Buying a new car in France: the end of the ecological bonus, aid via energy-savings certificates, the 2026 CO₂ and weight malus, and the carte grise. General information, not legal advice.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. It covers the aid and taxes for a new car — bonus, malus and carte grise — not the choice of model. The rules and scales change almost every year: always check your case on service-public.fr and on France Titres before signing.
Map Syndicat no longer publishes live car listings: this guide only explains the process and the costs.
Is there still a government bonus for buying a new electric car in France?
No: the direct aid known as the ecological bonus for new private cars was discontinued for cars ordered from 1 July 2025. Aid now comes via the energy-savings certificates (CEE).
The ecological bonus was discontinued for cars ordered from 1 July 2025 (Decree No. 2025-606 of 30 June 2025). Aid continues via the energy-savings certificates (CEE) scheme, fiche TRA-EQ-117.
Transitional rule: the old rules still apply to a new vehicle ordered, or a lease signed, by 30 June 2025 inclusive, provided the invoicing or the first rent payment occurs by 30 September 2025 inclusive.
No single CEE aid amount for 2026 is published here: amounts have changed over time. Check the amount that applies to your case on service-public.fr before signing.
What is the €47,000 figure I see for electric-car aid?
This is not a bonus: €47,000 is a price cap in the CEE rules — the car must cost no more than €47,000 incl. tax and weigh less than 2,400 kg to qualify for the bonification.
The €47,000 figure appears in the energy-savings certificates (CEE) rules as a purchase price cap (≤ €47,000 incl. tax, mass under 2,400 kg) for the CEE bonification. This is not a sum paid to the buyer.
The figure of €5,700, often cited online as a bonus, was found in no official source: do not treat it as guaranteed aid.
No single CEE aid amount for 2026 is published here. Check the system in force on service-public.fr.
How much malus (eco-penalty) will I pay on a new petrol/diesel car?
2026 CO₂ scale: €0 below 108 g/km, €50 at 108 g/km, €79,911 at 191 g/km, €80,000 above; a weight malus applies from 1,500 kg. The two malus amounts combined are capped at €80,000.
CO₂ and weight combined are capped at €80,000 in 2026: the weight malus is not charged if the CO₂ malus already reaches €80,000. The scale applies to first registration (WLTP measurement). Calculate your exact amount with the official simulator on service-public.fr.
- ✓Less than 108 g/km of CO₂: €0. At 108 g/km: €50. At 113 g/km: €170. At 191 g/km: €79,911. Above 191 g/km: €80,000.
- ✓Weight malus: €0 up to 1,499 kg, then €10 per kg from 1,500 to 1,699 kg, rising to €30 per kg from 2,000 kg.
Are electric cars exempt from the malus?
Yes: a 100% electric (or hydrogen) car pays neither the CO₂ malus nor the weight malus.
The CO₂ malus is €0 below 108 g/km, and an electric car emits no CO₂ from the exhaust. Electric and hydrogen vehicles are also exempt from the weight malus.
Reductions exist for hybrids: 100 kg for non-rechargeable hybrids, 200 kg (capped at 15%) for rechargeable hybrids. Check your case on service-public.fr.
How much is the carte grise for a new car?
The same formula as for a used car: (fiscal horsepower × regional rate) + €11 + €2.76, i.e. €13.76 in fixed fees everywhere in France; the malus may apply on top.
There is no single price: the amount depends on your region and the vehicle's fiscal horsepower. The regional rate is voted each year by each regional council and so varies by region. A malus (CO₂ or weight) may apply depending on the vehicle.
Calculate your exact amount with the official simulator on service-public.fr before paying. Do not trust a single price seen elsewhere.
Where to check official rules before buying a new car?
Service-public.fr for the bonus, the CEE and the malus (fiches F35947 and F35950), France Titres for registration, Légifrance for the legal texts.
Service-public.fr: ecological bonus and CEE, CO₂ malus (fiche F35947) and weight malus (fiche F35950), carte grise cost simulator. France Titres (immatriculation.ants.gouv.fr): online registration processes. Légifrance: Decree No. 2025-606 of 30 June 2025 (ecological bonus) and the Code des impositions sur les biens et services, article L421-62 (2026 CO₂ malus scale).
If a point in this guide does not match your situation, talk to a professional before you sign.