a home charging station is separate from the vehicle rebate, and it too disappears with the program. If you become an EV owner this fall, it would be a shame to pay full price for the station in January when the subsidy was still there in December.

Plan the two purchases together: the vehicle and the station. Charging at home, overnight, at the residential rate is what makes electric truly economical day to day, especially during our winters, when range shrinks and starting every morning with a full battery changes everything.

And what about the federal government?

At the time of writing, in September 2026, federal assistance programs target eligible new electric vehicles; they do not apply to the purchase of a used vehicle. For used EVs, Roulez vert is therefore the only direct assistance still offered, which makes its deadline all the more significant.

Our Auto Durocher advice: if you are aiming to get the rebate, complete your purchase by November or the very beginning of December 2026 at the latest. The registration date is what counts, and the program’s final weeks are likely to be busy, at dealerships and in application processing alike. A purchase concluded early means a guaranteed rebate and a whole winter to enjoy it.

What to remember before the program ends

• The Roulez vert program ends on December 31, 2026; no provincial assistance will remain in 2027.
• Eligible used electric vehicle: a rebate of $1,000 (100% electric vehicles only).
• The registration date in your name determines eligibility, not the purchase date.
• Key conditions: model on the official list, vehicle never subsidized before, battery inspection, purchase from a Quebec dealer, 12-month retention.
• The dealer can apply the rebate directly to the contract, with no administration fees.
• The residential charging station qualifies for separate assistance of $600.

Go electric while there is still time

At Auto Durocher, we have inspected used electric vehicles in our inventory in Mirabel, and our team takes care of verifying rebate eligibility and applying it directly to your contract. Our financing solutions, offered on vehicles sold at our dealership through 18 partner financial institutions, adjust to your weekly budget.

The program has an end date; your decision deserves better than a last-minute scramble. A rebate is good. The right electric vehicle at the right price is better!

Sources

• Gouvernement du Québec: About the Roulez vert program
• Gouvernement du Québec: Rebate amount for a used electric vehicle
• Protégez-Vous: Buying an electric car in 2026, which rebates are still offered in Quebec?
• AVÉQ: Roulez vert in 2026, the essentials before the program ends
• Roulez Électrique: Practical guide to the new Roulez vert rules in 2026