In recent years, the diesel has more wind in its sails. To replace its old vehicle considered polluting by a clean vehicle, the State has developed several aids to buy a clean vehicle , updated on January 1, 2018. Here they are.
The ecological bonus-malus
The ecological bonus-malus has existed since 2008. It is a financial aid whose scale has changed over the years. For 2018, the State offers:
| State aid | Vehicle type | Maximum CO2 emission | |
| €6,000 | (within the limit of 27% of the acquisition cost) | 100% electric passenger car, van or specialized self-propelled vehicle | 20 grams per kilometer |
| 900 euros | 2- or 3-wheel motor vehicles and electric motor quadricycles the engine of which has a maximum net power greater than or equal to | 3 kWh and which do not use a lead-acid battery | — |
Since January 1, 2018, plug-in hybrid cars emitting between 21 and 60 grams of CO2/km are no longer eligible for the ecological bonus which previously amounted to 1,000 euros.
The conversion bonus
The conversion bonus does not only concern diesel vehicles. To be eligible for this measure, a diesel car must meet the following criteria:
- have been put into circulation before 2006 for non-taxable households or before 2001 for taxable households;
- represent a total point authorized in load not exceeding 3.5 tons.
- be registered in France.
For petrol vehicles, they must be registered before 1997 to be eligible for the conversion bonus.
The new vehicle must meet the following criteria:
| State aid | car type | Maximum CO2 emission | ||
| €2,500 | 100% new electric | 20 grams per kilometer | ||
| 1000 euros for a taxable household | 2000 euros for a non-taxable household | 100% second-hand electric | Thermal Crit’air 1 or 2, new or used | Less than 130 grams per kilometer |
