Written by Clena Air Zones France you will need a Crit’Air certificate/sticker.
As of recent French regulations, several cities and metropolitan areas have established or are in the process of establishing Zones à Faibles Émissions Mobilité (ZFE-m) or clean air zones to limit vehicle emissions and improve air quality. France’s current policy mandates that by 2025, all urban areas with populations over 150,000 must have a ZFE-m in place. Below is a list of towns and cities that either currently have ZFE-m zones or are required to implement them.
Cities and Metropolitan Areas with Established or Planned ZFE-m Zones
- Paris and Métropole du Grand Paris (Greater Paris)
- Lyon and surrounding metropolitan area
- Marseille
- Toulouse
- Lille
- Nice
- Strasbourg and the Eurométropole Strasbourg
- Grenoble and the Grenoble-Alpes Métropole
- Montpellier
- Rouen
- Saint-Étienne
- Reims
- Toulon
- Clermont-Ferrand
Cities with Plans to Implement ZFE-m Zones by 2025
These cities are required to establish ZFE-m zones due to having populations over 150,000, though some may already be in progress:
- Bordeaux
- Nantes
- Dijon
- Angers
- Le Havre
- Metz
- Tours
- Aix-en-Provence
- Nancy
- Orléans
- Valence
- Caen
- Avignon
- Besançon
- Perpignan
- Mulhouse
- Pau
- Bayonne
- Saint-Denis de La Réunion (Réunion Island)
Future Requirements and Expansion
In addition to the current requirements, more cities may be added if further regulations are introduced or if population changes necessitate additional zones. The goal of these clean air zones is to gradually phase out the highest polluting vehicles, particularly diesel vehicles, in urban centers.
Crit’Air Classification
The Crit’Air sticker scheme is as follows:
- Crit’Air 0: Electric and hydrogen vehicles.
- Crit’Air 1: Natural gas and hybrid vehicles (Euro 5 and 6 standards).
- Crit’Air 2: Gasoline vehicles (Euro 4, 5, 6) and diesel (Euro 5, 6).
- Crit’Air 3-5: Diesel and older gasoline vehicles, progressively banned from central areas.
The official France Crit’Air certificate, required for vehicles to enter low-emission zones (Zones à Faibles Émissions Mobilité, or ZFE-m), can be purchased directly through the French government’s official Crit’Air website. Here’s how to buy it:
Steps to Buy a Crit’Air Certificate
Visit the Official Crit’Air Website:
- Go to the official Crit’Air certificate website: https://certificat-air.gouv.fr/
- This is the only official site for obtaining the sticker. Be cautious of third-party websites, as they often charge extra fees.
Select the Appropriate Language:
- The website is available in multiple languages, including English, which is helpful for international drivers.
Provide Vehicle Information:
- You will need to provide information about your vehicle, such as the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), registration details, and emission standards.
- Non-French vehicles can also apply, and you’ll need similar vehicle registration details from your home country. You will also need a scan of your V5 document
Pay the Fee:
- The cost of a Crit’Air sticker is €3.70 for residents in France, Or from UK 3,11 € + 1,65 € postage outside France (i.e. 4,76 € per vehicle)
- International orders may have slightly different postage fees. Payments are processed securely on the website. You just need a credit/debit card
Receive the Certificate by Mail:
- After completing the application, the Crit’Air sticker will be sent to your postal address.
- Processing and delivery usually take about 10 days for addresses in France and up to 30 days for international addresses.
Important Tips
- Order in Advance: Since the sticker is mailed, international drivers should apply well in advance of any planned trip to France.
- Display Correctly: Once received, the sticker should be placed on the inside of your windshield, preferably on the bottom-right corner.
Using the official website ensures that you get the Crit’Air certificate at the correct price and within the expected timeframe.
Important: If you have left it last minute even the day before you travel still register and pay, which is what we did at Van Adventures. We only registered a day before travel because we forgot, you will not receive your sticker in time but you will after a couple of days be on the database so the city cameras will not flag you as unregistered thus saving you a fine.
The police in the cities can still pull you but you can show them the official emails confirming you have it .