This guide is based on official data from the Ministry of Ecological Transition, the ASP (Agency for Services and Payments) and the public service to present the conversion bonus scheme in force in 2026.
Principle of the conversion bonus
The conversion bonus is financial assistance paid when purchasing or long-term leasing a low-pollution vehicle, in exchange for scrapping an old polluting vehicle. This scheme aims to accelerate the renewal of the French automobile fleet, whose average age reaches 11.2 years according to the CCFA (Committee of French Automobile Manufacturers).
Since 2018, more than 1.2 million conversion bonuses have been paid (source: ASP), helping to remove the most polluting vehicles from circulation.
Eligibility conditions
The vehicle to be scrapped
The vehicle to be scrapped must meet all of the following conditions:
- Petrol vehicle: registered before January 1, 2006 (Crit'Air label 3, 4, 5 or unclassified)
- Diesel vehicle: registered before January 1, 2011 (Crit'Air label 3, 4, 5 or unclassified)
- Belong to the applicant for at least 12 months
- Be registered in France
- Not be pledged or subject to an opposition to registration transfer
- Be handed over to an approved ELV (End of Life Vehicle) center for destruction
The vehicle acquired
The new vehicle (new or used) must meet these criteria:
- Electric or plug-in hybrid car: emissions ≤ 50 g CO₂/km, price ≤ €47,000 incl. tax
- Crit'Air 1 car: petrol registered after January 1, 2011, price ≤ €25,000 incl. tax (only for modest-income households)
- Electric assisted bicycle: the conversion bonus is also accessible for purchasing an e-bike (up to €1,500 for modest-income households, €300 for others)
The applicant
- Be a major natural person domiciled in France
- Tax reference income per share must not exceed €24,900 (for maximum amount) — beyond this, the bonus is reduced but remains accessible
- Not have benefited from a conversion bonus in the last 3 years
Amounts in 2026
For the purchase of an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle
| Income category (TRI/share) | Bonus amount |
|---|---|
| ≤ €7,100 (very modest) | €6,000 |
| €7,100 to €15,400 | €4,000 |
| €15,400 to €24,900 | €2,500 |
| > €24,900 | €1,500 |
Low Emission Zone increase
An increase of €1,000 is granted to people residing or working in a Low Emission Zone (ZFE-m). In 2026, 43 French agglomerations with more than 150,000 inhabitants are classified as ZFE (source: Ministry of Ecological Transition). This increase can be combined with local aid specific to ZFEs.
For the purchase of a Crit'Air 1 vehicle (recent petrol)
Reserved for households whose TRI/share is ≤ €7,100 or whose home-to-work distance exceeds 30 km:
- €1,500 for high mileage drivers (> 12,000 km/year) or distant commuters
- €1,000 for other eligible households
Combination with the ecological bonus
The main advantage of the conversion bonus is its combination with the ecological bonus. For a very modest household buying an eligible new electric car:
| Aid | Amount |
|---|---|
| Ecological bonus | €7,000 |
| Conversion bonus | €6,000 |
| ZFE increase | €1,000 |
| Total national aid | €14,000 |
By adding regional aid (up to €6,000 in Île-de-France), the total can reach €20,000 in aid, reducing an entry-level electric car (e.g. Citroën ë-C3 at €23,300) to a remaining cost of less than €5,000.
Practical steps
1. Identify eligible vehicles
Consult the list of eligible vehicles on the primealaconversion.gouv.fr website. The official simulator allows you to verify the eligibility of the vehicle being scrapped and the vehicle being acquired.
2. Acquire the new vehicle
The purchase (or signing of the rental contract) must take place before scrapping the old vehicle. The dealer can advance the bonus amount and deduct it from the sale price.
3. Scrap the old vehicle
The old vehicle must be handed over to an approved ELV center within 3 months before or 6 months after invoicing of the new vehicle. The ELV center issues a destruction certificate, a mandatory document of the file.
4. Submit the application
If the dealer has not advanced the bonus, the application must be made online on primealaconversion.gouv.fr within 6 months of invoicing. Required documents:
- Registration document of the scrapped vehicle
- ELV destruction certificate
- Invoice or rental contract for the new vehicle
- Registration document of the new vehicle
- Latest tax assessment notice
- Bank details
Payment period: 4 to 8 weeks (source: ASP).
To calculate the total amount of automotive aid accessible depending on personal circumstances and the type of vehicle being considered, BoostPro IA's automotive aid simulation tool provides an accurate estimate in a few minutes.