Drivers must have air pollution stickers from July

The Crit’Air sticker is compulsory for vehicles inside the Paris périphérique – even those from outside France and even if no pollution warning is in force.

They also apply in Grenoble and Lyon-Villeurbanne.

There are six categories from zero for pollution-free electric vehicles up to category 4 and 5 for heavy polluting ones, registered before 2001 and 1997.

Below we look at the changes that came into force on July 1.

Which cities and zones are affected?

In all, 25 cities and urban zones have already started, or will soon start, using stickers. Only a handful have announced the measures they will take.

The Grenoble conurbation already enforces what it calls an “air protection area”. In peak pollution periods of more than five days, drivers of cars without a sticker will face a fine, as will anyone driving a category 4 or 5 vehicle in the zone.

The rules apply to all vehicles, including foreign ones and, critically, will be in force on the area’s motorways, namely the A41, A48, A51 and A480.

In Lyon-Villeurbanne, stickers are now compulsory during peak pollution periods for all vehicles of more than 3.5 tonnes.

They will allow cars in categories 0-3 to drive in the city’s low emission zone de circulation restreinte (ZCR) when alternate number plate bans are in place.

From the fourth day of high pollution, category 3 vehicles lose the exemption, and category 5 cars are banned altogether.

The ZCR does not include the ring road or the A6 and A7 through traffic.

From September, it will be obligatory to display a sticker in Lille’s ZCR and cars in certain, as yet undecided, categories, will be excluded. In addition, in the wider Lille metropolitan area restrictions will be applied during peak pollution periods.

Strasbourg’s ZCR has yet to be set but stickers are obligatory from September. Cars in some, as yet unknown, categories, will be banned. Restrictions include the metropolitan area.

It will soon be mandatory for all vehicles in the Arve Valley, including Annecy, to show a Crit’Air sticker. Once in force, HGVs over 7.5tonnes, all commercial vehicles in category 5, and some in category 4, will be banned in pollution peaks.

Private vehicles do not as yet face a ban but stickers are mandatory to speed any new measures. The protected area includes the A40 motorway.

A list of urban areas covered is at tinyurl.com/ybof5myh

Are the stickers only to impose restrictions?

The laws also allow local and regional councils to give lower- pollution vehicles special parking rights, bus-lane access or access to ZCR areas.

Who needs a sticker?

In Paris, Lyon and Grenoble even foreign vehicles must display a sticker in protected zones. Hire cars are not exempt but cars with a European parking card for the disabled are, although not all cities offer blue-badge exemptions.

Once obtained, stickers are valid for the life of the vehicle.

How do I get one?

Stickers are available online on the Crit’Air website at tinyurl.com/z3z9zlx for €4.18. They are sent to the address on the carte grise or registration document.