Understanding the calculation of tax horsepower: 15 cv equivalent to how much?

Any owner of a car in France must be able to calculate the tax horses. This calculation may seem complicated at first, but it is essential to understand how it works to avoid unpleasant surprises. In this article, we will focus on a specific example: how much is 15 tax horsepower?

What is a tax horse?

The cheval fiscal, also called horsepower, is a unit used to determine the fiscal horsepower of a car engine in France. The technical data sheets of the car sales advertisements mention for the most part the fiscal power of the vehicle. This is used to calculate the amount of registration tax that the owner of a vehicle must pay according to the power of his engine. It is also used to calculate the tax on vehicles with engine (TVS) and the price of the carte grey. This administrative criterion is also used in France to calculate the tax on company vehicles and car insurance.

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Expressed in CV (fiscal horsepower), the power tax is determined by a formula that takes into account the actual power of the engine. Its calculation also takes into consideration other factors, including fuel used, vehicle weight, and engine capacity.

How much is 15 fiscal horsepower?

The calculation of tax horsepower is based on engine power in kilowatts (kW), but it does not correspond exactly to the actual power of the vehicle. In France, a cheval fiscal (hp) corresponds to 0.736 kW, i.e. a conversion rate of 1.36 CV for 1 kW.

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Therefore, to know the number of fiscal horsepower of a vehicle, divide its power in HP by 1.36 or multiply its power in kW by 1.36. Thus, if you have a 15 CV vehicle in France, this is equivalent to a power the 110.4 kW (15×0.736).

A car with 15 fiscal horsepower, what does that mean?

When a vehicle is classified at 15 fiscal horsepower, it means that the administrative power of its engine is equal to 15 horses tax. This may correspond to a large engine capacity or a particularly powerful engine. The fiscal tax to be paid for a vehicle classified at 15 fiscal horsepower will be higher than that of a vehicle less powerful. It is therefore of paramount importance to consider this data when purchasing your car.

In France, passenger cars have a tax horsepower ranging from 1 to 60 tax horsepower. A car with a fiscal horsepower of 15 HP means that it is relatively powerful. Indeed, a car with a fiscal power of 15 CV has a real power of approximately 200 horsepower.

That power tax is generally used for high-end cars. Vehicles classified at 15 tax horsepower are often family sedans, 4×4 or sports cars. They are therefore generally more expensive to purchase and maintain than low-powered administrative vehicles.