If the appliance still meets your needs, get a repair quote before deciding to replace it. If repair isn’t the right option, choose between buying new, buying second-hand or going without a replacement, depending on how often you use it, its condition and the information available for each option. A durability or repairability index doesn’t remove the need to check energy and water consumption or capacity.
Your appliance has broken down, but it still meets your needs. A quote will help you compare the cost of repairing it with replacing it. If you’re considering the Repair Bonus, first check the conditions that apply to your appliance and the fault.
You need to get back to using an appliance regularly without paying for unnecessary capacity or features. Compare energy and water consumption and, where relevant, the durability or repairability index for the model you’re considering.
You’re considering a second-hand appliance and want to know the condition of the item being sold, what checks have been carried out and who the seller is. These details matter more to your decision than the index shown for a new example of the same model.
After a breakdown or wear and tear, first decide whether you still need the appliance and whether it’s right for the way you use it. Then consider a repair or the replacement options that will genuinely meet that need.
Worth considering: the appliance still suits your household and a professional can offer a repair on terms that work for you.
Bear in mind: the timescale and your out-of-pocket cost will depend on the quote. The Repair Bonus is subject to the appliance and fault being eligible, and the repair must be carried out by an approved repairer.
Worth considering: a repair won’t meet your needs and you can choose a capacity and features that suit the way you use the appliance.
Bear in mind: where a durability or repairability index applies, it doesn’t tell you everything about the model’s energy and water consumption.
Worth considering: a second-hand appliance meets your needs and the seller gives you a clear description of the item on offer.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to check its condition and understand which protections apply, depending on whether the seller is a business or a private individual.
Worth considering: you now use the appliance only occasionally, it duplicates another one or you can meet the need another way without compromising anything essential.
Bear in mind: borrowing or renting only works if you can genuinely access an appliance when you need one.
| What matters | What to check | Who this applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Repair | Ask for a quote and check whether the appliance is still under warranty, then see if it may qualify for the Repair Bonus. | My appliance still suits me: I want to know the out-of-pocket cost and what the repair involves before replacing it. Around 36% of consumers put the feasibility of a repair first. |
| Buy new | Compare capacity, reference consumption figures and the relevant index for the category. | I use this appliance often and need to replace it: I want it to meet my needs and to understand its future energy and water consumption. Around 29% of consumers prioritise choosing a new appliance that suits their needs. |
| Second-hand | Find out who the seller is and check the item’s condition, along with any information about refurbishment. | I’m happy to buy second-hand, but I want to know what’s been checked and what protections apply to this sale. Around 21% of consumers put buying second-hand with clear safeguards ahead of the other options. |
| Whether you need an appliance | Consider how often you use it and whether sharing, borrowing or renting is a practical option. | I rarely use this appliance: before buying another one, I want to see if there’s another way to manage without it. Around 14% of consumers prioritise considering whether they need one. |
You could rule out a repair that would still meet your needs. However, the Repair Bonus isn’t automatic: according to ecosystem, the appliance must no longer be covered by a warranty and the fault must be eligible, among other conditions.
Ask an approved repairer for a quote that explains the work involved, and check the bonus conditions before you decide.
An energy rating doesn’t tell you how easy an appliance is to repair. Equally, a durability or repairability index alone can’t tell you whether its capacity and consumption suit the way you use it. According to ADEME, a washing machine’s energy consumption is shown in kWh per 100 reference cycles, while its water consumption is given in litres per reference cycle.
Compare the information relevant to each category on the same reference basis, then check that the capacity and features are right for your needs.
According to the French Ministry of the Economy, a refurbished item is a second-hand product whose functions have been tested and which has been repaired or restored if necessary. The term alone doesn’t tell you the condition of the specific item you’ll receive.
Read the description of the item, find out who the seller is and keep the information provided about its condition and any work carried out.
If you rarely use the appliance or already have another one that does the same job, buying a new model won’t necessarily solve the question of whether you need it. Borrowing or renting is only a suitable option, though, if you can access an appliance when you need one.
Consider how often you use it and what’s available locally before comparing appliances. ADEME’s “Longue vie aux objets” tool can help you find repair, borrowing and rental options.
The indices depend on the appliance category and don’t apply to all household appliances. According to the French Ministry for the Ecological Transition, the repairability index covers dishwashers and vacuum cleaners, among other appliances. The durability index has applied to televisions since 8 January 2025 and washing machines since 8 April 2025. Check which index applies to the category of the model you’re considering.
Check the appliance, the fault and the repairer before factoring the bonus into your decision. According to ecosystem and the French Ministry for the Ecological Transition, the scheme provides a discount on the bill from an approved repairer for certain appliances that are no longer under warranty and have eligible faults. Ask the repairer to confirm the conditions that apply to your repair.
No: the index for a new model doesn’t describe the condition of the refurbished item on offer. The French Ministry for the Ecological Transition states that the requirement to display a repairability index doesn’t apply to second-hand or refurbished appliances. Ask for a description of the item, details of the checks carried out and information about the seller.
Yes, when a business sells a refurbished appliance to an individual in France. The French Ministry of the Economy says that, in these circumstances, the legal guarantee applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods. It doesn’t apply in the same way to sales between private individuals. So, check who the seller is before buying, and distinguish the legal guarantee from any additional commercial warranty on offer.