On January 1, 2023, several French cities will become ZFEs, which means that certain cars will no longer be able to drive there. Malus, benefits, vehicles concerned, we explain everything you need to know about this government measure.
2023 is already shaping up to be a busy year for French motorists. Indeed, the government is preparing a number of measures concerning them, all with the same objective: to put an end to traditional thermal cars by 2035. Among these measures, we find the famous ZFE, which have appeared in the Hexagon in 2015.
Since then, the government has continued to strengthen the protocol. Thus, from January 1, 2023, many additional cities will become a ZFE, and will de facto prohibit the circulation of certain vehicles. What is an EPZ? Which cars are affected by the regulations? How do I get a Crit’Air sticker? Here’s everything you need to know about it.
What is a ZFE?
ZFE stands for “Low Emission Zones”. As their name suggests, these zones aim to reduce air pollution and in particular the CO2 emissions produced by the most polluting vehicles. If the latter have existed since 2015 in Greater Paris, it is especially in 2021 that the system has really gained momentum in France.
The principle is relatively simple: within the EPZs, the most polluting vehicles cannot circulate. To determine the amount of pollution generated by a vehicle, they are assigned a Crit’Air sticker, which indicates the category in which they are.
These vignettes are classified from 1 to 6, from Crit’Air 1 to Crit’Air 6, the latter corresponding to the most polluting vehicles. Three criteria are taken into account to determine the classification of a vehicle: the energy used, the type of vehicle and its EURO emission standard. This last point corresponds to the first registration date of the vehicle:
- Euro 1: between January 1, 1993 and July 1, 1996
- Euro 2: between July 1, 1996 and January 1, 2001
- Euro 3: between January 1, 2001 and January 1, 2006
- Euro 4: between January 1, 2006 and January 1, 2011
- Euro 5: between January 1, 2011 and September 1, 2015
- Euro 6b: between September 1, 2015 and September 1, 2018
- Euro 6c: between September 1, 2018 and September 1, 2019
On the same subject – Weight penalty, ecological bonus, ZFE: everything that awaits motorists on January 1, 2022
What are the upcoming ZFE restrictions on January 1, 2023?
Currently, there are 11 EPZs in total on French territory:
- The agglomeration Parisian (40 municipalities, including Paris);
- The metropolis of Grenoble (27 municipalities, including Grenoble);
- The metropolis of Lyons
- Aix-Marseille-Provence
- Nice-Cote d’Azur
- Toulon-Provence-Mediterranean
- Toulouse
- Montpellier-Mediterranean
- Strasbourg
- Metropolis of Greater Nancy
- Rouen-Normandy
The last additions took place in 2021 and therefore further restrictions are to be expected in the coming months. Thus, the government aims by January 1, 2024 to impose these measures:
- Marseilles : ban on Crit’Air 3
- Greater Paris : ban on Crit’Air 2
- Grenoble : prohibition of Crit’Air 3 and 4
- Montpellier : ban on Crit’Air 4
- Toulouse : prohibition of Crit’Air 3 vignettes
- Reims : prohibition of Crit’Air 3 vignettes
- Strasbourg : prohibition of Crit’Air 4 vignettes
- Nice : prohibition of Crit’Air 4 vignettes
As of January 1, all Crit’Air 5 vehicles will be prohibited from circulating in ZFEs. In total, the authorities hope to create EPZs in 43 French cities with more than 150,000 inhabitants. The government also plans to install special anti-pollution radars by 2024 in the areas concerned.
How to know and obtain the Crit’Air sticker for your vehicle
Although implemented in 2016, you may not have obtained your Crit’Air sticker yet, especially if you have never had to drive in a ZFE before. However, given the many measures awaiting motorists in the coming months, it is probably time for you to look into the matter. The first thing to do is to know the category of your vehicle.
To do this, simply go to this official government website and fill out the questionnaire there. Enter all the information about your vehicle as well as its registration number and date to obtain a Crit’Air estimate. Once done, it will then be necessary to make a request to obtain the latter. To do this, go to this site and complete the questionnaire again. Note that the procedure will cost you €3.70.