France plans subsidies for used electric cars from September

Paris – 12/08/2026: France aims to support the transition to electric mobility in the used car market as well. Following the end of a public consultation on August 5, a new measure within the energy saving certificate system is set to take effect on September 1, 2026. The purchase and long-term leasing of used electric passenger cars are to be supported. Publication of the final decree remains a requirement.

For this purpose, the draft introduces the standardized measure TRA-EQ-133. It covers electric cars first registered between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2023. Subsidies will only be claimable once for each vehicle. The time limit and the restriction to one subsidy claim are intended to prevent energy saving certificates from being credited multiple times for the same car.

A further requirement concerns the traction battery, whose documented state of health must exceed 80 percent. This is intended to ensure that only vehicles with an energy storage unit that remains sufficiently capable are subsidized. Battery condition is a key factor for the range, service life and resale value of used electric cars. Verification is to be carried out according to the method laid down in the decree and attached to the subsidy application documents.

Purchases and long-term leases are generally to be subsidized. Increased support, initially limited until December 31, 2026, is planned for employees in home care and support services who rely on a car for their work. The project thus builds on assistance announced in spring for occupational groups with high mileage.

Additional conditions apply to this special subsidy: the vehicle purchase price, including taxes, must not exceed 25,000 euros, and its weight must be below 1,800 kilograms. Higher credit factors are planned depending on income. According to the Ministry of the Environment, the bonus could reach around 2,000 euros per vehicle. For long-term leases, monthly payments between 50 and 100 euros are cited as a target.

The model is to be financed through France’s energy saving certificates, known as CEE. Under this system, energy suppliers must meet energy-saving obligations and can finance recognized measures for that purpose. The specific amount of support will therefore not be determined by the standardized measure alone, but also by the offers made by participating providers.

The initiative complements the social electric-car leasing scheme, which makes new cars accessible to lower-income households and excludes used vehicles. Whether the new subsidy will actually begin on September 1 now depends on the final publication of the decree.