Explained: The financial aid to buy a bike in France
The French government has announced it will continue offering grants to help with the cost of buying bicycles until at least 2027, and the financial assistance will be extended to used bikes as well. Here's how to qualify.
The French government has extended the grant (bonus vélo) available to those looking to purchase bicycles to 2027, in an effort to encourage non-polluting transport options.
Previously, the aid was only available to those buying new bikes, but in 2024 authorities opened it up to second-hand bicycles under certain conditions. To qualify government assistance for the purchase of a used bicycle, it must be sold from a 'professional seller' not from an individual.
Standard bikes, electric bikes, cargo bikes and those adapted for people with a disability are all covered by the scheme.
The financial aid is open to non-French nationals but you must be resident in France and have a tax number in order to access the grants.
The French government also offers means-tested grants to those purchasing or renting electric cars - here's our guide to see if you qualify.
READ MORE: The 18 cycling offences in France that could see you fined
Who can benefit from the bonus vélo?
The grant is means tested and intended to help low-income households purchase bicycles.
Depending on your financial situation and the bicycle you want to purchase, you may be eligible for assistance varying between €150 and €2,000.
If have a disability or if you have reference income of under €7,100 (you can find this value on the first page of your French tax declaration, which can be found online in your personal space at the impots.gouv.fr website) then you qualify for the highest rates of assistance.
These are (at a maximum of 40 percent of the cost of the bike);
- €150 for a classic bike
- €400 for an electric bike (vélo à assistance électrique)
- €2,000 for an adapted electric bike (including foldable bicycles, those with cargo apparatuses, and those adapted for certain disabilities)
- €2,000 for an adapted traditional bike (including foldable bicycles, those with cargo apparatuses, and those adapted for certain disabilities)
- €2,000 for an electric bicycle trailer (remorque électrique)
For households with reference incomes (per person) between €7,100 and €15,400 in 2024, you do not qualify for assistance when purchasing a classic bicycle, but you can benefit from:
- Up to €300 for an electric bicycle (vélo à assistance électrique)
- Up to €1,000 for an adapted electric bicycle (including foldable bicycles, those with cargo apparatuses, and those adapted for certain disabilities)
- Up to €1,000 for an adapted traditional bicycle (including foldable bicycles, those with cargo apparatuses, and those adapted for certain disabilities)
- Up to €1,000 for an electric bicycle trailer
Companies, NGOs, and associations can also qualify for the grant, though only for up to €1,000, to help in the purchase of adapted (both classic and electric) bicycles and trailers.
Getting rid of your car?
Both individuals and companies/ associations can get rid of old and/or polluting vehicles for a 'conversion bonus' to help purchase a new or used bike.
For individuals this is also means tested - your reference tax income (per person) must be equal to or below €24,900 (as of 2024).
The 'conversion bonus' is typically capped to a maximum of €1,500 per new or used bicycle. Only one bike per person is allowed.
However, if your reference tax income per person is less than or equal to €7,100 or you are disabled, then you can qualify for up to €3,000 in assistance per bicycle.
Similarly, if you live in a low-emission zone (ZFE) then you may qualify for an extra €1,000 in aid, and up to €3,000 if you benefit from a local subsidy.
The eligible bicycles include:
- electric bicycles (vélo à assistance électrique)
- electric assisted bicycles with cargo apparatuses cargo bikes, provided that they are electrically assisted;
- electric assisted 'longtail' bicycles (eg. those with extensions in the back that allow for children's seats)
- electric disability adapted bicycles
- Folding electric bicycles
How to request the grant
You must request the grant within six months of acquiring the bicycle, and this must be done online at the website primealaconversion.gouv.fr under the démarches tab.
You can log on using FranceConnect or your log-in information for the French tax site (impots.gouv.fr).
Keep in mind that you will need your tax number to finalise the application.
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The French government has extended the grant (bonus vélo) available to those looking to purchase bicycles to 2027, in an effort to encourage non-polluting transport options.
Previously, the aid was only available to those buying new bikes, but in 2024 authorities opened it up to second-hand bicycles under certain conditions. To qualify government assistance for the purchase of a used bicycle, it must be sold from a 'professional seller' not from an individual.
Standard bikes, electric bikes, cargo bikes and those adapted for people with a disability are all covered by the scheme.
The financial aid is open to non-French nationals but you must be resident in France and have a tax number in order to access the grants.
The French government also offers means-tested grants to those purchasing or renting electric cars - here's our guide to see if you qualify.
READ MORE: The 18 cycling offences in France that could see you fined
Who can benefit from the bonus vélo?
The grant is means tested and intended to help low-income households purchase bicycles.
Depending on your financial situation and the bicycle you want to purchase, you may be eligible for assistance varying between €150 and €2,000.
If have a disability or if you have reference income of under €7,100 (you can find this value on the first page of your French tax declaration, which can be found online in your personal space at the impots.gouv.fr website) then you qualify for the highest rates of assistance.
These are (at a maximum of 40 percent of the cost of the bike);
- €150 for a classic bike
- €400 for an electric bike (vélo à assistance électrique)
- €2,000 for an adapted electric bike (including foldable bicycles, those with cargo apparatuses, and those adapted for certain disabilities)
- €2,000 for an adapted traditional bike (including foldable bicycles, those with cargo apparatuses, and those adapted for certain disabilities)
- €2,000 for an electric bicycle trailer (remorque électrique)
For households with reference incomes (per person) between €7,100 and €15,400 in 2024, you do not qualify for assistance when purchasing a classic bicycle, but you can benefit from:
- Up to €300 for an electric bicycle (vélo à assistance électrique)
- Up to €1,000 for an adapted electric bicycle (including foldable bicycles, those with cargo apparatuses, and those adapted for certain disabilities)
- Up to €1,000 for an adapted traditional bicycle (including foldable bicycles, those with cargo apparatuses, and those adapted for certain disabilities)
- Up to €1,000 for an electric bicycle trailer
Companies, NGOs, and associations can also qualify for the grant, though only for up to €1,000, to help in the purchase of adapted (both classic and electric) bicycles and trailers.
Getting rid of your car?
Both individuals and companies/ associations can get rid of old and/or polluting vehicles for a 'conversion bonus' to help purchase a new or used bike.
For individuals this is also means tested - your reference tax income (per person) must be equal to or below €24,900 (as of 2024).
The 'conversion bonus' is typically capped to a maximum of €1,500 per new or used bicycle. Only one bike per person is allowed.
However, if your reference tax income per person is less than or equal to €7,100 or you are disabled, then you can qualify for up to €3,000 in assistance per bicycle.
Similarly, if you live in a low-emission zone (ZFE) then you may qualify for an extra €1,000 in aid, and up to €3,000 if you benefit from a local subsidy.
The eligible bicycles include:
- electric bicycles (vélo à assistance électrique)
- electric assisted bicycles with cargo apparatuses cargo bikes, provided that they are electrically assisted;
- electric assisted 'longtail' bicycles (eg. those with extensions in the back that allow for children's seats)
- electric disability adapted bicycles
- Folding electric bicycles
How to request the grant
You must request the grant within six months of acquiring the bicycle, and this must be done online at the website primealaconversion.gouv.fr under the démarches tab.
You can log on using FranceConnect or your log-in information for the French tax site (impots.gouv.fr).
Keep in mind that you will need your tax number to finalise the application.
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