After the Repair Bonus expired in May 2025, it will be relaunched under the name “Device Saver Bonus” (Geräte-Retter-Prämie). The new program will begin in December and, like its predecessor, aims to make repairs more attractive. However, eligibility has been narrowed to focus more strictly on household-related items. Details on the framework conditions and funding levels will be decided in the coming weeks, according to the Environment Ministry.
It has already been determined what will no longer be eligible for funding. “Some categories, such as bicycles, including e-bikes, and mobile phones, will no longer be part of the program. Luxury and wellness items such as foot spas and massage chairs, as well as entertainment devices like karaoke machines, will also be excluded,” the ministry stated.
Totschnig: Focused On Household Items
The ministry explained: “To offer the bonus long-term and without interruption, new criteria were developed after the Repair Bonus ended, and the device categories were specifically targeted toward household items.” Environment Minister Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) emphasized that the “Device Saver Bonus” will make “sustainable action more attractive” and allow devices that would otherwise end up as waste to be repaired and reused.
The Repair Bonus ended on May 26 of this year after the allocated funds were exhausted, the Environment Ministry announced at the time. Previously issued repair vouchers remained valid and could be redeemed within three weeks at partner workshops. In May, Totschnig said the program would be evaluated to ensure that funds are used “more efficiently and precisely in the future.”
€30 Million Budgeted For 2026
Since the start of the subsidy in 2022, around 1.7 million vouchers for repairs, servicing, or maintenance of electronic devices and bicycles have been redeemed. Smartphones, dishwashers, washing machines, and coffee machines were among the most frequently repaired items at the roughly 6,000 participating partner businesses. Within the 2026 budget planning, €30 million per year has been allocated for the new bonus. The Environment Ministry told APA that specific details still need to be approved by the responsible commission.
The Repair Bonus was originally launched in April 2022 by then-Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens). It covered half the repair costs, up to a maximum of €200 per device.
