Driving in low-emission zones mobility (EPZ or m-EPZ)

Verified 26 March 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The Low Emission Mobility Zone (EPZ or m-EPZ) are territories in which the circulation of certain vehicles may be restricted to reduce air pollution. Vehicles circulating in this area must have a Crit'Air vignette certifying that they are authorized to move.

One Low Emission Mobility Zone (LEZ) is an area created on all or part of the territory of a municipality or EPCI: titleContent by the mayor or the president of the EPCI, in order to combat air pollution.

It exists 2 types of EPZ :

  • EPZs established because of regular exceedance of pollution standards (metropolises Paris and Lyon). They are “ EPZ territories ”.
  • EPZs in all agglomerations more than 150,000 inhabitants of metropolitan France, the establishment of which is mandatory on 1er january 2025. They are “ vigilance territories ”. The list of agglomerations concerned and the municipalities they include can be consulted in an order available on Légifrance.

EPZs are established by order of the mayor or the President of theEPCI: titleContent which determines the:

  • Territories of the agglomerations in which the EPZ applies
  • Restrictive measures applicable traffic
  • Categories of vehicles concerned, in particular as a function of the Crit'Air vignette of vehicle
  • Legitimate grounds for which individual derogations may be granted (e.g. collection vehicles)
ZFE National Portal - Breathing Better in the City

Ministry of the Environment

Pour en savoir plus

It exists more than ten EPZs in metropolitan France. They are listed on a dedicated EPZ information site:

List of Low Emission Areas (LEZs)

Ministry of the Environment

Pour en savoir plus

Please note

By 1er January 2025, about 30 more EPZs are to be created.

The creation of an EPZ is accompanied by a local information campaign, lasting at least three months, which makes the controlled perimeter and the restrictions on movement known to the public.

EPZS generally do not cover the entirebuilt-up area.

Metropolitan areas with EPZs have generally established a dedicated EPZ website. These sites have a mapping of the territory covered by the EPZ.

FYI  

Links to these sites are available on the State's EPZ website.

Specificities of each EPZ

Each EPZ has specific characteristics:

  • Restrictive measures applicable traffic
  • Categories of vehicles concerned, in particular as a function of the Crit'Air vignette of vehicle
  • Legitimate grounds for which individual derogations may be granted

All vehicles in an EPZ shall have a Crit'Air vignette, which attests to the authorization of the vehicle to travel.

In case of pollution peak, temporary measures restrictions on movement may be added to those provided for by the EPZ.

FYI  

The site ZFE.green, funded by the Ministry of the Environment, provides access to:

  • All characteristics of existing EPZs (territory and vehicles concerned, derogations, etc.)
  • A path simulator making it possible to check the authorization to travel of his vehicle

ZFE.green: list of ZFEs and route simulation

Additional restrictions in EPZ territories

In EPZs established for regularly exceeding pollution standards (metropolises of Paris and Lyon), also known as EPZs, vehicles 4 wheels of less than 3,5 tons subsequent have thedriving ban :

  • Diesel, diesel and diesel/electric hybrid vehicles of which 1re registration date before 31 december 2005
  • Petrol and petrol/electricity hybrid vehicles of which 1re registration date before 31 december 1996

This does not apply to vehicles with an all-electric range in the city of more than 50 kilometers.

Please note

At 1er january 2025, the vehicles prohibited from operating in these EPZs will be:

  • Diesel, diesel and diesel/electric hybrid vehicles of which 1re registration date before 31 december 2010
  • Petrol and petrol/electricity hybrid vehicles of which 1re registration date before 31 december 2005

Access to the EPZ is always allowed vehicles of the following categories:

  • Of general interest : ambulances, first aid vehicles, etc.
  • Displaying a mobility inclusion card with the words " parking for disabled people or another parking card for people with disabilities

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