Crit’Air stickers, showing how polluting a car is, are required in more and more French cities. How do you get one, and what pitfalls should you watch out for?
Classic cars, which are by definition at least 30 years old (and with the carte grise ‘véhicule de collection’) are exempt from the stickersPerry Taylor
Crit’Air certificates, which indicate the level of air pollution a vehicle produces, are becoming increasingly necessary for drivers in France.
A growing number of towns and cities have low-emission zones (zones à faibles émissions, or ZFEs), and in theory all areas with a population of 150,000 or more are set to bring one in by January 2025, although this now seems unlikely.
The introduction of the zones, first introduced in 2019, is due to air pollution, which the government says causes 48,000 premature deaths a year, and where traffic is a major contributor via fine particles and nitrogen oxide from exhausts.
What are Crit’Air certificates?
Crit’Air certificates are round stickers stuck on the lower right-hand side of the windscreen (or on the fork below the handlebars on a motorbike).
There are seven categories, from 0, for 100% electric and hydrogen cars, followed by 1 to 5, with a different colour for each. Vehicles made before December 31, 1996, are deemed the worst polluters and are non-classé; not eligible for any sticker.
All types of vehicle are included. However, classic cars, which are by definition at least 30 years old (and marked on their vehicle registration as ‘véhicule de collection’) are exempt.
A simulator can help you find your category. It asks for type, fuel and Euro emissions norm (on French vehicle registrations issued after March 15, 2009) or registration date.
Crit’Air stickers for French and overseas-registered vehicles can be applied for online at certificat-air.gouv.fr, the only official place to obtain one. Watch out for the various scams that have been making the rounds about purchasing the stickers.
Crit’Air certificates are obligatory in low-emission zones
Currently, 12 cities in France have ZFEs in place (13 if you count Paris and its suburbs separately).
The first four were in Lyon, Grenoble, Ville de Paris and Métropole du Grand Paris.
Restrictions are being introduced gradually, and are different between cities.
Most recently, plans to restrict Crit'Air level 3 vehicles, set to be implemented in January 2025 in Marseille, Strasbourg, and Rouen, were pushed back to 2027.
However, these restrictions will still come into force in Paris and Lyon next year.
You risk a €68 fine (€45 for fast payment, €180 if you pay late) for not having a sticker or entering ZFEs with unauthorised vehicles. The fine is €135 for HGVs.
Road signs show drivers when they are entering and leaving a zone
Crit’Air certificates are also obligatory in some urban areas with restrictions during periods of high pollution levels, when only low-polluting cars will be allowed in.
What is more, any prefect in any department can impose short-term restrictions if there is a need. This means Crit’Air certificates are more and more likely to be needed.
Critics complain the measures penalise those who cannot afford a new car, especially high-priced electric ones.
The association 40 millions d’Automobilistes calls ZFEs Zones à Fortes Exclusions, and claims half the population will be unable to drive in towns.
The Fédération Nationale de l’Automobile, made up of car professionals, wants the government to be more flexible, saying the increase in ZFEs will affect too many cars.
