France unveils aid for second-hand electric car purchases and leasing
Some workers can benefit from up to €2,360 in aid
Households looking to lease or purchase a second-hand electric car in France will be able to benefit from new financial aid, the government has announced.
The purchase of second-hand electric cars first registered between 2017 and 2023 will be eligible for part funding through the certificats d'économies d'énergie (Energy Savings Certificate, CEE) scheme.
Aid can be up to €2,360, subject to vehicle model and purchase conditions.
The scheme will come into effect on September 1, 2026, and last for four years. Aid limits subject to change.
Separate support for taxi drivers, up to €5,500, has also been announced if they order new electric vehicles produced in Europe and which use European batteries.
The initiative comes after the government unveiled its third round of ‘social leasing’ for electric vehicles.
Aid applied via dealership
Households must meet several criteria to benefit from the scheme.
The vehicle purchased or leased must:
Be purchased from an authorised dealership or professional
Be first registered between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2023
Have its original battery, which remains in good condition and provides at least 80% of the original driving range as when first put on the market (or 200km minimum)
Be kept for at least three years
The scheme is funded through CEE or energy certificates, circulated by major fuel and energy suppliers, legally obliged to fund energy-saving actions to meet ecological targets set by the government.
The certificates can also be used to fund several other ecological projects such as property renovations, solar panel or air pump installation, etc, as well as the social leasing scheme.
GFor vehicles, the dealership will be in charge of obtaining the CEE for the purchase, buyers do not need to do this themselves.
Unlike other CEE-based funding schemes, household income levels do not impact the maximum amount the certificates can cover - aid is based on the vehicle itself.
Households will benefit from around €337 under current rules, but this could increase over time.
Note that rules in the decree relate to vehicle type and power (not income) and that the value of a CEE is not fixed in law and can fluctuate.
There are however multiplier coefficients increasing the aid available for certain workers, including home-care staff and personal service workers (service à la personne). This could see the funding reach between €2,000 and €2,360.
For this maximum benefit, vehicles have to cost €25,000 or less.
The government decree sets out current rules, but these are subject to change.
