Since January 1, the law concerning the circulation of vehicles in certain cities and towns in France has tightened considerably. And millions of cars can no longer access it under penalty of fines.
Since the implementation of the climate and resilience law, Low Emission Zones (ZFEs) have multiplied in French cities. Their objective: to combat air pollution by limiting the circulation of the most polluting vehicles, particularly the oldest. To travel in a ZFE, you must have a Crit’air sticker affixed to the windshield of your vehicle. This sticker, classified from 0 to 5 depending on the level of engine emissions, allows the authorities to identify the vehicles authorized to circulate in these zones, the code 0 corresponding to electric cars, which emit no gas.
The Crit’air sticker is not essential to travel on most roads, particularly in the countryside. But it is obligatory for traveling in ZFEs established by communities as well as in certain urban areas when the prefect establishes differentiated traffic during episodes of peak pollution. Even if you do not live in an ZFE, you are affected by this regulation if you plan to cross an ZFE, whether for personal or professional reasons.
But be careful, because since January 1, 2025, the ZFEs have increased from 12 to 42 urban areas. The restrictions are more or less strict depending on the case. Overall, all Crit’Air stickers are still authorized. Only unclassified vehicles (NC), therefore which do not meet the Crit’Air criteria (those whose date of first registration is before January 1, 1997), are excluded.
As if that wasn’t complicated enough, keep in mind that there are many exceptions. In addition, each city can choose the outlines of the bans, such as the time slots during which certain vehicles would be prohibited or the geographic zones. To find your way, the best thing is to go to the Government website “Breathe better in the city”which lists EPZs. It allows you to refer to the dedicated internet pages of each town hall, which indicate the specific rules.
To make matters worse, the ZFEs of Paris, Lyon, Montpellier and Grenoble, which already banned Crit’Air 4 and 5 and unclassified cars, also banned the Crit’Air 3. This represents around 1.1 million additional models. . A thorn in the side for many modest households who do not necessarily have the means to afford another car.
But be careful: traveling without a Crit’air sticker in an ZFE can be expensive! The fixed fine for non-compliance with Crit’air regulations amounts to 68 euros. It can be reduced to 45 euros if you pay immediately, but also increased by up to 180 euros in the event of late payment! Note that in the event of an infraction, your vehicle may be immobilized by the police and even impounded…
Also, if you are traveling in these areas, ask for your Crit’air sticker now if you do not already have one. Simply order it online at the official government websiteby providing you with your registration certificate (the famous “carte grise”). The operation only takes a few minutes and costs only 3.72 euros per vehicle (shipping included). You will receive your sticker a few days later directly to the address indicated on the registration certificate. Be careful, go through the official site, because there are many fraudulent sites that take advantage of the situation to scam motorists who are poorly informed about the procedure…