 Poster: A snowHead
|
I've just panicked myself a bit that I may need a Crit'Air stickers to drive through the pollution control zones which are intermittently active on French motorways. I've never had one b fore as I always thought they were only needed for driving into cities like Grenoble which I've never done.
Anywayz I've just ordered one for my trip at the end of the month but it *may* not come on time as supposedly it can take three weeks to b delivered. Can one of you wise old owls tell me if it's actually required? There is quite a bit of conflicting information out there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
I got an EV sticker for Paris and they sent a PDF by email in 24h. Don’t they give you that option?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
If you've got the invoice/receipt, that should cover you if it hasn't arrived.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
All vehicles, not just ICE vehicles, require a Crit’Air sticker, technically. We have one for our Tesla. If you order it through the official website, they send you a PDF version of the sticker, which is valid pending the physical sticker turning up.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
I had one on my EV. Windscreen cracked in Perpignan so I need another one for next trip. I did end up in central Paris so it was needed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Are these needed for the typical Calais to the alps type trip? I didn't think they were.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@TheMikeSki, as I understand it, if you are driving any type of vehicle anywhere in France then, in theory, you should have one.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crit%27air
But, as with most rules, many French just shrug and ignore it.
Note that, because we drive on the other side of the road, there is a problem with the specified position of the sticker. It should be in the lower right hand corner of the windscreen (when viewed from the inside). However, because the sticker is >40mm across, it can mean an MOT fail if it impinges on the area of the screen that is swept by the wipers.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/3-visibility
https://motester.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Windscreen-rules-diagram.jpg
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Wed 14-01-26 17:25; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks to everyone for your help (and sorry about my shocking spelling in the post!). I've bought one anyway just to be safe and they've sent me a pdf within the hour even if the sticker doesn't arrive in time so it's all good. Only €5 so better safe than sorry I thought.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
If you put your French destination into google maps then all sorts of bits show up highlighted in blue. I *think* these all require Crit Air badges. So St Omer to Reims, Dijon, and Savoie.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| TheMikeSki wrote: |
| Are these needed for the typical Calais to the alps type trip? I didn't think they were. |
I’ve always had one displayed on every trip I’ve made to the French Alps from Calais.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
| PrinceJohn wrote: |
| Thanks to everyone for your help (and sorry about my shocking spelling in the post!). I've bought one anyway just to be safe and they've sent me a pdf within the hour even if the sticker doesn't arrive in time so it's all good. Only €5 so better safe than sorry I thought. |
Can you share the link please. I have two more drives to the alps this season and have never heard of it. At €5 Im more than happy to pay to cover my bum just in case
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
| RickBoden wrote: |
| PrinceJohn wrote: |
| Thanks to everyone for your help (and sorry about my shocking spelling in the post!). I've bought one anyway just to be safe and they've sent me a pdf within the hour even if the sticker doesn't arrive in time so it's all good. Only €5 so better safe than sorry I thought. |
Can you share the link please. I have two more drives to the alps this season and have never heard of it. At €5 Im more than happy to pay to cover my bum just in case |
It’s cheap if you get it from the official site: https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/
As with our international health cards, there are many websites posing as official sites who are in fact agents, who don’t provide any real benefit other than tack on a significant fee.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TYVM
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
@James the Last, is it not just in built up areas within the blue shaded area? I drove that 10hr route through St Omer etc last year, and saw no indication that critair was required. The route through Paris, AFAIK, definitely requires critair, as the peripherique is counted.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
There's a German version, too. I don't know whether they accept critair stickers, and, the only time I've driven through Germany (pre Covid), the hotel in Aachen said not to worry about not having the sticker, because nobody was checking.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
I could easily see Grenoble or Alberville introducing clean air regulations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
@RickBoden, Grenoble has a low emission zone already, see here, it doesn't apply to the main through routes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
Virtually the whole way from Calais to Reims (where we are today) is covered by 9 separate low emission zones now - seem to have expanded greatly in recent years.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
On Saturday when I was returning from La Clusaz as I approached my overnight stop hotel in the outskirts of Reims I noticed a sign saying I was entering a pollution control zone. I've got both a French Crit'Air sticker (positioned on the bottom right of the windscreen) and a German Umweltplakette sticker(positioned on the top right of the windscreen).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
I’m be had my yellow sticker since they were introduced and have it positioned top right of windscreen when looking out. I don’t know it needs to be in a specific spot and also it’s now very faded. I’ve driven lots in French cities and never had an issue. How do they enforce it?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Re the MOT, I put mine lower right, and it passed the MOT with no comment from the tester.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hmmm ... I never even thought about this as I have an Umweltplakette sticker on my, German registered, car. I thought I was covered for Europe. Just realised I've driven through multiple Crit Air zones without the necessary sticker over the last five years. Never had a problem but ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AIUI the only check currently would be if you were parked in a low emission zone and a policeman happened to check your windscreen for the sticker.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
Ours is bottom right on the screen, no issues. Is it not (still) the case that it's only relevant when they have declared an air quality issue, and stickers above a certain number (most polluting) are banned from the roads within the zones?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
IIRC there's a camera gantry over the dual carriageway on the way in from the north of Lyon. In the absence of any other good reason, I assume it's for the enforcement of their low emissions zone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
I’m be had my yellow sticker since they were introduced and have it positioned top right of windscreen when looking out. I don’t know it needs to be in a specific spot and also it’s now very faded. I’ve driven lots in French cities and never had an issue. How do they enforce it? How do they enforce it?
They occasionally do spot checks at various points in the relevant areas. The gantries you see on some motorways with white cameras were brought in to monitor an eco system that was muted for lorries that never happened in the end.
The French assembly have voted to get rid of the need for a crit’air sticker on the basis they are not fair on those people who need to drive into the relevant zones and cannot afford to upgrade their cars…this decision is still to be ratified and passed into law though.
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Thu 15-01-26 17:40; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
The camera gantries were set up for a truck tolling scheme that never came to fruition.
There is no automated enforcement of Crit'air, spot enforcement is very lax except on pollution alert days, and through highways such as tha A46 around Lyon or the highways around Grenoble are exempt.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 195062 wrote: |
| If you've got the invoice/receipt, that should cover you if it hasn't arrived. |
I seem to recall that my invoice said exactly that. But I can't check, sorry.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| TheMikeSki wrote: |
| Are these needed for the typical Calais to the alps type trip? I didn't think they were. |
They are not.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| TheMikeSki wrote: |
| Are these needed for the typical Calais to the alps type trip? I didn't think they were. |
Depends if and where you stop overnight. Eg if you drive into Reims then, technically, you need a sticker. But if parking in a hotel car park it's unlikely the police would look at your windscreen.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
I don't have this sticker, and in the last 5 years since I've being doing the Calais to Alps route, have never had any trouble or notifcations of any issue?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Its only if you take a wrong turning into town or as above staying the night. Toll roads dont need one even the A46 which goes through a zone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
I may be wrong but I thought the Crit Air sticker was only required when notified such as when they implement the speed limits on the autoroutes. For example, when the weather conditions in the Isere valley above Grenoble were such that the wood smoke from all the wood burning stoves couldn't clear and the valley was a health hazard (which it is quite frequently).
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Interesting info guys, thanks.
Driving over tomorrow, with a hotel stop in Beaune, so hopefully will be fine.
I may order one anyway for the sake of a few quid, but certainly didn't have one last year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
There is a list of all the low emission zones here, with links to the coverage maps for each one.
Geneva is one too, the French Crit'Air vignette is valid for there as well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
