These are three letters that are causing a lot of talk on January 1, 2024: ZFE, for Low Emission Zone. In 2025, measures around these ZFEs will tighten in several large cities, prohibiting the circulation of Crit'Air 3 vehicles, that is to say diesels registered before 2011 and gasoline cars registered before 2006.
Among the agglomerations concerned: the Greater Paris metropolis, which includes the capital but also 77 municipalities in the Ile-de-France region. These vehicles are now officially banned there during the week, and despite the exemptions, motorists would have done without them.
A year of “pedagogy” promised in the Paris metropolis
With its scratches and peeling paint, Julie's car is no longer brand new. “She lived“, laughs the motorist before turning somber when faced with the Crit'Air 3 sticker that his vehicle displays. “I'm stuck, so it's quite complicated to imagine the future with my car because I don't have the means to change it at all.r”, grimaces Julie, aware that her vehicle, which she nevertheless considers her “work tool”, should stay in the garage. “For the moment, it’s a bit of an impasse…”she laments.
This Parisian is therefore banking on the relaxations announced by the metropolis: 24 days of exemption per vehicle in 2025 and a year of education, during which motorists do not risk ending up with the fine of 68 euros. “I will think for another year about a possible solution”she concludes. Like Julie's, 420,000 vehicles are affected by these new restrictions.
Even the RESPIRE association, which campaigns for better air quality, understands the exemptions. For the general director, Tony Renucci, the State should help motorists more and not the other way around: “This measure was applied at a time when the State is in the process of eliminating the conversion bonus and reducing the ecological bonus, even though we need this aid to encourage the conversion of electric vehicles or in in any case fewer emitters. “There is a health emergency”also alerts Tony Renucci. Because each year, pollution kills more than 40,000 French people.
A 52-day exemption in Lyon
Like the capital, the other cities subject to this change are seeking the right balance. In the Lyon metropolitan area, 50,000 vehicles are affected by this new restriction. And motorists are fuming. “I will no longer have the right to go see my sweetheart who lives in Villeurbanne. We will drive, even if it means risking getting fines because we have no choice”says a retiree from Lyon.
“It's catastrophic. I don't see how I'm going to do it“, laments yet another elderly lady. In the absence of radars, which will arrive at the end of 2026, only vehicles parked or stopped by a check will be fined. The Metropolis also offers an exemption of 52 days per year. “Not all vehicles will be checked every day from January 1”assures Jean-Charles Kohlhaas, vice-president of the Métropole de Lyon, in charge of travel.
However, he recognizes the importance of this measure, well aware that Lyon has “too high a level of pollution“and that”many children are sick from this pollution”. It is for this reason in particular that in three years, all diesels will be banned, i.e. half of the automobile fleet in the Lyon metropolis.
A period of transition also in Montpellier and Grenoble
Concerning the Montpellier metropolis, there will be no fine. For Julie Frêche, vice-president in charge of transport has Montpellier Mediterranean Metropolis, it was unthinkable to fine all the motorists concerned overnight. “We know very well that today, changing your car has a significant cost. she specifies.
“We cannot green the park [automobile] with the wave of a magic wand.”
Julie Frêche, vice-president in charge of transport at Montpellier Méditerranée Métropoleat franceinfo
This does not prevent the Low Emission Zone from encouraging motorists to change cars. “Since we made this calendar announcement, we have seen that the number of Crit'Air 3 stickers has decreased by almost 33% in the metropolis over the past three years. Even if there is no verbalization, people are aware“, assures Julie Frêche.
As for the Grenoble metropolis, developments are also planned: a “6 month teaching period“, therefore without a fine, will ensure the transition. Then, the fines could start to fall.
