In recent years, traffic restrictions for thermal vehicles were created in a large part of the country. Today, in many large cities, every car and public transport must have a sticker “Crit’Air” to be able to move around. This classification, which rates greenhouse gas emissions on a scale of 0 to 6, is determined based on the year the vehicle was manufactured and the type of fuel used. For example, electric or hydrogen vehicles are classified in category “0”, a diesel vehicles registered from 1997 to 2000 belong to category “5”. To find out the category of your car, you can do a online modeling on the official website of the government.

Multiplication of EPZ

But in what cases do you need a Crit’Air sticker? For driving in urban areas in certain cities and during heavy pollution episodes. Its introduction meets a double requirement: limiting the presence of generating vehicles strong visual and noise pollutionAND maintain air quality for the comfort of residents, pedestrians and other users in general. That’s why more and more big cities are creating Low Emission Zones (LEZs). These zones are usually located in the city center and are designed for vehicles that emit the least amount of pollution. Traffic is regulated so as not to let traffic with high-end Crit’Air decals pass through. The Orientation on Mobility (LOM) Act of 2019 provides creation of 43 SEZs across the country by 2025with some changes that have already entered into force on January 1, 2023. Adherence to these regulations is critical to ensuring a healthier urban environment.

ZFE: these cities where it is a must

In practice, this is what megacities have it must have a Crit’Air sticker stuck on the windshield to circulate:

• Aix-Marseille Megapolis
• Paris (and the metropolis of Greater Paris)
• Metropolis of Lyon
• Grenoble– Alps-Metropolis
• Toulouse Megapolis
• Eurometropolis Strasbourg
• Montpellier Mediterranean capital
• Megapolis pleasantly French Riviera
• Rouen Metropolis of Normandy
• Big Reims
• Saint Etienne Megapolis