The federal electric vehicle tax credit (worth up to $7,500 for new EVs and $4,000 for used EVs), is officially ending on September 30, 2025. For more than a decade, these incentives have played a central role in artificially propping up EV sales, coaxing buyers toward electric cars with taxpayer-funded subsidies.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act phased them out, and the marketplace is preparing for a major shift. Let the free market be just that, free. Buyers should buy what they want, and not what the states or the federal government want.

For buyers, the deadline creates a clear choice: purchase an electric vehicle now and secure the last available credits, or wait and face a market where EVs must compete without federal assistance.

For dealers and automakers, the end of this program marks the beginning of a new chapter in how vehicles are marketed, priced, and sold in the United States. This is actually good news for everyone.

The EV tax credit was originally introduced to jumpstart demand for electric vehicles and help manufacturers reach economies of scale, and entice car buyers to consider an electric vehicle. Automakers like Tesla, GM, and Nissan were among the first to benefit, as subsidies encouraged early adopters to experiment with new technology.

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Over time, the credit became a standard talking point for dealerships and a cornerstone of federal and some state government policies aimed at accelerating the transition to EVs and the goal of eliminating gas and diesel powered vehicles.

But the credits also sparked controversy. Critics argued they disproportionately benefited wealthier households, who were more likely to afford EVs even without subsidies, and actually be able to take advantage of the tax credit.

Many Americans pointed out that taxpayers who never purchased an EV were footing the bill for those who did. By 2024, as EV sales slowed despite the ongoing credit, questions grew louder about whether the program was delivering meaningful results.

Under the OBBBA, the federal EV tax credit ends September 30, 2025. After that date, buyers will no longer be able to claim the tax credit of up to $7,500 on new EVs, $4,000 on used ones, or the $1,000 credit for a home charger. This change eliminates the point-of-sale rebates that dealers have leaned on heavily to close EV deals.

The immediate impact is urgency. Dealers are moving quickly to advertise “last chance” opportunities for buyers to lock in the tax credit. Automakers with qualifying models are pushing aggressive campaigns to clear inventory before the deadline. Dealers fear they will be stuck with a fleet of electric cars and minimal sales. Buyers who act now could save thousands, but once October arrives, those savings vanish.

Without federal support, the EV market faces a test. Will demand hold steady, or will sales cool once the financial incentive disappears? Industry analysts are divided. What’s my analysis? I see a sharp decline in EV adoption, especially among cost-conscious buyers. I expect the demand to be below a 4% purchase rate in the US.

Others believe the market will gradually stabilize as more affordable EV models reach production and as states continue offering their own incentives. The issue is battery costs, increased insurance rates and huge price escalation in electricity prices.

Dealers are preparing for the possibility that EV sales will slow way down. Many are already shifting focus to hybrids and traditional gas-powered vehicles, which remain central to American driving habits. There is another way to save some money for new car buyers, an auto loan interest deduction under the OBBBA, available for U.S.-assembled vehicles of all types, have become a more important sales tool than the expiring EV credit.

One overlooked consequence of the EV credit’s end is its impact on manufacturing strategy. Automakers have spent years aligning production to maximize eligibility, ensuring that vehicles meet North American assembly requirements to qualify for the credit.

With that incentive gone, companies will have greater flexibility in where and how they produce EVs. Car companies took massive losses on every vehicle they sold. For lost $40,000 on every Lightning truck, other brands took equal losses. This is not the way to do business. It caused car makers to increase costs on all their vehicles making it harder for many to afford a new car.

At the same time, the OBBBA’s focus on U.S.-assembled vehicles for loan interest deductions keeps domestic manufacturing in the spotlight. Buyers financing new American-assembled cars (whether electric, hybrid, or gas-powered), stand to gain valuable tax savings even after September 30. In effect, the policy is shifting the incentive away from what type of vehicle you buy, and toward where it is built.

For consumers, timing matters. Buyers who are serious about purchasing an EV should act before the deadline to capture the last available credit. However, it’s equally important to evaluate whether the vehicle makes financial sense in the long term without subsidies. Factors such as charging infrastructure, battery replacement costs, and resale value remain significant considerations. Resale value on used electric cars is not good.

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Some households may find greater value in waiting. As the market adjusts, automakers may respond with price cuts, new financing options, or incentives of their own to sustain demand. Dealers will be very motivated to move EVs off lots if inventory slows, potentially creating better deals. Leasing would be your smartest move at that point.

The phase-out of EV tax credits is more than a budgetary or political change. It’s a signal of a broader shift in bipartisan policy. For years, Washington used subsidies to push the auto market toward electrification. If they failed to meet the numbers they were fined billion of dollars. Now, the emphasis is moving toward empowering buyers with broader tax relief, such as the new loan interest deduction, while reducing federal dependency on technology-specific incentives.

Whether this results in a more balanced marketplace or a setback for EV adoption remains to be seen. What is certain is that the market will now have to stand on its own. Automakers that can deliver reliable, affordable vehicles that do not rely on subsidies and can produce what consumers want.

September 30 is a clear turning point. For buyers, it is the last chance to claim thousands of dollars in federal support for an EV purchase. For automakers and dealers, it is the end of a crutch that has shaped sales strategies for over a decade. And for the broader economy, it marks the beginning of a new approach - one that rewards American manufacturers and consumer choice rather than federal pressure for a single technology or type of propulsion.

Can the EV market maintain momentum without subsidies, especially in North America? What is for certain, we have a big win for customer choice.

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Lauren Fix is an automotive expert and journalist covering industry trends, policy changes, and their impact on drivers nationwide. Follow her on X @LaurenFix for the latest car news and insights.