CEE Boost: Your Car Blocked for 16 Years in France!
This page is translated from the original post "Coup de pouce CEE : Votre voiture bloquée 16 ans en France !" in French.
- 01/08/2025 15:31
Incentives for purchasing electric vehicles, such as the CEE Bonus, are increasing, but they hide much more stringent conditions than it appears.
This is the case with the CEE Boost (Energy Savings Certificates), a private aid scheme regulated by the state, which imposes a surprising rule: the vehicle cannot be resold abroad for… 16 years.
Why such a duration? This figure simply corresponds to the maximum administrative validity period of a French registration certificate. In plain terms, if you buy a car with this aid, you commit to keeping it registered in France for its entire administrative life. It is therefore impossible to export it, even if you move or have legally found a good client abroad.
A boost, not a good deal
This constraint aims to prevent abuses. Without it, some buyers could take advantage of the aid to purchase a cheap vehicle, then quickly resell it abroad for a significant profit. The scheme already imposes a first barrier: it is forbidden to resell the vehicle within the year following its purchase or before having driven 6,000 km. But this was not enough to prevent resales abroad as soon as this period was over.
By restricting registration to France for 16 years, the authorities ensure that funded vehicles genuinely contribute to the energy transition… on French soil. The objective is clear: to make the national vehicle fleet greener, not to fuel those of neighboring countries.
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Those who violate this rule face penalties, including the repayment of the aid received. In practice, this clause is often unknown to buyers, as it is rarely highlighted by sellers or leasing platforms.
Before signing for a “discounted” car thanks to the CEE boost, it’s better to read the fine print carefully. Because if you were thinking of reselling it in a few years to finance the next one… it will only be to a buyer residing in France.
ALSO READ: Tesla Model Y: the State’s CEE Bonus amounts to €3,180
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