Crit'Air sticker: what are the conditions for driving in Paris?

To limit air pollution in Paris, certain excessively polluting vehicles are banned from the roads. Find out more about the conditions required to drive in the capital.

Metro, bus, RER, streetcar, Vélib': there are many ways to get around Paris and its suburbs. But sometimes public transport just isn't enough, especially if you're coming from further afield: you need a car. However, driving around the capital is not for everyone. Paris and the surrounding communes (up to the A86 motorway) are classified as Low Emission Zones (Z FE). The aim of this health scheme is " to reduce pollutant emissions, particularly in large conurbations, in order to improve air quality and ensure that residents can breathe air that is not harmful to their health " .

In concrete terms, in order to limit air pollution in France's major cities, cars are required to carry a special vignette in order to drive in these zones. The sticker is given to vehicles (two-wheelers, cars, heavy goods vehicles, etc.) that pollute the least, according to the conditions set out in current European environmental standards.

The vignette, called Crit'Air, is compulsory in the capital and the ZFE. Paris City Hall explains that, since 2021, " vehicles categorized as Unclassified, Crit'Air 5 and Crit'Air 4 may not be driven in the entire area inside the A86 freeway, excluding this one, on the following days and at the following times:

For buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles: 7 days a week, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
For private vehicles, light commercial vehicles, two-wheelers, motorized tricycles and quadricycles: Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm - except public holidays. "

There are six categories of Crit'Air sticker - but categories 4 and 5 are now banned in Paris, as mentioned above. From January 1, 2025, vehicles with a Crit'Air 3 sticker will also be excluded from the Greater Paris road zone.

If you're planning a short trip by car in Paris, you'll need to apply for this sticker. To find out the category of your vehicle, please refer to this table on the official website.

You can apply for a Crit'Air sticker online at certificat-air.gouv.fr. Please note that only this official site, affiliated to the French Ministry of Ecological Transition, can issue these documents. The certificate costs 3.11 euros per vehicle + the cost of postage to have the sticker delivered to your home. In France, you should therefore pay 4.61 euros. This price will increase if you are abroad. Allow 5 to 10 days for delivery.

Crit'Air sticker: what are the conditions for driving in Paris?

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