Crit'Air sticker for France - do we need one?

UFO

UFO

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Trying to get my head around the Crit'Air sticker for France. We have a 2009 Diesel, Fiat Ducato, 2,200cc - so Euro4 I think. Do we need one? I may have left it too late as the ferry is on 29 April.

On the website https://www.france.fr/en/article/cr...e-sticker/#is-the-critair-sticker-mandatory-3 it states 'The air quality certificate is mandatory for all vehicles wishing to drive in France, even occasionally, in certain urban areas known as Low Emission Mobility Zones'.

Looking at the list of places

'The Crit'Air certificate is only compulsory in certain zones. In Paris, the sticker is compulsory within the perimeter of the A86 motorway from Monday to Friday, from 8am to 8pm, except on public holidays. Several large cities have also set up low emission mobility zones. The agglomerations concerned are: Lyon, Aix-Marseille, Toulouse, Nice, Montpellier, Strasbourg, Grenoble, Rouen, Reims and Saint-Étienne. From 2025, all cities and agglomerations with more than 150,000 inhabitants will be required to introduce a Low Emission Mobility Zone.'

As the only places that we might go anywhere near are Reims and Strasbourg, and if we do we will most likely park outside and get public transport in. Are there signs we should not go past to avoid getting a fine?

thank you
 
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UFO said:
Trying to get my head around the Crit'Air sticker for France. We have a 2009 Diesel, Fiat Ducato, 2,200cc. Do we need one? I may have left it too late as the ferry is on 29 April.

On the website https://www.france.fr/en/article/cr...e-sticker/#is-the-critair-sticker-mandatory-3 it states 'The air quality certificate is mandatory for all vehicles wishing to drive in France, even occasionally, in certain urban areas known as Low Emission Mobility Zones'.

Looking at the list of places

'The Crit'Air certificate is only compulsory in certain zones. In Paris, the sticker is compulsory within the perimeter of the A86 motorway from Monday to Friday, from 8am to 8pm, except on public holidays. Several large cities have also set up low emission mobility zones. The agglomerations concerned are: Lyon, Aix-Marseille, Toulouse, Nice, Montpellier, Strasbourg, Grenoble, Rouen, Reims and Saint-Étienne. From 2025, all cities and agglomerations with more than 150,000 inhabitants will be required to introduce a Low Emission Mobility Zone.'

As the only places that we might go anywhere near are Reims and Strasbourg, and if we do we will most likely park outside and get public transport in. Are there signs we should not go past to avoid getting a fine?

thank you
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For the few bob it will cost you get one if you order now you should have it by the time you go
 
We visit France twice each year, mostly western side of the country and Pyrenees. Most cities are bypassed by us, but I can't say I have ever seen a sign demarking the restricted areas.
The cost is only in the region of €5 for a sticker provided you buy from the government source rather than a third party.
Once you apply online you receive an email within days confirming what class your vehicle is in.
This email is all you need for your trip. The actual sticker follows quite quickly and as it is a one off purchase, I reckon it is worth doing.
If you do decide to apply you will be unable to quote your co2 emissions as they are not normally available for motorhomes as modified vehicles. The class of sticker will be based on the year of first registration.


Davy
 
There are signs when entering the areas, they show classes permitted, just apply, get one and keep the email to confirm it. Realistically chances of getting a fine is extremely slim. I've driven through Rouen numerous times without one.
 
My van is 30 years old 1996 and I was told I could not have a sticker because my van was too old.
I have now highlighted the many cities in France I must avoid. There is a sign to warn you. Find it on line.
 
If you order one online through the official site shortly after within a day or two you will receive an email stating that your application is approved and attached to this will be a temporary critical aire document that you can print off that can be used to proove validity until the original sticker arrives in the post.

We have one for the motorhome however got caught out last year as we could not use our motorbike in Toulouse or Clement Ferand. An oversight on my part as thought small motorbikes would be exempt. Now sorted and the crit air sticker recognised in Spain also (however there does seem to be an exemption in certain cities for non Spanish registered vehicles anyway) and maybe other european countries.
 
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Agree, for the price it's not worth not getting one.
Moped said:
If you order one online through the official site shortly after within a day or two you will receive an email stating that your application is approved and attached to this will be a temporary critical aire document that you can print off that can be used to proove validity until the original sticker arrives in the post.
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Good to know that they email a temporary Crit' Air. Thanks.
 
YeoBlade said:
I've driven through Rouen numerous times without one.
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I know, it's been done to death, but please can someone do me an Idiot's Guide To Passing Through Rouen? It looks like the main road through is closed, I have a yellow Crit-Air badge. I'm seriously thinking of a major detour.
 
Jo001 said:
I know, it's been done to death, but please can someone do me an Idiot's Guide To Passing Through Rouen? It looks like the main road through is closed, I have a yellow Crit-Air badge. I'm seriously thinking of a major detour.
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Getting off the ferry in Dieppe, I literally set Google maps to Châteaudun, (where we always have lunch), and follow the sat nav. That's it.
Heading south the new bridge/flyover is open. Northbound it's not. One small toll.
 
UFO said:
Trying to get my head around the Crit'Air sticker for France. We have a 2009 Diesel, Fiat Ducato, 2,200cc - so Euro4 I think. Do we need one? I may have left it too late as the ferry is on 29 April.

On the website https://www.france.fr/en/article/cr...e-sticker/#is-the-critair-sticker-mandatory-3 it states 'The air quality certificate is mandatory for all vehicles wishing to drive in France, even occasionally, in certain urban areas known as Low Emission Mobility Zones'.

Looking at the list of places

'The Crit'Air certificate is only compulsory in certain zones. In Paris, the sticker is compulsory within the perimeter of the A86 motorway from Monday to Friday, from 8am to 8pm, except on public holidays. Several large cities have also set up low emission mobility zones. The agglomerations concerned are: Lyon, Aix-Marseille, Toulouse, Nice, Montpellier, Strasbourg, Grenoble, Rouen, Reims and Saint-Étienne. From 2025, all cities and agglomerations with more than 150,000 inhabitants will be required to introduce a Low Emission Mobility Zone.'

As the only places that we might go anywhere near are Reims and Strasbourg, and if we do we will most likely park outside and get public transport in. Are there signs we should not go past to avoid getting a fine?

thank you
Click to expand...
If you apply for it straight away you should get it in time. When we applied for ours it took only about a week to through the post.
 
Jo001 said:
I know, it's been done to death, but please can someone do me an Idiot's Guide To Passing Through Rouen? It looks like the main road through is closed, I have a yellow Crit-Air badge. I'm seriously thinking of a major detour.
Click to expand...
We have tried going around Rouen, my personal opinion after 20 years is that it is far quicker to go through Rouen. So because we are a crit air 4 we get a 24hr day pass so we can go through. pj
 
We have one, if we hadn't would probably get one, saying that, last year the French parliament voted to abolish them, but the law hasn't yet been introduced, and they might be handy for Spain who accept them for foreign registered vehicles.
 
For the pittance they cost we got one and it went in the correct place, bottom corner of windscreen UK drivers side so it was visable from their footpath.

IMHO it`s not worth not having one same as the Angles Mortes, Beam Benders ( which also went in the correct places ), UK plates ( after you know what ), Hi-Vis ( on back of seats ) etc. etc.

We got pulled several times in roadside checks and you could see the Gendarmes glance at eveything as we pulled up then they waved us on.

The last thing we wanted on holiday was being pulled by some bad tempered Gendarme that hadn`t had his morning bageutte, wine and a shag.

I know i`ll get members coming on saying ................... fekk em, they don`t use them over here so why the fekk should we use them over there.

P.S.
For the pedantic the last sentance is only related to Beam Benders.
 
When the Britain stickers were first introduced, there was an often-overlooked proviso that, if a large town or city, e.g. La Rochelle, declared an air pollution alert, the entire region was also included; so, the 'don't intend to drive in La Rochelle' didn't exempt you. I don't know what happened to the proviso, and, the intention to drop the Britain scheme to avoid a Gilets Jaunes version 2 protest, possibly renders it redundant ...

Steve
 
Jo001 said:
I know, it's been done to death, but please can someone do me an Idiot's Guide To Passing Through Rouen? It looks like the main road through is closed, I have a yellow Crit-Air badge. I'm seriously thinking of a major detour.
Click to expand...
You shouldn't need to worry, Jo; we just drive through the centre with the Category 2 sticker, follow the latest detour for the bridge closures, and then head for Alencon ...
Steve
 
If i remember correctly our Crit'Air sticker for France took 9 days from ordering and paying to being delivered through our door.
 
This was put on by Roaminrog
  • Post #26
  • Mar 12, 2026

Just received this reply from Rouen Tourist Office. Hello Sir, ZFE 24h Pass isn't mandatory anymore : you can access freely Rouen, without restrictions. Looking forward to welcoming you, I remain at your disposal for any further information, Best regards, François, your Travel Advisor
 
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