Frequently asked questions: choosing a car in 2026
Electric, hybrid or petrol, new or used, LOA, LLD or credit, low-emission zones, penalties... the answers a driver needs before changing vehicles, with the figures and sources behind them.
Powertrain
Should you choose an electric, hybrid or petrol car in 2026?
There is no single right answer: it depends on your annual mileage, whether you can charge at home, and your typical trips (mostly urban or mostly motorway). Electric suits regular use with home charging, hybrid suits mixed trips without a charger, and petrol remains relevant for occasional use or very long journeys. Compar'Car's weighted profile scores every vehicle in your selection against your own criteria rather than a national average.
Is LPG a good option in 2026?
LPG remains worthwhile for high-mileage drivers who want to cut cost per kilometre without switching to electric: fuel costs noticeably less than petrol, and taxation stays more favourable than diesel. The filling-station network is smaller than for petrol, so check it against your usual routes first. It is a trade-off worth considering mainly on the used market, where LPG supply is wider than for new cars.
How much does a home charge really cost compared with a tank of petrol?
Charging at home overnight on a cheaper tariff generally costs three to five times less per kilometre than a tank of petrol, while relying only on fast public charging narrows that gap sharply, sometimes closing it altogether. The real difference therefore comes down to one factor: can you charge at home or not? That is why Compar'Car asks about home charging in the profile before powertrain preference.
Is a used electric car a good deal today?
Used electric cars have become noticeably more affordable than two years ago, as depreciation on early models has already played out. The main thing to check is battery condition (stated health, remaining warranty) rather than mileage alone, which matters less than on a petrol engine. Compared with an equivalent new model, the price gap is often what tips the decision.
New or used
Is it better to buy a new or a used car?
A new car comes with full manufacturer warranty and the exact options you want, at the cost of rapid depreciation in the first years. A recent used car has already absorbed that depreciation and often costs 20 to 40% less for an equivalent model, with a history and inspection record to check. The choice mainly depends on how long you plan to keep the vehicle and your tolerance for uncertainty about its condition.
What does a new or used car cost on average in France in 2026?
According to AAA Data, a new car cost around 36,300 euros on average over the first five months of 2026, with wide gaps by powertrain (about 25,000-26,000 euros for a petrol model, versus 43,000 euros for an electric one). The average used-car price dropped back below 20,000 euros in 2025, the first time in three years, on a sales volume about 3.3 times that of new cars.
How do you avoid bad surprises when buying a used car?
Three checks cover most of the risk: the service book and whether it matches the mileage shown, the last roadworthiness inspection report (and any history of failed re-checks), and a test drive including a firm acceleration and braking at normal speed. A vehicle history report (liens, previous owners) usefully rounds out these three checks before signing.
Financing
LOA, LDD, credit or cash: what's the difference, and which should you choose?
LOA (lease with purchase option) and LDD/LLD (long-term rental) are lease formulas: you never own the car unless you exercise the purchase option at the end of an LOA. A classic loan or a cash purchase, by contrast, make you the owner from day one. LOA and LLD suit drivers who change vehicles often and prefer a stable monthly payment; a loan or cash purchase suit those who keep their car for a long time, since the total cost over the period is usually lower. Always compare the total cost over the term, not just the advertised monthly payment.
What share of new cars is financed through LOA or LLD today?
Leasing, LOA and LLD combined, now accounts for around 63% of new car registrations in France, versus 37% for direct purchase (loan or cash). LLD is growing fast and reached about 30% of new registrations in early 2026, almost level with LOA. This shift toward leasing makes it all the more useful to compare total cost and commitment length, not just the monthly payment.
What changes for LOA leases on 20 November 2026?
From 20 November 2026, car LOA leases move under the consumer credit framework: the APR (TAEG) becomes mandatory on offers, a 14-day withdrawal period applies, and early buyout of the vehicle becomes a right that can be exercised at any time. The aim is to align LOA with the protections already in place for a standard loan. We cover this change in detail in our dedicated article.
Regulation
What is a low-emission zone, and is my vehicle affected?
A low-emission zone restricts circulation for certain vehicles based on their emissions sticker, already in force in several major French urban areas. Vehicles with the lowest stickers (or none) are currently the ones most often excluded during traffic hours, and the timeline points to a gradual tightening that will eventually reach more vehicles in a growing number of cities. The framework saw regulatory back-and-forth in 2026 (votes to scrap it, then reinstatement by the Constitutional Council): always check the rule actually in force in your city before deciding.
What are the ecological and weight penalties in 2026?
The ecological penalty taxes new vehicles based on their CO2 emissions, with the threshold lowered to 108 g CO2/km in 2026. The weight penalty applies on top, from 1,500 kg, and now affects a large majority of new petrol vehicles. Both penalties can stack on the same vehicle, which weighs heavily on the final price of a heavy or powerful petrol model.
2035, the announced end of new petrol cars: what does it change right now?
EU regulation sets a target of zero CO2 emissions for new cars sold in the Union from 2035, which in practice means the end of new petrol car sales by that date, subject to adjustments still debated at the European level. Even now, this deadline is progressively narrowing new petrol supply in some segments and pushing manufacturers to widen their hybrid and electric ranges. A petrol vehicle bought today will have to contend with growing circulation restrictions well before the end of its technical lifespan.
Using Compar'Car
How do you choose your next car, step by step?
Four steps avoid most mistakes: set an all-inclusive monthly budget rather than a purchase price; look at your real usage (trips, mileage, charging options) before the powertrain; compare new and used within that same budget rather than picking the category first; and finally weigh several financing offers (LOA, LLD, loan, cash) on total cost, not the monthly payment alone. That is exactly the order Compar'Car's profile follows.
How long should you keep a car before changing it?
In France, the average vehicle holding period is about 6.4 years in 2024, up from 5.5 years in 2019, across all vehicles. That figure hides two opposite realities: a short 3-to-4-year cycle for most LOA or LLD leased vehicles, and a longer cycle for vehicles bought with cash or a loan. There is no universal ideal duration: it mainly depends on your financing method and your tolerance for maintaining an ageing vehicle.
Is Compar'Car really free?
Yes: using Compar'Car is 100% free for the user, whatever the outcome of your search. The service earns revenue by connecting users with partner dealerships and brokers, never by charging the driver who compares.
These answers cite dated public data; find the detail and sources in our news
How does Compar'Car calculate its personalised ranking?
Every vehicle in your selection gets a score out of 100 based on your profile: budget, type of trips, annual mileage, home charging availability, preferred brands and specific needs (family, professional use). The score currently live is a provisional algorithm; a more refined weighted scoring grid is under construction. The principle stays the same: rank according to your actual situation, not a generic average.