The conditions concerning the conversion bonus change in 2023, with more aid for the most modest and nothing for the most “well off”. On the other hand, the rules for obtaining are always subject to far too many conditions.
If the conditions concerning the ecological bonus reserved for electric cars have already been known for some time, although there have been some unpleasant surprises, this was not the case for the conversion bonus (or scrapping bonus).
We also thought that it would not change for 2023, but nayit changes a lot for the new year with the publication of decree n° 2022-1761 in the Official Journal on December 31, 2022.
If you didn’t understand much in 2022, so will you in 2023. The conditions are still many, however they are now more advantageous for the lowest incomes. Conversely, they are less so for the “richest”, in other words the middle class according to the thresholds revealed by the government.
The excluded middle classes
Indeed, this new decree removes the conversion premium for households in the last two income deciles. In other words, the reference tax income over a year must not exceed 22,983 eurosotherwise you will not be entitled to the bonus.
The conditions are also changing since, in the continuity of the ecological bonus, the bonus is reserved for vehicles whose acquisition cost is up to 47,000 euros against 60,000 euros previously. Another detail, but which will not concern any particular car in France, it must not exceed 2.4 tonnes in running order. The aid is capped at 80% of the acquisition price.
Where it gets complicated is with regard to the maximum aid, where it will be almost impossible to benefit from it. It’s necessary the reference tax income of the household either per unit less than or equal to 6,358 euros. And if it is higher, it must not exceed 14,089 euros, in addition to fulfilling a kilometric constraint, that is to say having a distance between his home and his place of work greater than 30 km or doing more 12,000 km per year as part of his professional activity with his personal vehicle.
Amounts that increase
If you meet these conditions, the scrapping bonus increases. For an electric or hydrogen car (rechargeable hybrids are no longer concerned), the premium increases to €6,000 against 5,000 euros in 2022. Crit’Air 1 thermals are also concerned, but with aid of 4,000 euros, against 3,000 euros in 2022.
To add further conditions, if you are under the 14,089 euros of reference tax income, but without meeting the mileage criterion, the aid for an electric or hydrogen vehicle is 2,500 euros and 1,500 euros for a Crit car ‘Air 1. For those who are between a tax income of 14,090 euros and 22,983 euros, the aid will be 2,500 euros for the purchase of an electric or hydrogen.
let’s remember that the conversion bonus can be combined with the ecological bonus. In addition, the amount of the premium is increased by 1,000 euros in Low Mobility Emission Zones (ZFE) and up to 3,000 euros if a local authority grants similar aid in a ZFE.
Regarding the vehicles to be scrapped, that does not change, these are always pre-2011 diesel cars or pre-2006 petrol cars. The vehicle must have belonged to the beneficiary of the bonus for at least one year. Note that you have six months from the date of invoicing of your new vehicle to file your application or from the payment of the first rent in the case of a rental.
Who can apply for the conversion bonus?
To benefit from the scrapping bonus, you must:
- to be of age
- be domiciled in France
- destroy an old vehicle
- buy or rent a vehicle from April 28, 2022. Please note: the rules are different the vehicle was purchased between April 1er January and April 27, 2022 inclusive
- that the household has a reference income per unit of less than 22,983 euros
To get a more precise idea of the amount of the bonus you could benefit from, you can use the simulator from the Ministry of Energy Transition. It will allow you to enter the data concerning your car, but also those of the reference tax income of your household.
The two-wheelers (including bicycles) concerned
It’s not just cars that are affected. The vehicle purchased or leased can also be a two-wheeler, three-wheeler or electric quadricycle. Electrically assisted bicycles are also concerned and the conditions can be consulted here. Here too, there are several criteria to be met:
- Do not have a lead battery;
- The maximum net engine power is at least equal to 2 or 3 kW;
- It must be purchased or leased under a contract for a period of two years or more;
- It must be registered in France;
- It must not be sold the year following its first registration or before having covered at least 2,000 km.
As expected, the ecological bonus is changing from January 1, 2023. However, there are some surprises with a weight limit for the electric car and a limit for using the bonus per natural person.
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