Is the Crit'Air Sticker Being Abolished? What UK Drivers Need to Know

The French parliament voted in May 2025 to abolish ZFEs and Crit’Air stickers, but this is NOT yet law. The bill still requires further legislative steps. Until officially repealed, the current rules remain fully in force.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

In May 2025, the French National Assembly passed a bill proposing the abolition of ZFE-m zones — the low-emission zones that currently restrict which vehicles can drive in city centres across France. The Crit’Air sticker system was created to enforce these zones, so abolishing ZFEs would effectively make the sticker unnecessary.

The vote reflected growing political opposition to ZFEs, particularly from rural and suburban communities who felt the zones unfairly penalised older vehicles and lower-income drivers.

What needs to happen before abolition takes effect

A vote in the National Assembly is one step in the French legislative process. For the abolition to take effect:

1. Senate approval — the bill must pass the French Senate, which has its own schedule and may amend or delay the bill
2. Potential reconciliation — if the Senate amends the bill, both chambers must agree on a final version
3. Presidential enactment — the president must sign the bill into law
4. Transition period — even once enacted, there is likely to be a transition period during which existing rules continue to apply

None of these steps have been completed as of March 2026. The bill’s progress has been slow, and there is no guaranteed timeline for it becoming law.

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 has voted on abolition does not protect you.

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
• Even if abolition passes tomorrow, 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 the progress of this bill through the French legislative process. When the situation changes — whether the bill passes the Senate, is amended, or is enacted into law — we will update this page immediately.

Last checked: March 2026 — no change to current enforcement. Stickers are still required.