Crit'Air 2026 Rule Changes - What UK Drivers Need to Know
Updated 23 March 2026
The Crit’Air system saw significant changes in January 2026, with new cities enforcing low-emission zones and Paris tightening its weekday restrictions. If you are a UK driver planning a trip to France this year, here is everything you need to know about the updated rules as of March 2026.
Check your Crit'Air category
The January 2026 mandate: all cities over 150,000
The biggest change in 2026 is the enforcement of the national ZFE mandate. Under the 2019 Loi d’Orientation des Mobilites (LOM), every French city with a population exceeding 150,000 was required to establish an active ZFE-m (low-emission zone) by 1 January 2026.
This added several new cities to the list, including:
- Montpellier - ZFE now covers the city centre and inner ring
- Rennes - new ZFE within the rocade (ring road)
- Nantes - ZFE covering the central city area
- Toulon - ZFE active in the city core
- Dijon - central zone now enforced
These join the established ZFEs in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Strasbourg, Grenoble, Toulouse, Nice, Rouen, and others that have been operating for several years.
For UK drivers, the practical impact is clear: almost any urban driving in France now requires a Crit’Air sticker.
Paris Crit’Air 3 weekday ban
Paris tightened its restrictions from January 2026. The key change:
Crit’Air 3 vehicles are now banned within the Paris ZFE on weekdays (Monday to Friday) between 8am and 8pm.
This affects most diesel vehicles registered between January 2006 and December 2010, and petrol vehicles registered between January 1997 and December 2005.
What Crit’Air 3 drivers can still do in Paris
- Weekends and public holidays - Crit’Air 3 vehicles are permitted with no time restriction
- Outside the ZFE boundary - the ban applies within the A86 ring road only
- 24-pass scheme - Paris offers a system of 24 single-day passes per year for restricted vehicles, allowing occasional weekday access. Passes must be registered online at pass.paris.fr before entering the zone
What is still banned at all times in Paris
Crit’Air 4, Crit’Air 5, and unclassified vehicles remain banned from the Paris ZFE at all times, including weekends. This has not changed.
The May 2025 parliamentary vote
In May 2025, the French National Assembly debated a bill that proposed relaxing or potentially abolishing certain ZFE requirements. This generated widespread media coverage and confusion among drivers.
Here is the current status as of March 2026:
- The bill passed an initial reading in the National Assembly
- It has not completed the full legislative process - it still requires Senate approval and presidential signature
- No existing ZFE has been removed or suspended as a result of the vote
- All current sticker requirements remain fully in force
The political debate is ongoing, but until new legislation is formally enacted, nothing has changed on the ground. If you are driving to France in 2026, you need a Crit’Air sticker. Assuming the rules might change and travelling without one is a gamble that could cost you between €68 and €450 in fines.
Timeline of key Crit’Air changes
Here is how the system has evolved:
| Year | Change |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Crit’Air system launched. Paris and Lyon first to adopt. |
| 2019 | LOM law passed, mandating ZFEs for cities over 150k by 2025 (later pushed to 2026). |
| 2021 | Strasbourg, Grenoble, and Toulouse activate ZFEs. |
| 2023 | Marseille, Nice, and Rouen ZFEs go live. |
| 2024 | ANPR camera enforcement begins in Paris and Lyon. Crit’Air 4 banned weekdays in Paris. |
| 2025 | Parliamentary debate on ZFE relaxation. More cities prepare for 2026 mandate. |
| 2026 | All cities over 150k must have active ZFEs. Paris bans Crit’Air 3 on weekdays. |
What might change next
Several developments are worth watching through the rest of 2026:
Crit’Air 2 diesel restrictions
Paris has signalled an intention to restrict Crit’Air 2 diesel vehicles from 2027. This would affect diesel vehicles registered between January 2011 and August 2015 (Euro 5). No formal date has been set, and this is subject to political approval.
Expanded ANPR enforcement
More cities are rolling out automated ANPR camera systems to detect vehicles without valid stickers. As of March 2026, cameras are active in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Strasbourg, Toulouse, and Grenoble. Additional cities are expected to follow throughout the year.
Possible legislative changes
The parliamentary bill debated in May 2025 could still progress through the Senate. If enacted, it might relax requirements for smaller cities or adjust the category thresholds. However, Paris, Lyon, and other major cities are expected to maintain their ZFEs regardless of national legislation changes.
What UK drivers should do right now
The advice is straightforward: get your Crit’Air sticker before you travel. The political debate in France is interesting but irrelevant to your trip planning. Every ZFE that existed yesterday is still active today, and new ones have been added.
At £7, the sticker is valid for the lifetime of your vehicle and covers you for every trip to France. Check your vehicle’s category using the lookup tool above, and apply before your next trip.