From this morning, January 1, 2025, Ile-de-France drivers must adapt to new restrictions imposed by the Greater Paris Low Emission Zone (ZFE). This system, put in place to reduce air pollution, tightens its rules and impacts many motorists.
The Greater Paris ZFE, one of the largest in France, includes all the municipalities located within the A86 motorway, or approximately 5.62 million inhabitants. Since 2021, it has prohibited vehicles with a Crit'Air 4, Crit'Air 5 sticker, and vehicles without a sticker. From today, this ban extends to Crit'Air 3 vehicles, which includes diesels produced until 2010 and gasolines registered between 1997 and 2005.
According to the AAA Data firm, around 1.12 million Crit'Air 3 vehicles are still circulating in Île-de-France, or 18% of the region's automobile fleet. With this new restriction, almost a quarter of the vehicles in circulation in the Paris metropolis can no longer access the capital or its nearby suburbs during the day, unless they benefit from an exemption.
No control in the first year
Traffic within the ZFE is prohibited on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and trucks are also prohibited on weekends. These measures aim to limit access to the most polluting vehicles to improve air quality in the Paris region.
Currently, the checks carried out by the police are mainly educational to allow drivers to adapt to these new rules. There will be no fines distributed before the first half of 2026, more than a year from now.
In order not to completely exclude the motorists concerned, the Paris town hall has set up a ZFE Pass. This system will allow Crit'Air 3 vehicles, as well as Crit'Air 4, 5 and those without a sticker, to circulate up to 24 days per year in the ZFE.
To support the transition to less polluting vehicles, several financial aids are offered. The metropolis offers a conversion bonus, which can reach up to 6,000 euros, as well as aid of up to €1,400 for the purchase of an electric two-wheeler and €500 for an electric bicycle.
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In brief
The circulation of Crit'Air 3 vehicles in Paris has come to an end since this morning. Despite everything, there will be no control operations initially.
