Which grants exist in France in 2025 to help buy an electric car?

There are around 100 grants and subsidies available to help buy an electric car in France - including the ‘ecological bonus’, which can save up to €4,000 on the price of a new vehicle.

However, a new study of more than 3,000 people in France found that many are still largely unaware of the schemes available.

It found:

• 63% of those surveyed said they were poorly informed about the subsidies available for buying an electric car in France

• 3% do not know whether they are eligible for any of these subsidies

• 61% answered ‘no’ to the question ‘Would you say that these subsidies would encourage you to buy a new electric car?’, even though many of the respondents would, in fact, be eligible for significant aid.

The study also found that just 16% of those surveyed consider themselves to be “electro-enthusiastic” (enthusiastic about switching to electric vehicles), while 25% were “electro-cautious”, and most were still sceptical.

In fact, more than a third (37%) said they believed that electric cars are “not economically or ecologically viable”, pointing to problems linked to rare metals needed for their manufacture and the high cost of the vehicles.

The poll concluded that the lack of clarity about the financial aid available to help buy an electric car could be a major reason behind their lack of enthusiasm about them.

Financial aid worth thousands available

There are around a hundred forms of financial aid and support to help people to buy an electric vehicle in France. This includes schemes from the state, regional authorities, and local aid.

The amount and type of aid can vary considerably by area, but there are some national subsidies still available. 

This is despite their gradual reduction, and the disappearance of the ‘conversion bonus’ this year (which used to offer up to €5,000 for those exchanging their vehicle for a newer model, and also applied to hybrids).

Read also: Will French aid to buy a zero emission car drop in 2025?
Read more: Are electric vehicle grants applicable for hybrid vehicles in France? 
Read also: Big drop in state aid for electric cars in France: what is still available? 

For example, the ‘ecological bonus’ (the bonus écologique), which was last changed on December 2, can still save households on the lowest incomes up to €4,000 on the purchase cost. 

Currently, the bonus scheme offers:

• Households on the lowest incomes (the first five brackets): €4,000

• Incomes between the 6th and 8th brackets: €3,000 

• Incomes in the highest two brackets (9th and 10th): €2,000.

This bonus is exclusively reserved for fully electric or hydrogen vehicles. 

You can find out if you are eligible for this national aid on the government website economie.gouv.fr, or speak directly to your local car dealer.

Read more: Are electric vehicle grants available for second-home owners in France?

Local or city schemes

In addition some cities and regions also offer local schemes.

For example:

• Some who live in one of the 131 communes of Greater Paris could qualify for aid of up to €5,000

• Those who live in Reims (Marne, Grand Est) could qualify for up to €6,000 

Some regional authorities are also offering funds to help residents install charging points or pay for vehicle registration. 

The full list of funds and grants in your region should be available from your local mairie.