Driving through France this summer? This is what you'll need to avoid a fine
British tourists traveling by car in France this summer are being advised to make arrangements in advance, or else there is a chance they could be penalized.
Motor vehicle owners in a minimum of 14 regions across the nation are currently obligated to exhibit a sticker indicating the level of emissions emitted from their vehicle's windscreen.
Motorists who do not comply with the regulation are subject to a penalty of up to £58 (€68), which increases to £154 (€180) if payment is not made within 45 days.
Penalties will surge to as much as £640 (€750) starting next year as camera-driven enforcement commences.
France's laws regarding vehicle emissions are becoming a topic of discussion, just as the regulations for London's ultra low emissions zone (ULEZ) continue to ignite a significant political debate. Mayor Sadiq Khan, unwavering in his determination, remains committed to implementing the contentious scheme.
Drivers heading to France are being advised to make preparations beforehand as the stickers can only be obtained by ordering them in advance from the official French government website, for a fee of £4 (€4.61).
The RAC has advised motorists to steer clear of third-party platforms that demand exorbitantly high fees, up to six times the regular cost.
There exist six distinct categories of adhesive labels that are determined by a vehicle's discharge of air pollutants.
The most environmentally friendly electric and hydrogen cars are eligible for green "0" stickers, while the most harmful diesel vehicles are labeled with "5" stickers to denote their pollution levels.
In certain parts of France, there are limitations on driving depending on the sticker on your vehicle. Among them, Paris enforces the most rigorous system, where specific roads are accessible only to cars that bear stickers marked with "0", "1", or "2" during certain time periods.
The RAC is also cautioning that Spain and Switzerland, among other European nations, are implementing more stringent emissions regulations.
The emissions sticker of a particular nation cannot be used in another, hence numerous British tourists planning road journeys encompassing various places will require multiple stickers.
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France's Low Emission Zones
Permanent low emission zones, otherwise referred to as ZCRs, exclusively permit vehicles showcasing a specific grouping of Crit'Air stickers.
As of July 2023, there exist a total of 14 ZCRs which encompass locations like the Aix-Marseille-Provence region, Bordeaux, Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Nice, Paris, Reims, Rouen, Strasbourg, and Toulouse.
Emergency low emission zones, also referred to as ZPAs, act as provisional limitations placed on specific automobiles. Such restrictions are imposed in designated areas whenever there is a threat of excessively high levels of harmful air pollution.
Every automobile is required to exhibit a decal whenever official declarations specify that limitations are implemented.
At present, there exist 28 regions where emergency measures are put in place specifically to reduce emission levels when particular circumstances arise. For further information, refer to the Urban Access Regulations.
Paris has established two permanent areas in the city, specifically in the greater region called ZPE and the central area called ZCR, where low-emission vehicles are encouraged.
You can only enter the area inside the Boulevard Périphérique ring-road between 0800 and 2000 Monday to Friday if your vehicle has stickers E or 0,1 or 2.
The Greater Paris Zone of Congestion Restrictions predominantly encompasses the territory enclosed by the city's A86 perimeter thoroughfare. Solely automobiles displaying decals marked E, 1, or 2 are authorized to access this region from Monday to Friday, between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm.
Rod Dennis, spokesperson for the RAC, mentioned that numerous British motorists are likely acquainted with clean air zones like London's ultra low emission zone. Nevertheless, they should also prepare themselves to come across similar zones when traveling abroad this summer.
It is crucial for individuals who are planning to travel to Europe to conduct thorough research to determine if they require a windscreen sticker based on emissions. Additionally, it is essential to allocate sufficient time to obtain the sticker prior to their journey.
