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The main changes to the environmental penalty in 2024
The introduction of a 118g CO2/km threshold represents a crucial step in environmental policy for new vehicles in France. This threshold means that vehicles emitting above this limit will be subject to an ecological malus, an additional tax at the time of purchase.
With the recent reduction in this threshold, from 123 to 118 g/km in 2024, a greater number of vehicles are now concerned, marking a significant shift in incentives towards more environmentally-friendly automotive choices.
Trigger threshold set at 118 g CO2/km
A trigger threshold set at 118 g CO2/km means that new vehicles whose CO2 emissions exceed 118 g/km are subject to an ecological penalty. This penalty is a tax added to the purchase price of the vehicle.
The threshold for triggering the ecological penalty has been from 123 to 118 g/km in 2024. This means that more vehicles are now subject to the malus, including some that were previously exempt.
For example, a car emitting 125g of CO2/km was previously exempt from the penalty. In 2024, this same car will be subject to a 50-euro penalty.
The aim of lowering the threshold is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the French car fleet. By making the most polluting vehicles more expensive, the government hopes to encourage potential buyers to opt for more fuel-efficient vehicles.
The maximum ecological penalty is now €60,000
The maximum malus ceiling is now 60,000 euroseffective from 194 g/km (WLTP) up from 50,000 euros in 2023. Malus amounts, which are proportional to CO2 emissions, have risen significantly, sometimes doubling or even tripling.
Contrary to expectations, diesel vehicles, which initially seemed to be targeted by this new scale, are in the end spared severe penalties because they consume less fuel than petrol vehicles.
The ecological penalty is paid when the vehicle is registered. When issuing the vehicle registration document, you need to take into account the engine power and the tax on fiscal horsepower. It is advisable to check whether any reductions or exemptions from the malus are applicable to your case during this administrative procedure.
Weight penalty: more severe in 2024
Malus écologique 2024: the official scale
| Emissions (g/km of CO2) | Malus 2023 (in €) | Malus 2024 (in €) |
|---|---|---|
| 118 | 0 | 50 |
| 119 | 0 | 75 |
| 120 | 0 | 100 |
| 121 | 0 | 125 |
| 122 | 0 | 150 |
| 123 | 50 | 170 |
| 124 | 75 | 190 |
| 125 | 100 | 210 |
| 126 | 125 | 230 |
| 127 | 150 | 240 |
| 128 | 170 | 260 |
| 129 | 190 | 280 |
| 130 | 210 | 310 |
| 131 | 230 | 330 |
| 132 | 240 | 360 |
| 133 | 260 | 400 |
| 134 | 280 | 450 |
| 135 | 310 | 540 |
| 136 | 330 | 650 |
| 137 | 360 | 740 |
| 138 | 400 | 818 |
| 139 | 450 | 898 |
| 140 | 540 | 983 |
| 141 | 650 | 1 074 |
| 142 | 740 | 1 172 |
| 143 | 818 | 1 276 |
| 144 | 898 | 1 386 |
| 145 | 983 | 1 504 |
| 146 | 1 074 | 1 629 |
| 147 | 1 172 | 1 761 |
| 148 | 1 276 | 1 901 |
| 149 | 1 386 | 2 049 |
| 150 | 1 504 | 2 049 |
| 151 | 1 629 | 2 370 |
| 152 | 1 761 | 2 544 |
| 153 | 1 901 | 2 726 |
| 154 | 2 049 | 2 918 |
| 155 | 2 049 | 3 119 |
| 156 | 2 370 | 3 331 |
| 157 | 2 544 | 3 552 |
| 158 | 2 726 | 3 784 |
| 159 | 2 918 | 4 026 |
| 160 | 3 119 | 4 279 |
| 161 | 3 331 | 4 543 |
| 162 | 3 552 | 4 818 |
| 163 | 3 784 | 5 105 |
| 164 | 4 026 | 5 404 |
| 165 | 4 279 | 5 715 |
| 166 | 4 543 | 6 126 |
| 167 | 4 818 | 6 537 |
| 168 | 5 105 | 7 248 |
| 169 | 5 404 | 7 959 |
| 170 | 5 715 | 8 770 |
| 171 | 6 039 | 9 681 |
| 172 | 6 375 | 10 692 |
| 173 | 6 724 | 11 803 |
| 174 | 7 086 | 13 014 |
| 175 | 7 462 | 14 325 |
| 176 | 7 851 | 15 736 |
| 177 | 8 254 | 17 247 |
| 178 | 8 671 | 18 858 |
| 179 | 9 103 | 20 569 |
| 180 | 9 550 | 22 380 |
| 181 | 10 011 | 24 291 |
| 182 | 10 488 | 26 302 |
| 183 | 10 980 | 28 413 |
| 184 | 11 488 | 30 624 |
| 185 | 12 012 | 32 935 |
| 186 | 12 552 | 35 346 |
| 187 | 13 109 | 37 857 |
| 188 | 13 682 | 40 468 |
| 189 | 14 273 | 43 179 |
| 190 | 14 881 | 45 990 |
| 191 | 15 506 | 48 901 |
| 192 | 16 149 | 51 912 |
| 193 | 16 810 | 55 023 |
| 194 | 17 490 | 60 000 |
| 195 | 18 188 | 60 000 |
| 196 | 18 905 | 60 000 |
| 197 | 19 641 | 60 000 |
| 198 | 20 396 | 60 000 |
| 199 | 21 171 | 60 000 |
| 200 | 21 966 | 60 000 |
| 201 | 22 781 | 60 000 |
| 202 | 23 616 | 60 000 |
| 203 | 24 472 | 60 000 |
| 204 | 25 349 | 60 000 |
| 205 | 26 247 | 60 000 |
| 206 | 27 166 | 60 000 |
| 207 | 28 107 | 60 000 |
| 208 | 29 070 | 60 000 |
| 209 | 30 056 | 60 000 |
| 210 | 31 063 | 60 000 |
| 211 | 32 094 | 60 000 |
| 212 | 33 147 | 60 000 |
| 213 | 34 224 | 60 000 |
| 214 | 35 324 | 60 000 |
| 215 | 36 447 | 60 000 |
| 216 | 37 595 | 60 000 |
| 217 | 38 767 | 60 000 |
| 218 | 39 964 | 60 000 |
| 219 | 41 185 | 60 000 |
| 220 | 42 431 | 60 000 |
| 221 | 43 703 | 60 000 |
| 222 | 45 000 | 60 000 |
| 223 | 46 323 | 60 000 |
| 224 | 47 672 | 60 000 |
| 225 | 49 047 | 60 000 |
| > 226 | 50 000 | 60 000 |
Vehicle weight: new limit for the malus
Since January 1, 2022, a weight-based malus has been applied to new vehicles, whether gasoline or diesel, weighing more than 1,800 kg. In 2024, the threshold for application of this tax will be lowered to 1,600 kg. The aim of this measure is to encourage manufacturers to produce lighter vehicles, thereby reducing CO2 emissions and atmospheric pollutants.
The weight-based penalty scale will also be modified in 2024. From now on, it will be graduated according to excess kilos. To calculate the cost of this tax, add 10 euros per kilo for vehicles weighing between 1,600 kg and 1,799 kg, 15 euros per kilo for vehicles weighing between 1,800 kg and 1,899 kg, and 20 euros per kilo for vehicles weighing over 1,900 kg.
In practice, this measure will apply to a larger number of vehicles in 2024. In 2022, only 2.5% of new vehicles sold in France weighed more than 1,800 kg. By 2024, however, this proportion is set to rise to 10%.
This measure has been criticized by some automotive professionals, who believe it will penalize family cars and commercial vehicles. They argue that these vehicles are often heavier because of their size or function.
Nevertheless, the government is defending the measure as necessary to reduce CO2 and air pollutant emissions.
2024 weight penalty scale
| Fraction of operating weight (kg) | Marginal rate (€) |
|---|---|
|
Up to $1,599 |
0 |
|
From 1,600 to 1,799 |
10 |
|
From 1,800 to 1,899 |
15 |
|
From 1,900 to 1,999 |
20 |
|
From 2,000 to 2,100 |
25 |
|
From 2,100 |
30 |
Large families: reduced environmental penalty
In France, the "malus écologique" is an annual tax applied to new or used vehicles whose CO2 emissions exceed a certain threshold. The amount of the tax is calculated on the basis of the vehicle's CO2 emissions, its power rating and its purchase price.
Large families, i.e. families with at least 3 or more dependent childrencan benefit from a reduction in the ecological penalty. This reduction is 20 g/km per child, or 1 fiscal horsepower (hp) per child.
To benefit from this discount, families must meet the following conditions:
- Have at least 3 dependent children for the purposes of family benefits.
- Purchase, lease with purchase option (LOA) or lease without purchase option (LLD) a new or used vehicle with at least 5 seats.
- Vehicle registered for the first time in France.
The reduction is applied to the amount of the ecological penalty. For example, if a vehicle's CO2 emissions are 140 g/km, the penalty is 500 euros. If the family has 3 children, the reduction will be 60 g/km, i.e. a reduction of 300 euros (60 g/km x 50 euros/gkm).
The reduction in the ecological penalty for large families is a measure designed to support families with many children. It reduces the cost of buying a new or used vehicle for these families, who often need larger vehicles to transport their children.
Conclusion
In summary, the recent changes to the ecological malus in 2024 encourage the transition to less CO2-emitting vehicles by lowering the trigger threshold to 118 g/km and raising the maximum ceiling to €60,000.
The new weight-based penalty, with a threshold lowered to 1,600 kg, is designed to encourage the production of lighter vehicles.
For more information, we've put together a guide to this topic to explore the different aspects in depth:
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