top cx logo
cx logo
Explorearrow down
search icon
Explore
arrow down

Trade old car for eco-friendly one with new scheme

A new, eco-friendly car could soon be yours, as the French government launches a website to help drivers take advantage of new grants available to help you trade in old for new.

The grants, which are known in French as the “prime a la conversion” and which became available on January 1 this year, are designed to help you trade in your old, polluting car for a newer, ecologically-cleaner vehicle, as announced by ecology minister Nicolas Hulot as part of his “Plan Climat” measures and “paquet solidarité climatique” campaign.

The new website can help you calculate your eligibility for the scheme, figure out how much you could be paid, and how to go about buying a greener vehicle with the cash - and promises to help you in just “six steps maximum”.

Among the criteria for the grants, your old car or van (that you want to trade in) must weigh less than 3.5 tonnes, and be registered before 1997 for petrol vehicles, and before 2001 for diesel vehicles (and before 2006 for households that do not pay tax).

The vehicle you trade in must also be registered in France, and have been owned by you for at least one year.

The amount you could be paid will vary depending on your household’s financial situation, with up to €1,000 available for taxed households and €2,000 for those that do not pay tax. The total available per household is €2,500 for the purchase of a new vehicle.

Grants for motorbikes, three-wheelers and quad bikes may also be available to you.

The money received through the scheme must then be used to buy or rent a new or recently-second-hand electric vehicle, or one using petrol or diesel, which emits less than 130g CO² per kilometre, classified as "Crit’air 1 or 2". The new vehicle must also replace your existing car or van.

The website also goes into detail about how to exchange your old vehicle for a new one, and exactly how to dispose of your old car and register the new one under the scheme.

Depending on your situation, you may be able to receive your eligible amount off your new vehicle at the point of sale - with the seller later reimbursed by the State - or you may have to apply directly to the government, and obtain your new vehicle afterwards.

Stay informed:
Sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter
Subscribe to access all our online articles and receive our printed monthly newspaper The Connexion at your home. News analysis, features and practical help for English-speakers in France

Resident or second-home owner in France?
Benefit from our daily digest of headlines and how-to's to help you make the most of life in France
By joining the newsletter, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
See more popular articles
The Connexion Help Guides
featured helpguide
Income Tax in France 2023 (for 2022 income)*
Featured Help Guide
- Primarily aimed at Britons, covers pensions, rent, ISAs, shares, savings and interest - but also contains significant general information pertinent to readers of other nationalities - Overview of online declarations + step-by-step guide to the French printed forms - Includes updates given automatically after this year's site opened
Get news, views and information from France