More drivers to pay higher pollution taxes on new car registrations in France

People buying new thermal cars will have to pay higher taxes that scale with the vehicle’s CO² emissions from March under part of the 2025 budget passed by Prime Minister François Bayrou and pending review by France’s Constitutional Court on February 13.

The penalty on CO² emissions, known as the ‘vehicle malus’, comprises two taxes paid at the time of vehicle purchase, relating to its CO² emissions and weight.

At present, the malus starts at €50 for emissions of 118g of CO² per km, rising by €25 per gram up to €150 for 122g of CO² per km.

Above 142g of CO² per km, the tax increases by over €100 per gram. 

Its maximum amount is €60,000 for vehicles producing more than 194g of CO² per km.

In terms of weight, the malus applies to vehicles over 1.6tonnes, scaling at €10 per kg over this, and rising to €15 from 1,800kg to 1,899 and by as much as €30 from 2,100kg. 

The calculation of the vehicle malus tax is based on the vehicle’s standard weight and fuel type, as specified by the manufacturer. The current rules can be found here.

Stricter rules from March

Under the new law passed as part of France’s 2025 Budget on Thursday, February 6, (and pending review by France’s constitutional court on February 13) the malus is to rise from March 1, 2025, followed by the weight-based penalty from 2026.

Read more: French budget is forced through parliament: how could it impact your finances

From March 1 to December 31, 2025, the threshold for triggering the €50 penalty will be lowered to 113g of CO² per km.

This will fall to 108g of CO² per km in 2026 and again to 103g of CO² per km in 2027.

The maximum penalty will rise to €70,000 for vehicles producing more than 193g of CO² per km in March 2025, then to €80,000 in 2026, and to €90,000 in 2027.

Similarly, the weight malus will apply to vehicles weighing 1.5 tonnes or more from January 2026. 

This tax will scale by €10 per additional kg between 1,500 and 1,699 kg, then increase by €5 per kg for every additional 100kg, up to €30 per kg for vehicles weighing 2 tonnes or more.

A full breakdown of the vehicle malus rises in 2025 can be found below.

What this means for drivers

Where around 55% of new cars are currently subject to the vehicle malus, this will rise to 66% in March 2025, 72% in 2026 and 77% in 2027.

While smaller vehicles still escape it, the malus will affect many popular models, including:

• Renault Clio (SCe 65) from €100 in 2024 to €210 in March 2025

• Renault Clio (TCe 90) from €50 in 2024 to €170 in March 2025

• Peugeot 2008 from €380 in 2024 to €653 in March 2025

• Peugeot 208 (petrol) from €50 in 2024 to €170 in March 2025

• Renault Captur from €167 in 2024 to €330 in March 2025,

‘A regrettable decision’

The decision to increase the malus, which was rejected by parliament in October 2024 as part of the failed budget of former prime minister Michel Barnier, was described as “regrettable” by the managing director of car manufacturing industry body Mobilians.

“The industry is at risk of stagnation,” said Xavier Horent in a press release.”The strategic dialogue opened at European level is adding uncertainty to an overall equation that is already very difficult for us to balance.”