If the Crit’Air sticker system aims above all to exclude certain polluting vehicles from cities, owners of electric vehicles must affix their Crit’Air sticker on their windshield. What’s the point ? And why should it be done?
Several cities have set up low emission zones (ZFE or ZFE-m). These ZFEs are intended to restrict cities’ access to all the most polluting thermal vehicles, within perimeters and time slots defined by the local authorities concerned. The system implemented is based on Air Quality stickers, ranging from Crit’Air 0 (electric or hydrogen vehicle) to Crit’Air 5, which vehicles must affix to their windshield.
Since electric cars are not affected by exclusions in ZFEs, some owners skip the Crit Air sticker. An oversight that could be costly in the event of an inspection.
Which cities are affected?
A dozen cities have already set up a Low Emission Zone (ZFE) with a progressive exclusion schedule for the oldest thermal vehicles. This begins with “unclassified” vehicles, that is to say older than the Crit’Air 5 vignettes, then gradually Crit’Air 5, 4 and 3 are excluded. The cities that have activated a ZFE are as follows :
- Metropolis of Lyon,
- Grenoble-Alpes-Metropolis,
- Paris and Greater Paris Metropolis,
- Aix-Marseille-Provence,
- Nice-Cote d’Azur,
- Toulon-Provence-Mediterranean,
- Toulouse,
- Montpellier-Mediterranean,
- Strasbourg,
- Rouen-Normandy.
All cities do not have the same exclusion calendar, nor the same operation on the perimeter and the schedules concerned. It is necessary to inquire locally, to know the conditions of application.
Outside Low Emission Zones, air quality stickers can also be used during pollution peaks. When traffic needs to be temporarily restricted in certain geographical areas, this replaces the even and odd plate system, used until now for differentiated traffic.
The main thing to remember: whether you are residents or tourists passing through, individuals or professionals, you must have your Crit’Air sticker, including if you drive an electric car. Only “unclassified” vehicles, that is to say vehicles prior to 1996, are exempt from the sticker, since there is none for them.
In August 2022, the government indicated that it had already issued 22,985,497 air quality certificates.
What do I risk riding without the Crit’Air vignette in the ZFE?
If you drive in a ZFE without having a Crit’Air sticker, you risk a fine. This is a fixed fine of €68, which can reach up to €450 in the event of an increase. The penalty is the same whether you are driving without a sticker or driving an unauthorized vehicle in the area.
Your vehicle can also be penalized if it is parked in a ZFE, without the presence of the Crit’Air sticker.
Risking a fine of 68 €, while the Crit’Air sticker only costs 3.70 €, that would still be a shame.
Where to buy your Crit’Air sticker? (Beware of scams!)
Several sites offer to buy the Crit’Air sticker online, these sites are generally fraudulent. Moreover, new scams with the Crit’Air sticker are launched from SMS campaigns. Be careful, there is only one government site that manages these requests: https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/
Procedures can also be done by post.
The vignette is billed at exactly €3.11 + €0.59 postage, or €3.70 per vehicle.
In some cases, for the purchase of a new electric car, your dealership may have taken the steps for you. However, many dealerships only deal with the registration certificate, it will then be up to you to order your Crit’Air sticker.
The receipt of the Crit’Air sticker is generally done in less than 10 days. While waiting for the sticker, your invoice has a facsimile which serves as proof while you receive your certificate by post.