The detailed rules of Hungary's diesel subsidy have been published. Government Decree 146/2026 (18 September) entered into force on 19 September 2026, and the legal basis for the payments is Act L of 2026, promulgated in the Hungarian Official Gazette on 18 September.
Here is what is known so far: who qualifies, how much, when it arrives, and what can leave someone out.
In short: HUF 20,000 per private individual, paid in four instalments, for exclusively diesel passenger cars of at most 110 kW (roughly 150 hp). No application is needed.
How much and when?
The full amount is HUF 20,000 per private individual in 2026. The Hungarian State Treasury pays it in four instalments:
| Instalment | Date |
|---|---|
| 1st | 30 September 2026 |
| 2nd | 30 October 2026 |
| 3rd | 13 November 2026 |
| 4th | 7 December 2026 |
The first payment, on 30 September, goes to those who already met the conditions on 1 January 2026. Those who acquired a diesel car during the year join from the 30 October round.
Importantly, the subsidy is granted per person, not per car: someone who owns several qualifying diesel cars still receives HUF 20,000 once.
Who qualifies?
The subsidy is available to a private individual who
- is the operator — or, failing that, the owner — of an exclusively diesel-powered passenger car,
- where the engine output is at most 110 kilowatts (roughly 150 horsepower),
- and who meets the conditions according to the vehicle register on the relevant eligibility date.
If a car has several operators or owners, the subsidy goes to the person in whose name the registration certificate was issued.
Who does not qualify?
- diesel cars with output above 110 kilowatts — a single horsepower can decide it;
- petrol, hybrid and fully electric vehicles;
- cars registered in a company's name, even if in practice a single person drives them;
- second and third qualifying cars — the subsidy is granted once per person.
No application needed
Eligibility is not subject to a separate application. NAV determines who qualifies automatically from the vehicle register, and the Hungarian State Treasury handles the payment.
The money is transferred primarily to the bank account from which the vehicle tax was paid; if there is none, it is sent by post. If postal delivery fails, the decree allows a new address to be reported to the tax authority — until 15 October and 15 November 2026 respectively.
Under Act L of 2026, the diesel subsidy paid to private individuals is exempt from tax.
What to check now
- The registration certificate. Whose name is the car in, and what is the engine output in kilowatts? 110 kW is the threshold.
- The bank account. The transfer goes to the account from which the vehicle tax was paid — worth checking that the account is still open.
- The address. If payment would come by post and the register holds an old address, it can be reported by the October and November deadlines.
- Several cars. Nothing to do: the subsidy is still granted once.
A note on the timing
This is fresh legislation that entered into force days ago, and there is little practical experience with how it will be applied. The above is based on the promulgated government decree and act, but in any specific case the text of the law in force and NAV's guidance prevail.
If you are unsure whether you qualify, we are happy to look at your situation.
