Lorraine Williamson
A plumber with a rattling van, a delivery driver clocking up kilometres, a beauty therapist hauling kit between clients — they may know a cleaner vehicle makes sense. But replacing a workhorse before it dies can feel like an impossible upgrade. That’s the gap the Junta de Andalucia is trying to close with a new Plan Renove proposal offering €3,000 towards a new low-emission car or van for self-employed workers.
The key point: this isn’t framed as a lifestyle perk. It’s a practical push to modernise everyday business vehicles as Spain’s cities tighten low-emission rules and running costs remain stubbornly high.
The grant in plain English
The draft rules, reported by El País Motor and outlined by Europa Press, set out a straightforward promise: if you are self-employed in Andalucia and you buy a new passenger car or light commercial van that meets the emissions limits, the region will pay €3,000 — and crucially, the plan is designed so the money is paid up front, rather than reimbursed later.
That “paid in advance” detail matters. Many small businesses can’t afford to float the cost and wait months for a refund.
The catch that decides everything: you must scrap an older vehicle
There is a hard condition attached.
To access the aid, the applicant must permanently deregister and scrap an older vehicle — and that vehicle must have a valid ITV (roadworthiness inspection). No scrappage, no grant.
This is the policy’s real environmental lever: it’s built to remove higher-polluting vehicles from circulation, not simply subsidise new purchases.
What counts as an eligible “cleaner” vehicle?
This is not a scheme aimed at fully electric cars.
The draft summary makes clear that the incentivised technology must be different from plug-in electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. It targets other types of lower-emission models — provided they fall under the scheme’s CO₂ and weight limits.
The core thresholds reported so far are:
A new vehicle only, either a passenger car or light commercial van.
Purchase price cap: up to €35,000 (VAT not included), after any dealer discounts are applied.
Emissions: 120 g CO₂/km or lower.
Weight limit: maximum authorised mass of 3,500 kg.
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Timing: why the “from 1 January” line matters
One of the most useful features for readers is the retroactive detail: purchases are covered from 1 January of the year the call is published, and reporting suggests the plan is intended to apply to vehicles bought from 1 January 2026 once the call is formally launched.
This is exactly the kind of line that can save a reader from missing out — especially if they bought a vehicle early in the year and assumed it was too late.
How it will be awarded: first come, first served
The scheme is set to run under concurrencia no competitiva — meaning applications are handled in order, and grants are awarded while the budget lasts.
So the real-world advice is predictable: if you’re eligible, the “best day” to apply is usually day one.
Why Andalucia is doing this now
Andalucia has leaned heavily on national frameworks in the past. This move signals a regional desire to steer transport decarbonisation with its own tools — especially in a region where many people rely on vehicles for work across dispersed towns, industrial estates, and tourism-heavy coastal corridors.
The Plan Renove is also tied to the Junta’s longer-term push to cut transport emissions as part of its broader energy strategy goals.
What autónomos in Andalucia should do next
If you’re thinking about changing your car or van this year, the safest approach is to work backwards from the scheme’s non-negotiables.
Make sure the vehicle you plan to scrap is ITV-valid and eligible to be permanently deregistered.
Check the model you want meets the price cap excluding VAT, and stays under the CO₂ limit.
Keep an eye on the formal call publication, because the budget will likely move quickly once applications open.
A practical takeaway for readers
This is not a generic “green grant”. It’s a targeted cashflow tool for self-employed workers — but it only works if you are ready to scrap an older vehicle and you move fast when the window opens.