Cost of the french vehicle registration certificate and fiscal horsepower

🔎 Fiscal Horsepower & Grey Card Cost: Understanding Everything in 2025

The Fiscal Horsepower (P.6) is the determining factor for the price of your vehicle registration certificate (grey card) in France. Unlike the actual power (kW), the Fiscal Horsepower (CV/HP) is an administrative and fiscal unit. Its value is essential for calculating the Regional Tax (Y.1), which makes up the majority of the total cost of your process. Our tool uses official formulas and the 2025 scales to guarantee you the best estimate.

🔥 The Official 2020/2025 Formula for Fiscal HP (CV)

Since 2020, the formula for calculating Fiscal Horsepower has been greatly simplified. It no longer depends on engine torque or CO2, but solely on Engine Power (P.2) expressed in kilowatts (kW), ensuring consistency regardless of the fuel type or engine.

💶 Environmental Surcharge and Weight Tax 2025: Scales and Exemptions

The State applies two dissuasive taxes, called "surcharges", which are added to the grey card cost, primarily for new or imported used vehicles (first registration in France).

1. The CO2 Tax (Environmental Surcharge, Field V.7)

• 2025 Application Threshold: The surcharge is triggered starting from 113 grams of CO2 per kilometer (g/km), according to the WLTP cycle.
• Cap: The surcharge amount can reach €70,000 for the most polluting vehicles (193 g/km and above).
• Usage: This tax applies only to the first registration in France.

2. The Tax on Mass in Running Order (Weight Surcharge, Field G.1)

• 2025 Application Threshold: Applicable to vehicles whose Mass in Running Order (G.1) exceeds 1,600 kg.
• Calculation: The price is progressive, starting at €10 per kilogram exceeding 1,600 kg, and increasing in steps.
• Cap: The cumulative amount of the CO2 Surcharge and the Weight Surcharge is capped at €70,000.

Note on the Ecological Bonus and "Zero Surcharge" Vehicles

If your vehicle is 100% electric or hydrogen-powered, it is totally exempt from the CO2 Surcharge and the Weight Surcharge (subject to its environmental score from July 2026).
Furthermore, the purchase of a new electric vehicle may qualify for the Ecological Bonus (financial aid deducted from the purchase price). The amounts (up to €4,200 or more for modest households in 2026) depend on the buyer's Reference Taxable Income and not the grey card. To find out the exact amount of your aid, please consult the official government website.

❓ FAQ: Quick Answers on the Grey Card and HP

Does my used vehicle have to pay the Environmental Surcharge?

NO, in most cases. If your used vehicle has already been registered in France, you are exempt from the CO2 surcharge and the Weight surcharge. These taxes only apply to new vehicles or imported used vehicles (with a 10% reduction per year of age for the CO2 surcharge).

What is the impact of vehicle age on the grey card cost?

If your vehicle is 10 years or older (date of first registration), you benefit from a 50% reduction on the Regional Tax (Y.1). This reduction applies directly to the Fiscal Horsepower price in your region. This is a major tax advantage for the purchase of older vehicles.

Why is the HP price different across regions?

The price of the Fiscal Horsepower (HP) is set annually by the Regional Council. These rates vary widely from one region to another (from €27 in Corsica to over €55 in Brittany in 2025), which explains why the final cost of your grey card can double for the same vehicle, solely based on your place of residence.