33,000 cargo bikes were sold in France in 2022! This type of bicycle is becoming more and more popular with the French because they can replace, in certain cases, a car. A cargo bike is a bike that allows you to transport goods, animals or children, for example. It has two or three wheels and benefits from a transport bin which can be at the front or at the rear. In cities, it is an ideal means of transport. However, its purchase represents a significant cost for a household; fortunately, there is assistance.
What national aid is available for purchasing a cargo bike?
The cargo bike can be electrically assisted or traditional. The bicycle bonus, implemented by the State, is extended until 2027 and now concerns the purchase of a new or used vehicle. The amount of aid mainly depends on the reference tax income and the aid is capped at 40% of the purchase cost.
For the purchase of a traditional cargo bike (without electrical assistance), aid of maximum €2,000 for an individual with a reference tax income per share less than or equal to €7,100. The aid is a maximum of €1,000 for an individual with a reference tax income per share less than or equal to €15,400 or for a legal entity. For the purchase of an electrically assisted cargo bike, the amount of aid is the same as for a traditional cargo bike.
If your reference tax income per unit is less than or equal to €24,900 or you are a legal entity, then you can benefit from the conversion bonus. For this, it will be necessary to “get rid of an old or polluting vehicle (car or van) to buy a bike“, explains the French administration website. For cargo bikes, this only concerns those with electrical assistance. The amount of aid is a maximum of €1,500. Finally, if you live in a low-emission zone (ZFE ), “you can benefit from additional aid of €1,000“.
Is there any local assistance for purchasing a cargo bike?
In addition to national aid, you can certainly benefit from local aid. There is no harmonization in terms of aid amounts or resource conditions, so it really depends on each case. Aid for the purchase of cargo bikes can be regional, departmental and even municipal. If you are planning to purchase this type of equipment, then do your research carefully.