Crit'Air Sticker in France: How It Works

More and more foreign drivers are travelling into France, whether it’s a city break in Paris, a ski holiday in the Alps or the annual trek to the Côte d’Azur. What many travellers don’t realise is that a growing number of French cities only let you in if you have a valid environmental sticker on your windscreen, the so-called Crit’Air sticker. That requirement applies to foreign number plates too, so it includes your own car from abroad.

The good news: the sticker is cheap and easy to order online through the French government. The less good news is that delivery by post can take several weeks, and that there are plenty of expensive, unofficial resellers floating around online. In this guide we explain exactly what Crit’Air is, how to determine your category, where it’s mandatory, and how to order it correctly step by step without overpaying.

What is the Crit’Air sticker?

Crit’Air (in full Certificat qualité de l’air) is a round sticker that indicates how polluting your vehicle is. Based on the fuel type and the Euro standard, your car is assigned a colour code and a number from 0 to 5. The lower the number, the cleaner the vehicle. The system is used to regulate access to certain city zones.

The sticker itself is a physical, self-adhesive label that you stick to the inside of your windscreen. It is linked to your number plate and in principle stays valid for as long as you keep the same car. So you only need to request it once per vehicle.

The Crit’Air categories from clean to polluting

Your category depends on the engine type and the Euro standard (the European emissions standard your car falls under). Below is a simplified overview. Note: the exact classification can vary slightly by vehicle type and year of manufacture, and the thresholds are updated from time to time.

Vehicles older than the lowest category get no sticker at all and are never allowed into some zones. Unsure about your category? Keep your registration certificate (part I) to hand. It usually shows the Euro standard or the details needed to work it out. During the official ordering process your category is calculated automatically based on your vehicle data.

Does this apply to foreign number plates too?

Yes. The Crit’Air requirement makes no distinction between French and foreign vehicles. If you drive your foreign-registered car into a low-emission zone, you need a valid sticker on your windscreen just like a French driver. The fact that you’re passing through or only in the city for a single day makes no difference.

That’s why it’s wise to check in advance whether your destination (or a city you pass through) has such a zone, and to order the sticker well ahead of time. You’ll find more practical tips on driving in France in our guide on driving to France.

In which French cities is it mandatory?

France uses permanent low-emission zones, the Zones à Faibles Émissions (ZFE). Within those zones the Crit’Air rules apply on a structural basis, often during certain hours or for certain categories. The number of cities with such a zone is growing, and the rules vary widely from place to place.

The precise boundaries, hours and permitted categories differ from city to city and are regularly adjusted. Which category is still allowed where is also evolving: the strictest zones are gradually banning the highest (most polluting) categories entirely. So always check the current rules for your specific destination just before you leave, via the official city or government channels.

Temporary restrictions during pollution peaks

In addition to the permanent zones, there are also temporary measures. During a smog peak (for example due to heat or still air), local authorities can declare a circulation différenciée. When that happens, only vehicles with a low Crit’Air number are temporarily allowed into the city or region, and the highest categories are banned.

Such restrictions are often announced at short notice and can also apply in cities without a permanent ZFE. Here too you need a sticker to prove which category you fall into. That’s an extra reason to get the sticker anyway when you head to France by car, even if your destination has no fixed zone.

How to order the sticker step by step

You order it exclusively through the official French government platform: the address ending in certificat-air.gouv.fr. This is the only source where you buy the sticker at cost price. The site is available in several languages, including English.

1. Go to the official address (ending in certificat-air.gouv.fr) and switch to the English version if you like.
2. Indicate that it concerns a vehicle registered abroad and select your country of registration.
3. Enter your vehicle details, such as the number plate, fuel type and the data from your registration certificate (part I).
4. Upload a scan or a clear photo of your registration certificate as proof.
5. The system automatically calculates your Crit’Air category.
6. Pay online with your card. Expect a few euros plus a small shipping fee.
7. You receive the physical sticker by post at your home address.

What it costs and watch out for resellers

Through the official site you pay only a few euros for the sticker, plus a modest shipping fee. It’s deliberately priced low, because it’s a government measure and not a money-maker.

Online, however, you’ll find plenty of intermediaries and resellers who try to sell you the same sticker for many times the price, sometimes for tens of euros. These sites often look professional and pop up at the top of search results or in ads. In that case you’re mainly paying for their involvement, while you can request the exact same document yourself directly from the French government. Always check that you really are on an address ending in .gouv.fr before you pay.

What about a rental car?

If you rent a car in France, there’s a good chance a Crit’Air sticker is already on the windscreen. Rental companies with a modern fleet are usually in order, especially if their vehicles are recent and relatively clean. Even so, it’s smart to check this explicitly at pickup, because you’re the one driving and you risk the fine.

If you don’t see a sticker, ask at the desk whether the vehicle has one (possibly arranged digitally or administratively) and whether you can enter the zones at your destination without any problems. You can read more about the rental process in our guide on renting a car in France.

The fine for driving without a sticker

If you drive into a low-emission zone without a valid sticker, or with a category that isn’t permitted at that moment, you risk a fine. It’s a traffic offence that can be penalised on the spot. For a passenger car the amounts are usually in the region of a few tens of euros, but exact rates can change and may be higher for heavier vehicles.

Because the sticker is so cheap, the risk simply isn’t worth it. For the price of a coffee you’re in order, while a check can cost you many times that and spoil the fun of your trip.

Similar rules elsewhere in Europe

France isn’t the only country with environmental zones. Anyone who often drives through Europe runs into similar systems.

In Germany the Umweltzonen exist in many cities. There too you need a sticker (the Umweltplakette), with its own colour system that is separate from the French one. A Crit’Air sticker is therefore not valid in Germany and vice versa.

In Italy many historic city centres use a Zona a Traffico Limitato (ZTL): zones where only residents and permit holders may enter, often monitored by cameras. Here it’s less about emissions and more about who has access. If you accidentally drive into a ZTL, a fine often follows automatically. Read more about that in our guide on renting a car in Italy (ZTL).

The common thread: inform yourself in advance for each country and each city, because the systems, stickers and fines differ greatly and are not interchangeable.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a Crit’Air sticker if I only drive through France on the motorway?

On the motorway itself the zones usually don’t apply. The requirement applies within the low-emission zones of cities. But as soon as you drive into a city with a ZFE, for example to refuel, stay overnight or visit, you need the sticker. When in doubt it’s better to order one, given how low the cost is.

How long is my Crit’Air sticker valid?

The sticker is in principle linked to your vehicle and stays valid for as long as you have that same car and the details are correct. So you normally only need to request it once per car, not renew it every year.

Can I still get the sticker in time just before departure?

That’s risky. The physical sticker is sent by post from France and delivery can take several weeks. So order well in advance. Some platforms temporarily offer a digital or provisional proof, but don’t rely on that blindly.

Is a low-emission zone permit from another country valid in France?

No. Other countries’ low-emission zone systems are completely separate from the French Crit’Air system. A foreign LEZ registration or test certificate doesn’t count in France. You specifically need a French Crit’Air sticker there.

What do I do if my car is too old for a sticker?

If your vehicle doesn’t fit into any category because it’s too polluting, you get no sticker and aren’t allowed into the strictest zones. In that case it’s better to park outside the zone, for example at a park-and-ride on the edge of the city, and continue your journey by public transport.

Mobile internet on the go

For navigation, finding a petrol station or confirming your accommodation, you need mobile data on the road. With an eSIM you have internet on your phone in France straight away, without the hassle of a local SIM card, and outside the EU it lets you avoid expensive roaming charges. You install it in a few minutes with a QR code. Take a look at the eSIM for France.