Crit'Air Sticker for Company Cars - UK Guide 2026

If you drive a company car to France, the registered keeper is your employer - not you. The V5C is in the company’s name (or their fleet management company’s name). This creates the same issue as leased cars: the sticker gets posted to the company address, not yours.

Here is how to handle it.

Who should apply?

The sticker is tied to the vehicle, not the driver. It only needs to be applied for once, and then it covers every driver of that vehicle.

If you are the employee

• You can apply yourself - get photos of both sides of the V5C from fleet/HR, then apply in minutes
• Expense it - most companies reimburse the cost as a travel expense
• Plan ahead - request the V5C from the fleet team in good time if your trip is soon

If you are the fleet manager

• Apply in bulk - if multiple vehicles regularly travel to France, apply for all of them
• One-time cost - the sticker is valid for the lifetime of the vehicle
• Track which vehicles have stickers - add a field to your fleet management system

The V5C issue

The V5C for a company car is typically held by:

• The employer’s HR or fleet team
• The fleet management company (Alphabet, LeasePlan, ALD, etc.)
• The leasing company if the car is on a contract hire

You may not have easy access to it, but you need a photo of both sides of the V5C to apply. Your options:

1. Ask fleet/HR - request a copy or clear photos of both sides of the V5C; this is what you upload during the application
2. Ask the leasing/fleet company - providers such as Alphabet, LeasePlan and ALD can usually send the V5C details on request
3. Get a VE103B - a DVLA certificate for taking the vehicle abroad (£5, 5 working days); worth carrying on the trip, though it does not replace the V5C for your application

Who pays?

This depends on your company’s travel policy:

• Most companies will cover the cost as a travel expense - the sticker is a legal requirement for business travel
• Some companies expect the employee to pay, particularly for personal trips in a company car
• Fleet-managed companies may have a bulk arrangement already in place

If in doubt, ask your line manager or HR. The cost is small and it is a legitimate business expense for any company that sends employees to France.

Multiple drivers, one sticker

A common question from fleet managers: do you need a sticker for each driver?

No. The sticker is tied to the vehicle registration number. Once a Crit’Air sticker is on the windscreen, it covers every driver of that vehicle. If your company has a pool car that different employees take to France, it needs one sticker - not one per driver.

Fleet management tips

For companies with vehicles that regularly travel to France:

1. Audit your fleet - check which vehicles already have stickers
2. Apply proactively - get stickers for any vehicle that might go to France, not just the ones with confirmed trips
3. Add to your new vehicle process - when a new car joins the fleet, apply for a Crit’Air sticker as part of the setup
4. Track expiry - Crit’Air stickers do not expire, but they can be lost during windscreen replacements or vehicle refurbishment. Check periodically