2025 MAP: France’s new clean air driving zones and their rules

All French urban areas with a population of 150,000 or more now have low-emission zones (zones à faibles émissions, ZFE) in place which can restrict the types of vehicles that can drive within their limits.

Many of these were introduced this January and have seen relatively minor changes to the vehicles which are authorised to access the zones.

However, all vehicles driving through these zones, including foreign-registered vehicles and two wheelers, must be equipped with a 'clean air' sticker.

This is known as a 'Crit’Air' vignette and must be placed on the vehicle's windscreen [or the front, such as fork or mudguard, of a motorbike], and show the pollution level of the vehicle.

Read more: A guide to Crit’Air stickers in France

Read more: Do ‘Crit’Air’ stickers go out of date for French low-emission zones?

Read more: Do drivers need a different ‘Crit’Air’ sticker for each French city?

You can buy a Crit’Air sticker for your vehicle through the official website (which is available in English).

Drivers who use a vehicle without a Crit'Air sticker or drive an unauthorised vehicle in a ZFE risk a fine.

Where are the low emissions zones?

A 2021 law on climate change required all urban areas with a population of 150,000 or more to implement a ZFE by no later than January 1, 2025. 

Prior to this January, only 12 cities had a ZFE in place (figures can differ as some lists count Paris and Greater Paris as two separate zones).

Of these five cities (Strasbourg, Montpellier, Lyon, Grenoble, and Paris) now restrict vehicles of a Crit'Air level 3 and above, although the exact rules in each zone differ.

In Paris, for example, drivers can obtain a pass to use vehicles which are normally banned for a certain number of days each year.

Crit'Air level 3 vehicles include petrol cars first registered before January 2006 and diesel cars before 2011.

Read more: Where are Crit'Air level 3 vehicle restrictions in France?

Rules in Toulouse, Nice, Marseille, Rouen, Saint-Etienne, Clermont-Ferrand, and Reims - other cities where a ZFE has been in place prior to 2025 - vary.

Marseille and Rouen were supposed to bring in restrictions on Crit'Air 3 vehicles in 2025. However improved air pollution meant this was no longer necessary and local authorities left the previous rules in place.

Air quality also improved in Strasbourg but the city decided to keep the current restrictions on Crit'Air 3 vehicles in place.

Read more: Air pollution improvement: Three French cities can ease car ban rules

Toulouse also offers a 'pass' for vehicles otherwise restricted to circulate in the city for a certain number of days.

Read more: Crit’Air: Older cars in Toulouse can bypass rules with attestation

Below, our map shows the location where ZFEs are in place.

Minor changes in new zones

Despite new ZFEs being introduced in around 30 areas, in many little has changed.

In most cities, it is only vehicles that are not classified under the Crit'Air sticker system (petrol and diesel vehicles first registered prior to January 1, 1997, two-wheeled vehicles first registered prior to January 1, 2000) that are restricted in the new ZFEs.

Additional restrictions on heavy goods vehicles may also be in place.

In some new zones those who break rules may not be fined in the first few months as an 'educational period' takes place. 

Rulebreakers in these zones will be told of the new rules and asked to follow them in future.

In theory restrictions across all of France's ZFEs will eventually result in banning all but the least-polluting vehicles. 

However, cities can follow their own timeline of when to bring in tougher measures meaning varying rules in each zone in the following years.

Information on the specific rules for each ZFE can be found on the city or commune's official website and it is recommended to check the exact regulations before driving through one.