Technical inspection: watch out for these new rules which will change everything from January 1, 2025!

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The year 2024 has already brought its share of changes for motorists, particularly with the extension of technical inspection to two-wheelers. However, contrary to the expectations of many drivers, 2025 should not upset the rules of technical inspection. On the other hand, the bonus-malus system will undergo a major transformation that will directly impact the wallets of buyers of new vehicles.

Technical inspections remain on course in 2025

The rumors announced a tightening of controls on pollutant emissions from January 2025. These rumors turned out to be unfounded.The technical inspection will maintain its current terms, allowing motorists to maintain their habits. Approved centres will continue to apply the same inspection criteria, particularly on essential points such as safety, pollutant emissions and the general condition of the vehicle.

Emission control devices, which have been particularly closely monitored in recent years, will remain subject to the same standards. This regulatory stability offers significant visibility to vehicle owners, who can therefore plan the maintenance of their car with peace of mind without fear of new technical or financial constraints.

The ecological penalty is becoming considerably tougher

The big new feature for 2025 concerns the ecological penalty, which will undergo a spectacular change. The government has decided to lower the trigger threshold to 113 g/km of CO2, compared to 118 g/km currently. This change will affect a growing number of vehicles, even those considered relatively low-polluting until now.

Even more striking, the maximum amount of the penalty will rise to 70,000 euros for the highest-emitting vehicles. This substantial increase, which was initially aimed at 60,000 euros, reflects the government's desire to accelerate the transition to cleaner vehicles. Manufacturers and importers will have to adapt their commercial strategy to this new situation, particularly for sports models and high-end SUVs.

A major impact on the automobile market

These changes are shaping a new reality for the French automotive sector. Maintaining the technical inspection rules provides some stability, but strengthening the ecological penalty will profoundly change consumer choices. Manufacturers are already anticipating a shift in sales towards electric and plug-in hybrid models.

The ecological bonus will also undergo significant changes, with a reduction to €3,000 from January 2025. This reduction, combined with the tightening of the penalty, will create a significant scissors effect on the market. The conditions for awarding could also become more restrictive, reflecting the government's desire to control public spending while maintaining pressure on CO2 emissions.

• The technical inspection remains unchanged in 2025, contrary to rumors of tightening
• The ecological penalty increases drastically with a ceiling of 70,000 euros and a minimum threshold lowered to 113 g/km of CO2
• The ecological bonus decreases to 3,000 euros and its conditions of allocation could become tougher

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