New Environment Zones in France: What You Need to Know About Crit’Air Stickers

paris - Find out all you need to know about the new environmental zones in France and how to obtain a Crit’Air sticker for your vehicle.

Approximately eighteen French cities are introducing new environmental zones this year, requiring drivers to affix a sticker on their windshield. Paris was the first city to implement the Crit’Air sticker nine years ago, and since then, regulations surrounding environmental zones have become stricter. As of January 1, 2025, about 18 French cities or agglomerations have imposed additional rules on polluting vehicles. Some cities are still in the process of rolling out the stickers, with enforcement expected by spring or summer.

In Lille (Rijsel), just across the border, the situation has already changed. The city previously issued smog alerts, restricting the most polluting cars from driving in the area. However, since January 1, the Crit’Air sticker is mandatory at all times, with the zone where it applies significantly expanded. Even Dutch visitors shopping at Auchan just across the border need to have the sticker now.

Certain highways, including the A1 near Lille, the Paris-North France connection, as well as roads in Paris and Lyon, will fall within the environmental zones in 2025. Electric vehicle drivers seeking charging stations off the highway will also require the sticker in these regions.

An additional 30 zones will be introduced this year, as any agglomeration with over 150,000 residents must comply with the national regulations. This means that both en-route and destination locations may now require the Crit’Air sticker. Some cities, like Duinkerke, Amiens, Béthune, and others, were supposed to have implemented the zones earlier but faced delays due to local political disagreements.

Both the Belgian VAB and Dutch ANWB advise travelers to France to acquire a Crit’Air sticker in advance, as the potential fine outweighs the cost of the sticker. There are six categories of stickers, each denoted by a specific color, ranging from least polluting (electric vehicles) to most polluting. In regions like Paris, restrictions have been tightened for categories 3 to 5, with some cars not even allowed to enter the capital.

Foreign visitors are also expected to have the environmental sticker where mandated. Renting a car in France should ensure the vehicle already has the required sticker, but renting or driving from the Netherlands means you must obtain one yourself. After renting a vehicle, apply for the sticker immediately to match the vehicle's details. The application process via the French government website requires vehicle registration information and costs €4.91, with delivery taking at least 14 days, possibly longer with the increased demand.

The sticker remains valid as long as you drive the same vehicle and retain the same license plate. Changing either requires a new sticker. Failure to comply may result in fines ranging from €68 to €135, with reports of more automated cameras being used to catch non-compliant drivers, leading to higher fines up to €180 for late payments.