If your washing machine has broken down, find out whether it can be repaired before deciding to replace it. The warranty that applies, the condition of the machine and the repair quote will all help you weigh up your options. If you’re buying a new model in France, compare its durability rating and the criteria behind it with those of similar models. The rating can help you make a choice, but it doesn’t guarantee a specific lifespan.
If you’ve decided to buy a new appliance, the durability rating gives you another way to compare models, alongside capacity and the energy label. According to the ministry responsible for the environment, it has applied to the household washing machines covered by the scheme in France since 8 April 2025, and combines repairability and reliability criteria.
If you want to be able to have the appliance serviced after buying it, look at information about spare parts, their prices, the documentation and how easy the machine is to dismantle. ADEME includes these among the criteria used to calculate the rating. The overall score doesn’t replace checking the details.
If you’re still deciding whether to repair or replace it, first check which warranty applies and have the fault assessed. The Repair Bonus scheme described by ecosystem depends, among other things, on the appliance not being covered by a warranty and the fault being eligible. It can’t, on its own, tell you whether repair is right for your machine.
If you’re deciding whether to repair your washing machine or buy a new one, start by looking at your current appliance. If you decide to replace it, the durability rating and its detailed criteria can help you compare the models covered by the scheme.
| What matters to you | What to check before deciding | Who this applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Comparing new models | Compare the durability ratings out of 10 for similar variants, then look separately at the repairability and reliability scores. | If I need to buy a new washing machine, I want to compare models without treating their scores as a promise of how long they’ll last. Around 43% of consumers put this comparison first. |
| Deciding what to do about a fault | Check which warranty applies, then ask for the fault to be assessed and get a quote before comparing repair with replacement. | My washing machine has broken down, and I want to know whether it can reasonably keep working before choosing a new model. Around 29% of consumers put this decision first. |
| Planning for future maintenance | Check the information about spare parts and documentation, as well as the terms of any commercial warranty. | I’d rather check what could make a future repair easier than rely on the overall score alone. Around 28% of consumers prioritise repairability after purchase. |
The durability rating covers repairability and reliability criteria to help you compare the washing machines included in the scheme. It can’t predict when a fault will occur or how long a particular machine will last.
Compare similar variants, then check which criteria account for their scores: spare parts, ease of dismantling, maintenance or resistance to wear.
The score brings together several criteria, and they won’t all be equally relevant to your needs. For online purchases in France, the Ministry of the Economy says that the detailed product rating must be shown alongside the durability rating.
Open the details on the product page for the model you’re considering and check the criteria that matter to you before comparing two scores.
A fault alone doesn’t mean that a washing machine needs replacing. Equally, the existence of the Repair Bonus doesn’t guarantee that a repair is possible or suitable for the appliance’s condition.
First check which warranty applies, then have the fault assessed and ask for a quote. For the Repair Bonus scheme described by ecosystem, also check whether the appliance, fault and repairer are eligible.
A commercial warranty is separate from your legal protections. The DGCCRF has found that information about commercial warranties and their exclusions can sometimes be unclear in the home appliance sector.
Before taking out extra cover, read what it adds to your legal rights, which repairs it covers, what the exclusions are and how to make a claim.
Compare the ratings out of 10 for similar models covered by the scheme, then look at the repairability and reliability scores. According to ADEME and the Ministry of the Economy, the criteria include documentation, ease of dismantling, spare parts, maintenance and resistance to wear. The rating doesn’t guarantee how long your appliance will last.
For a washing machine covered by the scheme and sold in France, look for the detailed rating alongside the durability rating on its product page. The Ministry of the Economy says that, for online sales, the details must be displayed as part of the rating information.
For the household washing machines covered by the scheme in France, the durability rating replaced the repairability rating on 8 April 2025, according to the ministry responsible for the environment. Repairability is still assessed, but it is now one part of a rating that also takes reliability into account.
No. According to ecosystem, the Repair Bonus depends, among other things, on the appliance not being covered by a warranty and the fault being eligible. First check which warranty applies, then ask a participating repairer whether the repair you need is covered by the scheme.
No. In France, the Ministry of the Economy distinguishes between the legal guarantee of conformity, which is compulsory for goods sold by a business to a consumer, and an optional commercial warranty. Check what the commercial warranty covers in addition, how long it lasts, its exclusions and its terms, without confusing it with your legal rights.