What support is there for buying an electric car in 2019? This article summarises the grants to which you are entitled in 2019.
In 2018, 31,059 electric vehicle registrations (EVs) were registered in France, an increase of 25% compared with 2017. Electric vehicles accounted for 2.7% of sales in December 2018. A new record. Carmakers have invested huge sums in EV technology, betting that EVs will be the future of mobility. Teslathe world's leading EV manufacturer, has just announced the forthcoming launch of a Tesla Model 3 to 35,000$ in order to appeal to a less premium audience and further extend its offering.
Electric cars are enjoying a great deal of media exposure and are very popular with the French, as well as with elected representatives and political decision-makers. The government has introduced financial assistance for the purchase of an electric car in 2019.
In this article, we explain what these grants are and under what conditions you may be eligible.
⚠️ To find out more ⚠️
Help with buying an electric car: the Beev dossier
1- I don't have a car and would like to buy a second-hand electric car
Despite the best efforts of our democrats and politicians, you don't benefit from any government aid in this case...but...the planet thanks you. 🌍
2- I don't have a car and would like to buy a new electric car
If you don't have a car, you can take advantage of the eco-bonus scheme, which allows you to save 27 % of the purchase price of the vehicle, including VAT. This aid is capped at €6,000 including tax. You can benefit from the eco-bonus regardless of your tax status: taxable or non-taxable.
⚠️ Please note that the ecological bonus only applies to new 100% electric vehicles whose model has maximum CO2 emissions of 20 g/km (above it's a hybrid vehicle)
What documents are required to qualify?
✅ Proof of the applicant's identity
✅ Proof that the applicant is domiciled in France
✅ The applicant's payment details
What are the conditions for accessing aid?
The vehicle must be purchased (or leased with a purchase option or for at least 2 years)brand new and registered in France in a definitive series.
⚠️ Please note that the car must not have more than 6,000 km on the clock and the applicant must undertake not to resell it within 6 months of purchase.
How is the ecological bonus paid?
The bonus can either be deducted directly by the seller/lessor, or refunded if you request it after the purchase.
⚠️ Be sure to check with your seller/landlord who is responsible for this process, as it is not always the case that they do it for you.
3 - I already have a car and want to switch to an electric car
In this case, you can combine the ecological bonus with the conversion premium. In order to speed up the replacement of old vehicles in France, the government has also introduced a scheme known as "prime à conversion". conversion premium.
The conversion premium is a helping hand for French individuals and businesses who want to get rid of their car and replace it with a less polluting model.
Please note! From 1 August 2019, the conversion premium will change and the terms and conditions for awarding it will no longer be the same. To find out more, see the article dedicated.
- I am taxable
- I'm buying a second-hand electric car: as part of the transition from a thermal vehicle to an electric vehicle usedYou'll receive a €1,000 bonus.
- I'm buying a new electric car: when switching from an internal combustion engine to an electric vehicle nineYou'll receive a €2,500 bonus.
- I'm not taxable and I'm buying a new vehicle
- I drive more than 12,000 km a year (or 60 km a day) in my personal vehicle in the course of my work: I will receive a bonus equivalent to 80% of the purchase price of the vehicle, up to a maximum of €5,000 including tax.
- My reference tax income per unit is less than or equal to €6,300 : I will receive a bonus equivalent to 80% of the purchase price of the vehicle, up to a maximum of €5,000 including tax.
- I do not meet either of the above conditions:I will receive a bonus of €2,500 including tax.
⚠️ Good to know: the reference tax income (RFR) must be divided by the number of reference tax units (PFR) in your household.
Example: I want to buy a new EV for €23,200. I work 32km from my place of work. I therefore travel 64km a day. I'm not taxed and I have a diesel car dating from February 2005.
My grants = Ecological Bonus + Conversion Grant
= 7000€ + 5000€
= 12 000€
The cost of the electric vehicle is therefore €11,200 (€23,200 - €12,000), which is less than the price of a new Renault Twingo. To this must be added the savings on fuel and maintenance costs.
In the end, your electric car is yours cheaper to buy and run than a petrol or diesel car.
What documents are required to qualify for the conversion premium?
To benefit from this aid, all you need to provide is :
✅ Registration certificate for the electric vehicle purchased or leased in your name
✅ Registration certificate for the old vehicle being scrapped (if you are declaring one)
✅ The applicant's payment details
What are the conditions for accessing the conversion premium?
The vehicle must be a passenger car (PC) or a light commercial vehicle (LCV) and have been registered for the first time:
- 2011 for diesel vehicles
- 2006 for petrol vehicles
You must have owned the vehicle for at least minus one year and be registered in France. The trade-in car must not :
- be pledged be pledged: to apply for your administrative status certificate, go to here.
- be considered as damaged (A vehicle is said to be damaged when the repair costs exceed the cost of the vehicle).
The vehicle must be insured when it is scrapped. It must be handed in for destruction within the 3 months preceding or the 6 months following invoicing of the new vehicle to an approved "end-of-life vehicle" (ELV) centre. You can find the full list of ELV centres at here.
How is the conversion premium paid?
The conversion premium can be deducted directly from the purchase price by the dealer, or reimbursed if the customer applies for it after buying their new car.
Let's summarise for the sake of clarity 🔍
If you don't have a car and you want to buy a new electric car, you can benefit from €6,000 in state aid.
If you already have a car (diesel or petrol) that you want to replace with a new electric vehicle:
- You can receive up to €11,000 in assistance if your household is non-taxable
- You will receive €7,500 if your household is taxable.
Useful links 🔗
👉To test your eligibility for the conversion premium, go to here.
👉To benefit from the ecological bonus and the conversion premium, go to here.
