Understanding Crit’Air regulations:
A Comprehensive Guide
Crit'Air categories:
Crit’Air is a French initiative to limit pollution in urban areas by regulating vehicle access based on emissions. Vehicles are assigned a coloured sticker reflecting their pollution level:
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- Crit’Air 0/E (Green): Zero-emission electric and hydrogen vehicles. Generally allowed to drive in all zones, including during high pollution periods.
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- Crit’Air 1 (Purple): Plug-in hybrids and Euro 5/6 petrol vehicles. Permitted in most zones and during various pollution alerts.
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- Crit’Air 2 (Yellow): Euro 4 petrol and Euro 5/6 diesel vehicles. Generally allowed in low emission zones but may face restrictions during high pollution events.
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- Crit’Air 3 (Orange): Euro 2/3 petrol and Euro 4 diesel vehicles. May face restrictions in certain zones and during pollution peaks.
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- Crit’Air 4 (Burgundy): Euro 3 diesel vehicles. Often restricted in low emission zones and during pollution alerts.
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- Crit’Air 5 (Dark Grey): Euro 2 diesel vehicles. Frequently banned from entering low emission zones and during pollution peaks.
Vehicles not eligible for a Crit’Air sticker are generally considered the most polluting and are usually older than those in the Crit’Air 5 category.
This applies to diesel vehicles registered before January 1, 1997, and gasoline vehicles registered before January 1, 1997. These are prohibited from entering many urban areas and low emission zones.
For International Visitors
Classic Cars
Penalties
What are Crit'Air stickers?
Crit’Air stickers are an integral part of France’s initiative to manage vehicle emissions and improve air quality. These stickers categorise vehicles based on their environmental impact, enabling local authorities to implement traffic and pollution control measures effectively.
Crit’Air stickers, or air quality certificates, are color-coded badges that indicate a vehicle’s emissions level according to European standards. There are six main categories, each represented by a different color and number. The categories range from green (least polluting) to grey (most polluting). These stickers allow authorities to regulate traffic, especially in Low Emission Zones (LEZ) and during high pollution periods.