Is the Crit'Air Sticker Being Abolished? (2026)

French parliament passed a law in April 2026 to abolish ZFEs and Crit’Air stickers - but on 21 May 2026 the Constitutional Council struck that measure down. The abolition is NOT happening, and the current rules remain fully in force. You still need a Crit’Air sticker to drive in French cities.

If you are planning a trip to France, do not wait. The sticker is valid for the lifetime of your vehicle, costs a few pounds, and the fine for not having one is up to €450.

What the parliament actually voted on

After years of political opposition to ZFEs - particularly from rural and suburban communities who felt the zones unfairly penalised older vehicles and lower-income drivers - parliament voted to scrap them. The abolition was attached to a wider “simplification” law: the National Assembly approved it on 14 April 2026 and the Senate followed on 15 April 2026.

ZFE-m zones are the low-emission zones that restrict which vehicles can drive in city centres across France. The Crit’Air sticker system exists to enforce them, so abolishing ZFEs would have effectively made the sticker unnecessary.

Why the abolition did not take effect

A law passed by both chambers still has to survive review by the Constitutional Council. On 21 May 2026, the Council removed the ZFE abolition from the law, ruling it a “cavalier législatif” - a provision unrelated to the bill it was attached to. That decision is final: the abolition never became law.

The practical result is that nothing has changed on the ground. ZFEs and the Crit’Air requirement both remain in place exactly as before. If the government wants to abolish ZFEs in future, it will have to start over with fresh legislation, and there is no timeline for that.

What this means for your trip right now

The practical situation is simple:

• ZFE zones are active in Paris, Lyon, Grenoble, Strasbourg, Marseille, and other French cities
• Enforcement is ongoing - both ANPR cameras and police spot checks are in operation
• Fines are being issued - €68 for cars, up to €450 for larger vehicles
• The sticker is still required - there is no exemption for “the law might change”

If you drive into a ZFE zone without a valid Crit’Air sticker today, you will be fined. The fact that parliament tried to abolish ZFEs does not protect you - the measure was struck down.

Should I still apply for a sticker?

Yes. Here is why:

• The sticker is valid for the lifetime of your vehicle - it does not expire
• It costs a few pounds - far less than the minimum €68 fine
• The abolition has already been struck down - enforcement is happening right now
• There is no downside to having a sticker, even if the rules change later

The worst case scenario is that you spend a few pounds on a sticker you eventually do not need. The alternative worst case is a €450 fine at a police checkpoint in Paris.

We will update this page

We are tracking French ZFE policy. If a fresh attempt to abolish the zones is made, or any other change affects whether UK drivers need a sticker, we will update this page immediately.

Last checked: June 2026 - the ZFE abolition was struck down by the Constitutional Council on 21 May 2026. Stickers are still required.