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UK travellers driving to France are being warned that they need to display a clean air sticker in their car to enter several cities, including Paris. Failure to do so could result in a fine of up to €180 (£155). The stickers, known as Crit’Air vignettes, come in six categories, indicating the level of air pollution emitted by a vehicle.
Drivers must apply for these stickers via the official French government website before they depart, according to the RAC. The stickers were introduced in 2017 to improve air quality in major towns and cities. They are based on a vehicle’s Euro emissions standard and cover the vehicle for its entire lifetime. Even those with a fully electric car need to display a sticker.
The cost of the sticker is €4.61 (£4). The RAC has warned drivers to avoid unofficial third-party sites, which charge six times as much for the sticker. These stickers are required in 12 French cities or regions, including Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Aix-Marseille-Provence.
According to the RAC, Paris is the strictest city, only permitting cars displaying the Crit’Air ‘0’, ‘1’, or ‘2’ stickers to use certain roads at certain times. Other regions, such as the Aix-Marseille-Provence region, Toulouse, and Reims, allow cars with the Crit’Air ‘0’, ‘1’, ‘2’, or ‘3’ stickers. Failure to comply with local regulations, such as not displaying a sticker or driving a car that doesn’t meet the requirements, can result in fines from €68 (£59) to €180 (£155), depending on the city.
Camera-based enforcement is expected to begin next year, with maximum fines increasing to €750 (£646). Not all vehicles are eligible for the scheme. Cars registered before January 1997 and motorbikes and scooters registered before June 2000 are not permitted in these restricted areas. The RAC also advises drivers heading to other European countries to check whether they are affected by any low emission zones before their trips.
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