Since January 1, 2023, the rules concerning the ecological bonus have changed. We take stock of the rules to be respected and the amounts involved. Not to mention the conversion bonus. In total, you can recover 13,000 euros from the state with the purchase of an electric car.
Article updated on January 1, 2023: If you have already considered or even taken the plunge regarding the purchase of a new car, your dealer has probably already told you about the ecological bonus or penalty. If your purchase is recent and does not concern an electric car, he has certainly told you about the penalty instead. The ecological bonus-malus system is a kind of tax method encouraging customers to move towards the purchase of a low-emission vehicle in return for a financial consideration. Conversely, if the vehicle purchased is considered too polluting, it will be taxed by a sum determined according to its polluting emissions, measured via the certification cycle in force.
The ecological bonus-malus system is one of the first strong measures taken by the Grenelle de l’Environnement in October 2007. It is in line with the objectives of the European Union, which is to achieve a fleet of vehicles with average 130 g/km of CO2 and 95 g/km of CO2 in 2020. As you are aware, this bonus-malus system has greatly evolved since its enthronement.
If, at the start, it could concern thermal and hybrid cars, today, this is no longer the case since it only concerns electric cars and plug-in hybrid cars. Why ? Due to the CO2 emission limit. To qualify, you must meet the following conditions:
- is a 100% electric or hydrogen vehicle;
- be purchased (or leased with an option to purchase or for a period of at least two years);
- be a new vehicle;
- not be sold within 12 months of purchase or before having traveled at least 6,000 kilometres;
- a natural person can only benefit from it once every 3 years;
- the acquisition cost of the vehicle must be less than 47,000 euros;
- bonus is capped at 5,000 euros for individuals and 3,000 euros for legal persons (up to 27% of the purchase price);
- the bonus can reach 7,000 euros (within the limit of 27% of the purchase price) for households with a tax income per unit of less than 14,089 euros;
- weight (PTAC) less than 2.4 tons.
With the advent of the electric car and a leveling up of the prices of electric cars, especially high-end ones, the government had to review certain points, in particular the amount of the bonus based on the price of the new vehicle, all taxes included. Thereby, since January 1, 2020, not all electric cars are eligible for the ecological bonus. However, they are not eligible for the ecological penalty, which remains only valid for internal combustion cars that emit more than 122 g/km of CO.2.
What amounts of aid are available?
Here is, in detail, the level of aid since July 1, 2022:
- bonus of €5,000 for households buying an electric vehicle for less than 47,000 euros including tax;
- bonus of €7,000 for households with a taxable income per unit of less than 14,089 euros and buying an electric vehicle whose price is less than 47,000 euros including tax;
- bonus of €3,000 for legal entities purchasing an electric vehicle for less than 47,000 euros;
- the bonus is limited in all cases to 27% of the purchase price of the electric car.
Note: when they are more advantageous, the rules in force before July 2022 (such as the bonus of 6,000 euros for electric cars under 47,000 euros and 2,000 euros for cars under 60,000 euros ) remain applicable to a new vehicle ordered before December 31, 2022 inclusive, if it is invoiced no later than June 30, 2023. The same applies to a new vehicle whose rental contract was signed before December 31, 2022 if the payment of the 1st rent takes place no later than June 30, 2023.
As you will have understood, if you buy an Audi e-tron or a Mercedes EQC today, two high-end 100% electric SUVs whose base price is around 80,000 euros, you will not be eligible for the ecological bonus. The same goes for some cars that are between two waters, like the Tesla Model 3 Performance for example, with some options, which escapes the ecological bonus.
| Categories | From July 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 |
|---|---|
| Electric vehicles (CO2 rate ⩽ 20g/km) under €47,000 | 27% of the price capped at €6,000 |
| Electric vehicles (CO2 rate ⩽ 20g/km) under €47,000 (Corporation) |
27% of the price capped at €4,000 |
| Electric vehicles (CO2 rate ⩽ 20g/km) from €47,000 to €60,000 | €2,000 |
| Electric vans or hydrogen-powered vehicles (CO2 rate ⩽ 20g/km) over €60,000 | €2,000 |
| Plug-in hybrid vehicle (CO2 rate between 21 and 50g/km) from €50,000 maximum and range > 50 km | €1,000 |
With the gradual arrival of electric cars within the ranges of manufacturers, but also with the democratization of technology and therefore the gradual reduction in prices, over the next few years, the ecological bonus will probably no longer exist. Its decline has already begun and will continue in 2023 with ever more restrictive conditions (see the last chapter of this dossier).
Cars are not the only ones concerned since so are two- or three-wheeled vehicles. Electric models can benefit from 900 euros in aid, as can the purchase bonuses for an electric bike issued by the State, certain regions, departments and cities.
Other aid also exists in addition to the ecological bonus, such as the conversion premium (scrappage bonus) which intervenes in the event of the scrapping of an old diesel car owned for at least a year and put into circulation before January 1, 2011 or a petrol vehicle dating from before 2006. This supplements the ecological bonus and allows additional aid ranging from up to 6,000 euros for certain households. Or 13,000 euros by accumulating the maximum bonus of 7,000 euros.
How can I claim my eco bonus?
In the majority of cases, you will have absolutely nothing to do since the bonus will be deducted directly from the price including VAT of the car. The concessionaire thus advances the ecological bonus thanks to an agreement established with the Services and Payment Agency (ASP) which is responsible for studying the file. If your dealer does not or refuses to do so, look elsewhere since most do.
If you really have no choice, you will have to complete the payment request form with the ASP yourself. And watch out, it must be sent within six months from the date of invoicing of the new vehicleor, in the case of a lease, the date of the first installment payment.
Is a car eligible for financial assistance?
The used electric car is entitled to an ecological bonus of €1,000as formalized by the Minister Delegate for Transport, Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, in mid-October 2020. They are also concerned by the Conversion premium.
How does the ecological bonus work in a rental contract (LOA, LLD)?
There too, you won’t have to do anything since the ecological bonus will be directly deducted from the price including VAT of the car and the rents will therefore be correlated to the price of the new vehicle, bonus included. Some manufacturers also communicate on attractive rents for electric cars by offering to include the bonus directly in the first contribution. This also makes it possible to reduce the monthly payments quite significantly.
Are all electric cars affected?
As stated above, since January 1, 2020, not all electric cars are affected. Only those below 47,000 euros are eligible for the maximum bonus of 6,000 euros. Between 47,000 and 60,000 euros, the bonus is reduced to 2,000 euros and it is even completely eliminated when the car exceeds the sum of 60,000 euros.
For companies it is a little different since the maximum bonus is 4,000 euros for a car whose price is less than 47,000 euros. Beyond and up to 60,000 euros, the bonus is 2,000 euros.
Are hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars affected?
Plug-in hybrids are concerned provided they meet certain criteria already mentioned above: cost less than 50,000 euros, offer more than 50 kilometers of autonomy and emit a CO2 rate of between 21 and 50 g/km. For this type of vehicle, the ecological bonus amounts to 1,000 euros. It is still relevant today.
What future for the ecological bonus in France?
In the short term, the ecological bonus should last a few more years even if it is already beginning to decline. It will continue to decline as time goes on. over the coming months. The maximum bonus has already dropped from 7,000 to 6,000 euros on July 1, 2021, then from 6,000 to 5,000 euros on January 1, 2023, from 5,000 to 4,000 euros for legal entities. Cars over 47,000 euros are no longer even entitled to the bonus.
In the future, will the bonus disappear completely? Certainly in the medium term, when the electric automobile advocated by the legislator will have invaded the market and the purchase of a new, or even second-hand, thermal car will no doubt become impossible.
In the long term, nothing prevents a government from putting in place an ecological bonus system, especially if a new technology, said to be even more respectful of the environment, comes to interfere in the automotive sector.
For the rechargeable hybrid, we should see the disappearance of the bonus and the various aids (absence of TVS and malus for companies) in the years to come, as can be seen in the will of the European Commission.
Discover our comparison of the best ranges for an electric car. From city cars to sedans and SUVs, here is a selection of the most enduring vehicles on the road.
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