Crit'Air Sticker for Motorhomes - UK Driver's Guide 2026

Yes, motorhomes need a Crit’Air sticker to drive through any French low-emission zone (ZFE). This applies to all motorhomes, campervans, and converted vans regardless of size or weight. From January 2026, all French cities over 150,000 people require one, making it essential for almost any touring route through France.

Do motorhomes need a Crit’Air sticker?

There is no exemption for motorhomes, campervans, or any other recreational vehicle. If your vehicle has an engine and you want to drive it through a French ZFE zone, you need the sticker.

This catches some motorhome owners off guard. They assume that because they are tourists, or because their vehicle is registered abroad, or because it is a “home” rather than a commuter car, they might be exempt. None of that matters. The rules apply equally to every motor vehicle.

Since January 2026, every French city with a population over 150,000 must operate a ZFE. That means popular motorhome destinations like Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice, Toulouse, Nantes, and Strasbourg all require you to display a valid Crit’Air sticker.

M1 vs N1 classification - why it matters

Your motorhome’s Crit’Air category depends partly on how it is classified on your V5C logbook. This is where things get a little more nuanced for motorhome owners than for regular car drivers.

M1 - passenger vehicles

Most purpose-built motorhomes and factory campervans (like a VW California, Mercedes Marco Polo, or a coach-built motorhome from Bailey, Swift, or Auto-Trail) are registered as M1 vehicles. This means they follow the same Crit’Air category table as cars.

N1 - light goods vehicles

Self-converted vans - a Sprinter, Transit, or Ducato that started life as a panel van - may still be registered as N1 on the V5C, even if you have converted the interior. N1 vehicles follow a slightly different Crit’Air table, although in practice the categories are very similar for modern vehicles.

N2 and N3 - heavier vehicles

Larger motorhomes over 3.5 tonnes (N2) or over 12 tonnes (N3) follow the heavy vehicle Crit’Air table. These are less common among UK owners but include large American-style RVs and some older coach-built motorhomes on truck chassis.

How to check your classification

Look at section J on your V5C:

• J - Vehicle category (M1, N1, N2, etc.)
• D.2 - Body type (this may say “Motor Caravan” or “Motor Home”)

If your V5C does not clearly show the category, the DVLA can confirm it. Alternatively, enter your registration in the lookup tool above and we will determine it automatically.

What if your V5C doesn’t show CO2 or Euro standard?

This is one of the most common issues motorhome owners face when applying for a Crit’Air sticker. Many older motorhomes have a V5C that does not list CO2 emissions or the Euro emissions standard.

The good news: Crit’Air categories are not based on CO2 emissions. They are based on:

1. Fuel type (diesel, petrol, LPG, electric, hybrid)
2. Euro emissions standard (Euro 1 through Euro 6)

If your V5C does not show the Euro standard, you can determine it from the date of first registration:

First Registered	Petrol Euro Standard	Diesel Euro Standard
Before Jan 1997	Euro 1 or earlier	Euro 1 or earlier
Jan 1997 – Dec 2000	Euro 2	Euro 2
Jan 2001 – Dec 2005	Euro 3	Euro 3
Jan 2006 – Dec 2010	Euro 4	Euro 4
Jan 2011 – Aug 2015	Euro 5	Euro 5
Sep 2015 onwards	Euro 6	Euro 6

These dates are approximate and some vehicles were registered to an earlier standard. The lookup tool above uses DVLA data to give you the most accurate result.

Where to display the sticker on a motorhome

The Crit’Air sticker must be displayed on the inside of the windscreen, in the bottom-right corner when viewed from outside the vehicle.

For motorhomes, there are a few practical considerations:

Deep dashboards

Many motorhomes have a deep dashboard that makes the bottom edge of the windscreen hard to reach. Place the sticker as close to the correct position as you can. The key requirement is that it must be visible from outside.

Tinted windscreen bands

If your motorhome has a tinted strip along the top of the windscreen, do not place the sticker there. It needs to be in the clear section of glass where enforcement cameras can read it.

A-class motorhomes with wrap-around windscreens

For A-class motorhomes with large panoramic windscreens, the bottom-right corner (driver’s side when viewed from outside) is the correct position. Avoid placing it behind any dashboard-mounted accessories or sat nav devices.

Overcab motorhomes

Some overcab motorhomes have a relatively small windscreen. Place the sticker in the bottom-right corner as normal. If the windscreen is split, use the passenger side (right when viewed from outside).

Campervans vs motorhomes - is there a difference?

For Crit’Air purposes, the distinction between a campervan and a motorhome does not change the fundamental requirement: both need a sticker.

However, the practical differences are:

• Factory campervans (VW California, Ford Nugget) - usually M1 class, straightforward application, treated like a car
• Professional conversions (registered as “Motor Caravan”) - usually M1, same as above
• Self-conversions (still registered as a panel van) - may be N1 class, which uses the commercial vehicle Crit’Air table
• Large motorhomes on truck chassis - may be N2 or N3, using the heavy vehicle table

In all cases, the Crit’Air category is determined by fuel type and Euro standard. The vehicle class just determines which lookup table applies.

City restrictions for motorhomes

Beyond the standard Crit’Air requirements, some French cities have additional restrictions that specifically affect motorhomes:

Paris

Crit’Air 3 and above are banned from Paris on weekdays. For diesel motorhomes registered before 2011, this means you cannot drive through Paris Monday to Friday. Weekend access is currently unrestricted for Crit’Air 3 vehicles.

Height and weight restrictions

Some city centres have physical barriers (height or weight limits) that prevent larger motorhomes from entering regardless of Crit’Air status. Check your route for 3.5-tonne weight limits and height barriers.

Parking restrictions

Many city centres ban motorhome parking on public streets. This is separate from Crit’Air rules but worth knowing. Most motorhome owners use aires (designated motorhome stops) or campsites near cities and travel in by public transport.

How to apply for a motorhome Crit’Air sticker

The process is the same as for any other vehicle:

1. Enter your registration in the lookup tool above to check your category
2. Start your application - we need your V5C details, vehicle registration, and fuel type
3. Pay £7 - this covers everything including delivery to your UK address
4. Receive your sticker and display it on your windscreen before you travel

The whole process takes under two minutes. We handle the French government paperwork for you, so you do not need to navigate the French-language official site.

If your motorhome is older and falls into Crit’Air 4 or 5, you will still receive a sticker - but check the specific restrictions for the cities you plan to visit, as some zones ban higher-numbered categories.