Air pollution is responsible for the premature death of 40,000 people a year in France, pollution mainly due to road traffic, according to Public Health France. In the face of this scourge, the state has decided to multiply the low-emission mobility zones (LEZ-m) in major cities.
What are EPZs?
These are perimeters where certain vehicles, considered too polluting, cannot circulate or park, on certain days or hours. Vehicle discrimination is based on its Crit’Air sticker, which distinguishes them according to their level of pollution.
43 ZFE for 2025
To date, 12 zones have been created or are being deployed in the following cities: Greater Paris, Lyon, Grenoble, Aix-Marseille, Nice, Toulon, Toulouse, Montpellier, Strasbourg, Rouen, Reims and Saint-Étienne.
The Climate and Resilience Act of 2021 requires all metropolitan agglomerations of more than 150,000 inhabitants to establish one before December 31, 2024. Therefore, in 2025 there will be 43 ZFE.
A partially unified restriction calendar
This development will be accompanied by a partially unified implementation schedule. Currently, the ZFE’s traffic rules are established locally (perimeter, categories of vehicles affected, timetables, calendar, exemptions). In Paris, for example, the traffic ban already applies to vehicles classified as Crit’Air 4, 5 and not classified; while in Reims, only Crit’Air 5 and unclassified are now banned.
The Climate and Resilience Act will standardize deadlines in 10 cities where pollution episodes are too frequent. At least Paris, Lyon, Grenoble, Marseille, Nice, Toulon, Toulouse, Montpellier, Strasbourg and Rouen must exclude Crit’Air 5 in 2023, Crit’Air 4 in 2024 and Crit’Air 3 in 2025.
It helps to change cars
In the face of these restrictions, you will have to adapt. In addition to the use of an alternative means of transport (bus, bicycle, etc.), there are grants for the purchase or rental of a clean vehicle. The state pays up to 5,000 euros in conversion premium, in exchange for the scrapping of an old polluting model. The amount is increased up to 1,000 euros if you live or work in a ZFE. The bonus can be combined with an ecological bonus of up to 6,000 euros. In addition, the most modest are entitled to a microcredit (up to 5,000 euros) and, from 2023, a zero interest loan (up to 30,000 euros) in certain EPZs.
To these national aids are added the local subsidies. The Ille-de-France region is awarding up to 6,000 euros to homes in the suburbs working outside the ZFE that replace an old thermal vehicle with an electric or hybrid model. The metropolis of Toulouse offers up to 5,000 euros in bonuses to individuals. Please note that the accumulation of grants may be limited.
Get a Crit’Air sticker
The placement of a Crit’Air sticker on the windshield is mandatory for driving in a ZFE. There are six, ranging from 0 (100% electric or hydrogen vehicle) to 5 (diesel registered between 1997 and 2000). Older models are not classified. To find out which sticker is right for your vehicle, go to Certificat-air.gouv.fr with your vehicle’s registration document. You can order your sticker online or by mail, using a form (cost: 3.70 euros in mainland France, shipping included). Driving in a ZFE without a sticker or with a prohibited vehicle is punishable by a fixed fine of 68 to 135 euros. Most metropolises are still welcoming.
|
Nom EPZ |
Perimeter | The stages of the restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Paris and the Great Metropolis of Paris | 77 municipalities in an area delimited approximately by the A86 motorway |
July 1, 2019: unclassified vehicles and Crit’Air 5 June 1, 2021: Crit’Air 4 vehicles July 1, 2023: Crit’Air 3 vehicles January 1, 2024: Crit’Air 4 vehicles By 2030: only 100% clean vehicles will be allowed |
| Grenoble Alps metropolis | 27 municipalities |
May 2019: Crit’Air 5 and unclassified professional vehicles July 2020: Crit’Air 4 professional vehicles July 2022: Professional vehicles Crit’Air 3 July 2023: Crit’Air private vehicles 5 July 2024: private vehicles Crit’Air 4 July 2025: Crit’Air 2 professional vehicles and Crit’Air 3 passenger vehicles Before 2023: Crit’Air private vehicles 2 |
| Great Lyon | Lyon, the sectors of Villeurbanne, Bron and Vénissieux within the Laurent Bonnevay ring road and the municipality of Caluire-and-Cook |
January 1, 2021: Crit’Air 3, 4 and 5 professionals and unclassified vehicles September 1, 2022: Crit’Air 5 and unclassified vehicles Between 2023 and 2026 : Progressive ban on Crit’Air vehicles 4, 3 and finally 2 |
| Eurometropolis of Strasbourg | The whole of the Eurometropolis with the exception of certain axes |
January 1, 2022: Crit’Air 5 and unclassified vehicles January 1, 2023: Crit’Air 4 vehicles January 1, 2024 : Crit’Air 3 vehicles January 1, 2025: Crit’Air 2 vehicles |
| Rouen-Normandy | 12 municipalities (Amfreville-la-Mi-Voie, Bihorel, Bois-Guillaume, Bonsecours, Darnétal, Déville lès Rouen, Notre-Dame-de-Bondeville, Grand Quevilly, Mesnil-Esnard, Petit-Quevilly, Rouen and Sotteville-lès-Rouen) |
January 3, 2022: commercial vehicles and heavy goods vehicles Crit’Air 4, 5 and not classified September 1, 2022: all Crit’Air 4, 5 and unrated vehicles |
| Aix-Marseille-Provence | 19.5 km² in the heart of Marseille, bordered by Prado, Rabatau, Jarret, Plombières and part of the Euromed area |
September 1, 2022: Crit’Air 5 and unclassified vehicles September 1, 2023: Crit’Air 4 vehicles September 1, 2024: Crit’Air 3 vehicles |
| Montpellier metropolis |
11 municipalities (Montpellier, Castelnau-le-Lez, Clapiers, Grabels, Jacou, Juvignac, Lattes, Le Crès, Montpellier, Pérols, Saint Jean de Védas and Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone). From 1 July 2026, the scope will be extended to everyone 31 municipalities of the Metropolis |
July 1, 2022: unclassified vehicles January 1, 2023: Crit’Air 5 vehicles January 1, 2024: Crit’Air 4 vehicles January 1, 2025: Crit’Air 3 vehicles |
| beautiful | Nice city center |
January 31, 2022: trucks, buses and coaches Crit’Air 5 and unclassified January 1, 2023: trucks, buses Crit’Air 5 and unclassified gers January 1, 2024: Crit’Air 3 trucks, buses and coaches and Crit’Air 4 light vehicles |
| Metropolis of Saint-Etienne | 7 municipalities (perimeter within the Saint-Etienne highway triangle) |
January 31, 2022: unclassified trucks and light commercial vehicles Until January 1, 2025: Crit’Air 4 and 5 light trucks and commercial vehicles Until January 1, 2027: weights and commercial vehicles Crit’Air 3 |
| Gran Reims | Reims and Taittinger road (A44) |
January 1, 2022 : Crit’Air 5 and unclassified vehicles January 1, 2023 : Crit’Air 4 vehicles January 1, 2024 : Crit’Air vehicles 3 |
| Metropolis of Toulouse | All of Toulouse within the ring road and a small part of Colomiers and Tournefeuillethat is, a perimeter of 72 km2. |
March 1, 2022: Crit’Air 5 and vans, vans, unclassified trucks September 1, 2022: the same Crit’Air 4 vehicles January 1, 2023: all Crit’Air 4, 5 and unrated vehicles January 1, 2024: all Crit’Air 3 vehicles |