France: low-emission zones (ZFE) and the Crit'Air sticker
Checked 3 Nov 2026
France restricts cars in zones à faibles émissions mobilité (ZFE) by Crit'Air sticker. The sticker is compulsory in a ZFE, and the largest zones ban the oldest cars. The enforcement date differs by city, so check the city you are driving into.
Source Ministère de la Transition écologique Ville de Paris Checked 3 Nov 2026
- Low-emission zone
ZFE perimeters: © transport.data.gouv.fr, BNZFE, data updated 20 October 2026, ODbL 1.0, simplified. Country outline: Natural Earth, public domain.
What a ZFE is
A ZFE is a defined area in which the most polluting vehicles may not drive. Since 1 January 2025 agglomerations over 150,000 inhabitants that exceed the WHO guide values must have one. The sticker must be carried in the vehicle.
Source Ministère de la Transition écologique Checked 3 Nov 2026
Which sticker your car gets
The class follows the vehicle type, the fuel and the Euro norm or the date of first registration. For a car:
Source Ministère de la Transition écologique 2 Checked 3 Nov 2026
| Sticker | Petrol | Diesel |
|---|---|---|
| E | Electric or hydrogen | Electric or hydrogen |
| 1 | Euro 5 or 6, from 2011 | - |
| 2 | Euro 4, 2006-2010 | Euro 5 or 6, from 2011 |
| 3 | Euro 2 or 3, 1997-2005 | Euro 4, 2006-2010 |
| 4 | - | Euro 3, 2001-2005 |
| 5 | - | Euro 2, 1997-2000 |
| None | Euro 1 or older, to 1996 | Euro 1 or older, to 1996 |
Source Ministère de la Transition écologique 2 Checked 3 Nov 2026
The main ZFEs and their status
| Zone | Status in November 2026 |
|---|---|
| Paris | Crit'Air 3, 4, 5 and unclassified cars banned on weekdays 8:00-20:00 inside the A86; no fines until 31 December 2026 |
| Lyon | Crit'Air 3, 4, 5 and unclassified vehicles banned since 1 January 2025 |
| Grenoble | Crit'Air 3 and older banned, but no fines until 30 June 2027 |
| Strasbourg | Crit'Air 5 banned since 2023, 4 since 2024, 3 from January 2027 |
| Montpellier | Crit'Air 3 and older banned, fines postponed to 2027 |
Source Ville de Paris Métropole de Lyon Grenoble-Alpes Métropole Eurométropole de Strasbourg Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole Checked 3 Nov 2026
Ordering the sticker from abroad
A car registered abroad orders the sticker online at the official service. It costs EUR 5.11 including postage and arrives by post in about 10 working days, so order it before you travel.
Source Service-Public.fr Checked 3 Nov 2026
Buy the sticker only from the official service. Sites with no link to the ministry act as intermediaries and charge far more.
Source Ministère de la Transition écologique Checked 3 Nov 2026
- Check the Crit'Air class your car will get from the table above.
- Order the sticker at certificat-air.gouv.fr. It costs EUR 5.11 including postage.
- The sticker is compulsory in every ZFE; keep it in the vehicle.
Source Ministère de la Transition écologique 2 Service-Public.fr Checked 3 Nov 2026
The fine
Driving in a ZFE without the required sticker is a third-class offence for a light vehicle: EUR 68. For a heavy vehicle it is a fourth-class offence: EUR 135.
Source Ministère de la Transition écologique Checked 3 Nov 2026