The EPZ (Low Emission Zones) in France are spreading: they aim to restrict the movement of old vehicles with the initial aim of reducing air pollution in cities. This is how the Crit’air sticker system was created, where several categories of vehicles were classified by age.

Thanks to this discriminatory system, older models are now banned in major French cities such as Paris, Lyon or Toulouse. But still some local indents exist, for example, in respect of vintage cars with a “collection” gray card that will continue to be able to circulate.

Vignette Crit’air Collection: Diesel Vehicles Discarded?

To distinguish collectible vehicles other vintage vehicles over 30 years old, and allow them to circulate in the ZFE, the FFVE (French Federation of Vintage Vehicles) worked with public authorities to create special Crit’air sticker for collector cars.

However, according to a recent guidance on EPAs published by the Ministry of Environmental Transition, collector cars on diesel fuel this exemption may be denied. Indeed, it provides guidance for local authorities to establish EPZs and therefore explore exemptions for certain categories of specific vehicles.

Local concessions for classic cars

This guide, published last fall, discusses, among other things, “collector vehicles that meet certain characteristics (have a registration certificate indicating the collector car, the engine is different from dieselit is forbidden to go to work, the first registration before January 1, 1992 or older than 35 years)”.

It should be remembered that each local authority has the power to determine the different categories of vehicles that can be moved by the right-of-way and therefore decide whether collector diesel models will be prohibited. The document of the Ministry of Ecotransition contains simple recommendations for the study of ZFE, but there will be no such restrictions not necessarily applied on a large scale at this moment

Gray Card Collection: Sesame

To qualify for a future Crit’air collectible sticker, a vehicle must have gray card with the mention “collection”. To obtain it, it must meet the following 3 conditions, according to article R 311-1 paragraph 6.3 of the Road Traffic Rules:

• The vehicle must have been manufactured or first registered at least 30 years ago
• The car model must no longer be produced
• The vehicle is preserved and maintained in its original condition, the main technical characteristics have not changed.