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Environmental Zones in Europe
With global warming, countries are putting more and more measures in place to reduce carbon emissions. Among these devices, we find the environmental zones (or EPZ for "Low Emission Zone"), areas where traffic is reduced in order to improve air quality. More and more countries are setting up environmental zones in large cities. In Europe, each country has its regulations and restrictions. Thumbnails , registration, we explain everything to you so that you can ride with complete peace of mind on the roads of Europe with your motorcycle.
What are EPZs?
A EPZ is an area in a city with regulations put in place to improve air quality. This mainly serves to reduce emissions of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides or fine particles. In addition to improving air quality, this also helps promote less polluting means of transport such as cycling and public transport.
Among the regulations put in place, some apply to vehicle access to these areas. In fact, certain vehicles may be prohibited there car too polluting. In some countries these restrictions only apply to trucks and cars, but in others they apply to all vehicles, including motorcycles. Depending on the country, a ecological label, in the form of stickers, is mandatory for driving in an environmental zone in order to prove that the vehicle complies with the emission standards in force. Some areas have surveillance cameras. They automatically control vehicles entering and leaving the area by scanning their license plates. Owners of vehicles not previously registered or that pollute too much risk receiving a fine directly at home. The amount of the latter varies depending on the country.
London: the ULEZ
There are 10 EPZs in London: the Low Emission Zones (LEZ) which covers the entire Greater London area and only concerns heavy goods vehicles and Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) which covers the entire city of London and concerns all vehicles. There is also a urban toll (Congestion Load).
The ULEZ is effective 24h / 24 et 7 days on 7 with the exception of Christmas Day. Cameras scan the license plates of entering and exiting vehicles to check whether they are registered in their database. To be able to access the area, you must register your vehicle beforehand. You can register your vehicle via the website Transport for London ou via the TFL application. The inputs and outputs of the ULEZ are indicated par Signs.
If your vehicle does not meet current standards, you must pay a daily tax of £ 12,50 (~ € 15). For non-payment of tax, you may receive a fine of £ 180Either ~ € 210 (it can be reduced to £ 90Either ~ € 105 if you pay within 10 days). In order not to pay the tax, vehicles must meet these standards at least:
- Euro 3 for motorcycles and mopeds
- Euro 4 for petrol cars and vans
- Euro 6 for diesel cars and vans
In summary, if your motorcycle is from 2007 and after, You don't have to pay the tax.
Spain: ZBEs (“Zona de Bajas Emisiones”)
Since January 1, 2023, the Spanish government has introduced new rules so that all cities with more than 50000 inhabitants become environmental zones (or LEZ for "Low Emissions Zone"). In order to circulate there, a ecological sticker is mandatory for all vehicles. The Spanish environmental sticker is unfortunately not available for foreign vehicles.rangers but rest assured, you can use the French ecological sticker to get around. If we come from the summerranger, it is also mandatory to register your vehicle online.
There are 2 permanent ZBEs : Barcelona and Madrid. Other ZBEs are set up occasionally, notably in Seville, Valencia and Valladolid, during pollution peaks.
The ban on driving in ZBEs concerns these vehicles:
- Euro 0-2 for gasoline cars
- Euro 0-3 for diesel cars
- Euro 0-1 for motorcycles
You can therefore travel with registered motorcycles from 2004. Failure to comply with the restrictions results in a fine of 200€.
The Barcelona ZBE:
The Barcelona ZBE includes all of Greater Barcelona and is effective from Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 20 p.m.. Between 10:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. as well as on weekends, there are no restrictions except in the event of a pollution peak. When it is active, it is not possible to drive there with an unregistered vehicle. Vehicle registration costs 7€, you can register it online via the website Metropolitan Area of Barcelona.
The ZBE of Madrid:
Since 2009, the ZBE of Madrid covers the entire municipality of Madrid. The city center is equipped with surveillance cameras and there is also a restricted parking zone, the ZBEDEPDC (Low emissions zone with special protection) in the hypercentre. It is not possible for vehiclesrangers to park there. The only solution is to park in a private or public parking lot that is part of the ZBEDEPDC management system.
To be able to circulate in the area, it is possible to register online via the website of the Town hall Madrid.
Netherlands: the “Milieuzone”
There is in all 15 EPZ distributed in 12 cities in the Nederlands. There is no need to register your vehicle or put on a sticker to access and drive there, cameras monitor vehicles entering the area to check whether they meet the standards in force. If this is not the case, the vehicle owner receives a fine. This amounts to 70€ for motorcycles.
We can note 4 Middle zone “main” : Amsterdam, Arnhem, The Hague and Utrecht. Most Milieuzones only concern heavy goods vehicles, but in the Amsterdam and The Hague zones there are specific rules regarding motorcycles. In The Hague, motorcycles with a 100-stroke engine registered before 2009 are prohibited. Those with a 100-stroke engine are only permitted if they are p-controlled.ar an authorized dealer.
For the Amsterdam area, at the moment only motorbikes registered before 2009 are prohibited from access but be careful! A general tightening of the rules is planned for 2019, a zero emission zone will be created, notably in Amsterdam. This means that only zero emission vehicles will be able to circulate there. This tightening of rules will also affect motorcycles. Thus, from 2000, only electric motorcycles will be able to circulate in the Amsterdam area.
France: ZCR (“Restricted Traffic Zones”)
There are currently 2000 ZCR in France distributed in 100 urban areas : Aix-Marsille, Grenoble, Lille, Lyon, Montpellier, Nancy, Nice, Reims, Rouen, Saint Etienne, Strasbourg, Toulouse and Paris. By 2020, the number of ZCRs is expected to increase to 43. There are also specific environmental zones, called ZPA (For "Air Protection Zone"), implemented when there is a pollution peak.
A system of "air quality certificate", said Crit'Air, was put in place in the form of a vignette. The latter is valid throughout France and is mandatory to travel in a ZCR or a ZPA. The Crit'Air sticker indicates the environmental class of the vehicle. It exists 6 environmental stickers, numbered of 0 5 to, the 5 being for the most polluting vehicles. You can order the sticker You can consult it by clicking here..
If you do not have a sticker, you risk a fine of 68€ (if payment within 45 days.), the fine may be reduced to 45€ if you pay immediately and increased to 180€ in the event of late payment.
The Paris ZCR:
The Paris ZCR covers the entire Greater Paris region, it is delimited byar the 86. It should be noted, however, that the latter is not concerned par the ZCR, you can therefore travel there without a sticker. The zone is active from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 20 p.m. (excluding public holidays), only vehicles with at least one Crit'Air sticker can circulate. You can travel with your motorcycle if the latter date is 2004 or later.
Please note, tougher rules are planned for the Paris ZCR! From January 20, 2020, only vehicles with at least a Crit'Air 2 sticker will be able to access the area. In 2020, the ZCR will become a “Zero Emission Zone”, which means that only electric vehicles will be able to travel there.
UPDATE 30/01/2024: The Montpellier ZCR no longer concerns two-wheelers, so you can travel there without needing a sticker.
Some special cases
- Italy: cities with a historic district have areas where traffic is limited: ZTR ("Zone Traffico Limitato"). We can only access it if our vehicle has been registered beforehand. To find out more, you can consult our article on traffic offenses in the summerranger.
- Malta: no environmental zone but there is a urban toll in Valletta: HOW ARE YOU ("City Vehicle Access") which allows you to travel in the city. There is a tax calculated based on the time spent in the city.
- Romania: no environmental zone but certain cities like Bucharest have banned the circulation of the most polluting vehicles in their historic districts.
- Slovenia: no environmental zone but there is a large pedestrian zone in the historic center of Ljubljana. Vehicles are only allowed there occasionally with a special permit.
- Swiss : an environmental zone in Geneva and its surroundings. It is only active when there is a pollution peak. In this case, it is obligatory to drive with a sticker.Stick'AIR" to access the city center. (you can also access it with a French sticker)
There are also “Seasonal” EPZs. They are only active part of the year. Seasonal zones can be found in Italy or Iceland par example.
Now, you know more about these famous European environmental zones, you are ready to travel the European roads with your car. Country legislation regarding EPZs may change, so do not hesitate to find out more (especially on the official EPZ websites of the countries you are going to) before hitting the road. Have a good trip !
Article created on 19/01/2024.
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