UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING – ZFE, how to navigate in 2025?

In 2025, low emission zones (LEZ) will become stricter. At least, on paper, with four large cities, Paris, Lyon, Grenoble and Montpellier, which will ban Crit’Air 3 vehicles from circulation (diesel before 2011 and gasoline before 2006).

But in these EPZs, as in others that will launch their system starting January 1 or later this year, there should be no fines yet. A development that is rather expected for 2026. The year 2025 rather serves as a “big rehearsal” with this real entry into force of this system, already many times postponed.

• Why was the ban on cars with Crit’Air 3 stickers in the EPZs relaxed?

Firstly, there is an ecological dimension: these EPZs aim to improve air quality in large urban areas. A European approach, with EPZs already established in several large cities among our neighbors.

Last spring, the Ministry of Ecological Transition found that air quality had improved in many cities, hence this decided relaxation.

In total, only two cities had to reinforce their system as planned: Paris and Lyon. Two other EPZs, those of Grenoble and Montpellier, have voluntarily decided to maintain the planned schedule, that is, the ban on Crit’Air 3 stickers.

Originally, within the framework of the Climate and Resilience Law, All cities with more than 150,000 inhabitants must have established their EPZ prohibiting Crit’Air 3, but also vehicles with older stickers. A very severe device that caused a lot of concern.

Finally, urban areas have the possibility of placing the corresponding stickers and some have chosen to prohibit only certain vehicles (those that do not have stickers, that is, cars before 1997, for example in Lille, Metz, Annecy or Bordeaux) .

Motorists find it difficult to navigate this national framework that is applied differently at the local level. Legislation on EPZs has also evolved considerably and there is nothing to suggest that this will not be the case yet. If you are concerned, it is best to consult your EPZ’s information site to find out its specifics.

• Am I at risk of receiving a fine?

A priori no, because video verbalization will not be implemented until 2026. The EPZs generally speak of an “educational period”, to give motorists time to prepare for this restrictive framework.

Until now, fines have been imposed mainly in the context of pollution spikes. Authorities may ban other stickers depending on the level of the spike observed.

If you drive in a ZFE, remember to check that your vehicle has an authorized sticker. And if you don’t have it yet, order it on the ministry’s official website (3.77 euros per vehicle).

In fact, during a road check you can be penalized for not wearing the sticker (whether your vehicle is authorized or not), with a fine of 68 euros.

And several metropolises, such as Greater Paris, have already provided for possible exemptions for vehicle owners.

“ZFE violations can be detected during road checks and during fines for other reasons for traffic violations,” explains, for example, the metropolis of Lille, which will create its ZFE from January 1, excluding They don’t have stickers.

The legal framework provides for fines:

• Fourth class, for heavy vehicles, buses and coaches (flat rate of 135 euros)
• Third class, for other vehicle categories (flat rate of 68 euros)

• What help for changing vehicles?

Crit’Air 3 stickers correspond to diesel vehicles over 14 years old (first registration before 2011) and gasoline vehicles over 19 years old (first registration before 2006).

In total nationwide, this represents 21% of rolling stock, or 8.84 million cars.

However, the ecological bonus has just been revised significantly downwards, with immediate application from the beginning of December. The conversion bonus has simply been eliminated, which allowed, in particular, to receive additional help for a recently used vehicle compared to an old scrapped car.

There is always local assistance for changing cars, in metropolitan areas, but also in regions and departments. Do not hesitate to consult at these different counters.

• ZFE: the list of all affected cities

“Active” SPAs in France in 2025 (some SPAs start on January 1 or later in the year)

• Angers: exclusion of unclassified vehicles
• Annecy: exclusion of unclassified vehicles
• Annemasse: exclusion of unclassified vehicles
• Bordeaux: exclusion of unclassified vehicles
• Brest: exclusion of unclassified vehicles
• Caen: exclusion of unclassified vehicles
• Chambéry: exclusion of unclassified vehicles
• Grenoble: exclusion from Crit’Air 3, 4, 5 and unclassified
• Le Havre: exclusion of unclassified vehicles
• Lille: exclusion of unclassified vehicles
• Lyon: exclusion from Crit’Air 3, 4, 5 and not classified
• Montpellier: exclusion from Crit’Air 3, 4, 5 and unclassified
• Nantes: exclusion of unclassified vehicles
• Nimes: exclusion of unclassified vehicles
• Paris: exclusion of Crit’Air 3, 4, 5 and unclassified
• Pau: exclusion of unclassified vehicles
• Basque Country (Hendaye, Urrugne, Ciboure, Saint Jean de Luz, Guéthary, Bidart, Biarritz, Anglet, Bayonne, Boucau and Tarnos): exclusion of Crit’Air 5 and unclassified vehicles from April 1
• Rennes: exclusion of unclassified vehicles
• Toulon: exclusion of Crit’Air 5 and unclassified vehicles
• Tours: exclusion of unclassified vehicles.