what you need to know about the future ZFE in Perpignan

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The low emission zone (ZFE) is it in force at Perpignan? This question intrigues, even worries, many motorists in the Pyrénées-Orientales. Especially since the deadline set by the State to put it in place was scheduled for 1^is January 2025. We take stock of the situation.

What is an EPZ?

As a reminder, most major French metropolises are now subject to the ZFE. “The low-emission zone is an area comprising roadways where the circulation of the most polluting vehicles is restricted, according to specific terms defined by the community,” summarizes the Ministry of Ecological Transition.

This tool is intended for improve air quality. To circulate in an ZFE, each vehicle must have a vignette Crit’Air. This air quality certificate makes it possible to “classify vehicles according to their polluting emissions of fine particles and nitrogen oxides”.

The Crit'Air sticker is compulsory to travel in low-emission mobility zones (ZFE-m) established by communities or to travel when the prefect establishes differentiated traffic during pollution episodes.

The State grants one year of respite to Perpignan

Contacted by News PerpignanFrédéric Guillaumon, mobility assistant at the City, reassures road users: the ZFE has not yet come into force. And this, despite the deadline set at the beginning of 2025. “We had a state exemption
. Its implementation is postponed until 1^is January 2026», Confirms the elected official.

We are in a context which is not too bad. There is therefore no urgency to put it in place.

Residents of Perpignan and the Pyrénées-Orientales therefore have no urgency in purchasing their Crit'Air sticker. However, you will have to stick it to your windshield for the beginning of 2026 or, from now on, if you wish to travel in the French ZFEs (Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Lille, etc.).

This certificate is paid (€3.81 per vehicle). You can already obtain it on the official website of the Ministry of Ecological Transition by clicking here.

Which vehicles are affected by the future ban?

Each community can apply different rules for its ZFE. In the capital, for example, Crit'Air 3 vehicles

are no longer allowed to travel (unless an exception is made and use of a “24-hour pass”) throughout Paris. In Perpignan, the ZFE will be muchless strict^{. “Normally, at 1} is January 2026, the impacted vehicles will be crit'Air unclassified . These are the vehicles that datebefore 1996

. Collector vehicles will have an exemption and will not be affected,” specifies Frédéric Guillaumon.

_{The impact should be minimal in Perpignan. According to the elected official, vehicles registered before 1996 represent “only” 1.5% of the national rolling stock. Classic vehicles, which are not affected by the circulation restrictions, are included in this data.}

: Crit'Air 3 vehicles are gasoline cars registered before 2006 and diesel vehicles registered before 2011.

Where will the ZFE apply in Perpignan? In the Pyrénées-Orientales, the ZFE will apply to the territory of Perpignan Méditerranée Métropole. However, the agglomeration will not be 100% affected. A third of the municipalities could be included. But this is still to be confirmed. On the Perpignan side, not all roads will enter the perimeter of the low emissions zone. “The ZFE will follow the

major automobile traffic routes . We are piloting this with Perpignan Méditerranée Métropole,” explains the mobility representative. In detail, we should find the section of the A9 motorway between the Perpignan North and South tolls, the penetrating north (the road which connects the city center to Rivesaltes), the main roads which cross Perpignan from south to northet

from east to west (Prades road to Canet road).The City hopes to have a

exemption

to not apply the ZFE on weekends. “This would ensure that downtown businesses are not penalized. It’s important,” says Frédéric Guillaumon, also in charge of businesses in Perpignan.

The town hall no longer wants heavy goods vehicles in town To ensure that the authorities are conciliatory, the municipality and Perpignan Méditerranée Métropole are planning several measures in the coming months. One of the major projects – and it is not the simplest – will consist of changing certain driving habits. ” It's necessary

discourage heavy goods vehicles from crossing the city

We have a ring road to the west. We must encourage vehicles to take it. Today, there are still many who take the Arago bridge and cross Perpignan, via the Boulevards des Pyrénées and Mercader, to reach the south. Frédéric GuillaumonThe City also wants to encourage the use of bicycles by developing new cycle paths. Furthermore, the Sankéo bus network, managed by Perpignan Méditerranée Métropole, aims to have

around twenty electric buses

by 2027. Finally, experiments with hydrogen vehicles are also planned in the coming months.

Speed ​​​​soon reduced on the A9 motorway? To limit polluting emissions on its territory, the City of Perpignan is in discussions with Autoroutes du Sud de la France (ASF, a company belonging to Vinci Autoroutes).“We are in major negotiations with them to pass the section of the A9 motorway between Perpignan North and Perpignan South to

110 km/h

», Reveals the member of the municipal team.