Anyone traveling to France by car this summer will face new, permanent low-emission zones (LEZ) in nine major French cities. This is what the Belgian mobility organization VAB is warning for. Paris has had a LEZ in place for some time, but it, too, is being tightened up.

The so-called ‘zones à faibles emissions,’ or ZFE for short, have existed in France for some time now, but in most cities, they only came into effect in case of poor air quality until now. These low-emission zones no longer depend on air quality but apply permanently.

They include Grenoble, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Nice, Reims, Rouen, Strasbourg, and Toulouse. The low-emission zone has been in force in Lyon and Strasbourg since last year but was subject to a transition period. Quite a few other French cities and regions also still have low-emission zones, but they only come into effect in case of heavy air pollution.

Crit’air vignette

So anyone driving into the above cities will need an environmental sticker or ‘Crit’air vignette’. Those driving around without an environmental sticker risk a 68 euros fine, or 135 euros for businesses.

The specific rules of the low-emission zones do vary from city to city. Generally speaking, Euro 4 diesel cars and more recent ones are still allowed everywhere. There are no gasoline car restrictions, but the Critical-air sticker requirement also applies.

Stricter rules in Paris from 1 July

In Paris, where a ZFE or LEZ was already in force every working day between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., the rules will be tightened from 1 July. At least Euro 5 would apply to diesel cars and Euro 4 to gasoline cars. But discussions are still raging about a possible new postponement until at least after the 2024 Olympics.

That debate over a possible postponement or to ease the timetable for introducing stricter low-emission zones is raging across France. Here, mocking nicknames such as ‘zones with a lot of exclusions’ or ‘zones with a lot of problems’ (or ‘emmerdement‘ in French) are given to the ZFEs. According to a survey, 86% of private individuals and 79% of professionals are against the further rollout of ZFEs.

Report of French Senate

On Wednesday, the French Senate published another report on the subject. Overall, the report states that ZFEs face tensions and sharp misunderstandings, both on the part of the local authorities responsible for setting them up and users, individuals, and professionals.

In France, the first eleven ZFEs popped up in 2019. The 2021 Climate and Resilience Act allowed for their widespread introduction in some 43 conurbations with more than 150 000 inhabitants in mainland France by 31 December 2024. According to Public Health France, emissions of fine particles are responsible for 40 000 deaths a year in France.

Social time bomb

The rapport now suggests relaxing the current schedules by allowing local authorities to delay the ban of Crit’air 3 vehicles until 2030 at the latest. This ban should take effect on 1 January 2025, following that of Crit’Air 4 on January 2024.

“Banning more than a third of the vehicles that cross the city daily – some 13 million vehicles – inevitably risks deeper social and territorial fractures within a year and a half,” it warns. For example, the report cites Marseille’s very poor 3rd arrondissement, where 52% of vehicles are Crit’air 3, 4, or 5 and would be banned from driving within a year and a half.

More support and public transport

The report also advocates increasing support for purchasing clean vehicles, including second-hand cars, mainly for low-income households or those living outside ZFEs but forced to commute to work. It also recommends “creating a shock of alternative transport offerings”, such as express buses or metropolitan RER, because the public transport services are insufficient.

Foreign drivers can apply for the vignette for a ZFE at www.certificat-air.gouv.fr. You can also order the vignette from VAB’s webshop at an additional cost.