Do ‘Crit’Air’ stickers go out of date for French low-emission zones?
Almost all vehicles are given a pollution rating between 1 and 5, and the most polluting are not allowed in certain towns
Stickers must be purchased online via the official website
Hadrian / Shutterstock
Reader Question: I have recently purchased a Crit’Air sticker for my vehicle, but I could not see if there was a deadline for when it must be renewed. Can I always use the same one in my car?
Crit’Air stickers do not need to be renewed or replaced except in cases of loss, damage or major changes to your vehicle.
The purpose of the stickers is to show the level of pollution that your vehicle emits, rated from ‘level 1’ (lowest) to ‘level 5’ (highest).
They must be placed on almost all vehicles – both French and foreign-registered – when passing through low-emission zones in France. The only exception to the rule is for vehicules de collection (collector vehicles such as antiques).
There are currently 12 of these Zones à faibles émissions (ZFE) in the country (or 13, if Paris and its suburbs are counted separately) but more are on the way.
Crit’Air rules to tighten
In theory, by 2025, all towns with a population greater than 150,000 are meant to introduce a ZFE – and require Crit’Air stickers – but the plans have faced backlash from many local authorities.
The current restrictions are also set to become more restrictive until the most-polluting vehicles are effectively banned from cities.
While the rules are changing, vehicles do not usually change between Crit'Air categories, and so do not need new stickers.
However, if a vehicle is retrofitted with anti pollution devices, such as particle filters or Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) the owner can apply to change the vehicle’s category by following the instructions on the official Crit’air website here
Read more: 2024 MAP: Where are France’s clean air driving zones? What are rules?
Note that Crit'Air stickers are a favourite of scammers in France, and many websites deal in misinformation to separate drivers from their money.
The official Crit’Air website is the only place to purchase a sticker online.
Read more: Do drivers need a different ‘Crit’Air’ sticker for each French city?
