France is introducing subsidies for used electric vehicles.

In France, the purchase and leasing of used electric vehicles will be financially subsidized starting in September. However, the subsidy is not very substantial: currently, through the so-called CEE system, only about 337 euros per vehicle is available. Healthcare workers, on the other hand, can expect significantly more support when buying a used electric vehicle.

The measure is funded through the Certificate of Energy Savings (CEE) system and complements existing incentives for electric mobility such as the environmental bonus (“bonus écologique”) or social leasing of new electric vehicles. Under the CEE system, funds do not come from the state budget; instead, energy and fuel suppliers like EDF, Engie, or TotalEnergies are required to pay based on the polluter pays principle.

However, the planned incentive amount of only 337 euros per vehicle has already drawn criticism: Romain Ryon, president of Mobilee, a company specializing in CEE certificates for the transportation sector, described the amount as “quite low.”

To qualify for the new used electric vehicle subsidy, specific criteria must be met. The vehicle’s first registration must have taken place in France between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2023. Additionally, the battery’s health status is crucial: it must be at least 80 percent healthy. Alternatively, the remaining range must be at least 80 percent of the original type approval or at least 200 kilometers. The electric used vehicle must also have been used by the applicant for at least three years.

It is also important to note that subsidies for the sale of electric used cars from private individuals to other private individuals are not available. Instead, the vehicle must be purchased or leased from an auto dealership or a professional used car dealer. Eligible for subsidies are both private individuals (with no income limit) as well as companies and organizations.

The commercial use of electric used cars is indeed a focus of the program, specifically for one particular industry: The regulation provides multiplier coefficients for healthcare workers and other service providers in the fields of home care and personal services by the end of the year. These individuals can receive a CEE subsidy of up to 2,360 euros when purchasing an electric used car priced under 25,000 euros.

Meanwhile, the French government has also launched a new subsidy program for electric taxis, targeting new vehicles. Buyers and lessees of such cars can receive a subsidy of around 3,500 euros when placing orders between September 1 and December 31, 2026. This amount can rise to about 5,500 euros if the vehicle and battery are manufactured in Europe.