If the appliance still meets your needs, first consider whether it can be repaired. Check its warranty, the nature of the fault and whether it qualifies for the Repair Bonus when handled by an approved repairer. If you need to replace it, pay particular attention to the condition of a refurbished appliance and who is selling it. For a new appliance, compare the features your household needs and the relevant index for its category.
If the appliance still suits your day-to-day needs, first check its warranty and whether it can be repaired. Eligibility for the Repair Bonus depends on factors including the fault and whether you use an approved repairer, as explained by the French Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF).
When buying a second-hand or refurbished appliance, check its condition, who is selling it and what documents are provided with the sale. The DGCCRF distinguishes between the protections that apply to purchases from a business and those that apply to private sales.
If your old appliance no longer has the capacity or features you need, compare replacement models based on how you plan to use them. For the categories covered, durability or repairability ratings provide an additional point of comparison, but you should still check the dimensions and installation requirements.
After a breakdown, check whether you can keep your appliance before comparing replacement options. If you do replace it, distinguish between the condition and warranties of a refurbished appliance and the features of a new model.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who this is for |
|---|---|---|
| Repairing the appliance | Check whether the warranty is still valid, then ask an approved repairer to confirm the nature of the fault and whether it qualifies for the Repair Bonus. According to the DGCCRF, the scheme applies to appliances that are no longer covered by a warranty. | If my appliance still meets my needs, I want to know whether it can be repaired rather than replaced; around 29% of consumers prioritise repair. |
| Choosing refurbished | Check the stated condition, the work said to have been carried out and who is selling it. According to the DGCCRF, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies when a refurbished appliance is sold by a business to an individual, but not to a private sale. | If I replace my appliance with a refurbished one, I want to know its condition and what recourse I have in connection with the sale; around 24% of consumers prioritise this type of protected purchase. |
| Choosing a durable new appliance | Compare capacity and installation requirements. The French Ministry for Ecological Transition states that the durability index has applied to new washing machines since April 2025. For covered vacuum cleaners and dishwashers, check the repairability index. | When my old appliance no longer suits my household, I look for a suitable replacement and want to check how repairable it is too; around 29% of consumers make the durability of a new appliance their priority. |
| Getting back to normal quickly | Ask when a professional can come out and whether the parts you need are available. If you’re replacing the appliance, check the dimensions and the delivery and installation arrangements. | Without my fridge or washing machine, I need to get everyday life back on track quickly; for around 18% of consumers, this comes ahead of other considerations. |
An appliance being in a covered category is not enough on its own. Ecosystem excludes certain types of damage, including cosmetic damage only, as well as damage caused by misuse or a lack of maintenance.
Before deciding to go down this route, ask an approved repairer to confirm that the specific fault meets the scheme’s conditions.
According to the DGCCRF, a refurbished appliance is a second-hand item whose functions have been tested and which has been restored to working order if necessary. So make sure you check its condition in the product description.
Check what has been tested or replaced, find out who the seller is, and keep a copy of the listing and your proof of purchase.
A durability or repairability rating doesn’t tell you whether the appliance has the capacity you need or can be installed in your home. Nor does it guarantee that a particular unit won’t break down.
Compare ratings across models in the same category, then check the dimensions, capacity and installation requirements.
In France, the statutory guarantee of conformity described by the DGCCRF covers second-hand or refurbished goods sold by a business to an individual. It does not apply in the same way to a private sale.
Before buying, check who the seller is and keep any documents describing the appliance and the warranties that apply.
No. According to the DGCCRF, the Repair Bonus applies to products that are no longer covered by a warranty. If your appliance is still under warranty, first check what options it gives you with the seller or guarantor.
No. Ecosystem excludes cosmetic-only or non-functional damage from eligible repairs. If a fault is stopping the appliance from working, ask an approved repairer to confirm the conditions that apply to your appliance and the cause of the damage.
In France, the statutory guarantee of conformity covers a refurbished appliance sold by a business to an individual for two years from the date it is supplied, according to the DGCCRF. For second-hand goods, the presumption that the defect existed when the item was supplied lasts for one year; this does not limit the period in which you can invoke the guarantee to one year.
For a new washing machine, check the durability index, which replaced the repairability index for this category in April 2025, according to the French Ministry for Ecological Transition. For covered dishwashers and vacuum cleaners, check the repairability index, then make sure the appliance has the features you need.