Crit'Air Sticker for Plug-in Hybrid Cars (PHEV) - UK Guide 2026

Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) are classified as Crit’Air 1 in France. This is the second-best category and grants access to all current ZFE zones. You still need to apply for a sticker - it does not matter that your car can drive on electric power alone.

How plug-in hybrids are classified

The Crit’Air system classifies vehicles by fuel type and Euro emission standard. Plug-in hybrids fall into a specific category:

Vehicle type	Crit’Air category	Sticker colour
Fully electric (BEV)	0	Green
Hydrogen fuel cell	0	Green
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV)	1	Purple
Non-plug-in hybrid (HEV)	1	Purple
Petrol Euro 5–6 (2011+)	1	Purple

All plug-in hybrids receive Crit’Air 1, regardless of:

• Whether the combustion engine is petrol or diesel
• The size of the battery
• The electric-only range
• The year of manufacture

Common PHEVs and their category

Vehicle	Category
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV	Crit’Air 1
BMW 330e / X5 xDrive45e	Crit’Air 1
Mercedes GLC 300e	Crit’Air 1
Volvo XC60 / XC90 Recharge	Crit’Air 1
Hyundai Tucson PHEV	Crit’Air 1
Kia Niro PHEV	Crit’Air 1
MG HS PHEV	Crit’Air 1
Range Rover P400e	Crit’Air 1
Peugeot 3008 Hybrid	Crit’Air 1

Use the lookup tool above to confirm your specific vehicle.

The application confusion

When applying for a Crit’Air sticker, you need to specify the fuel type. This is where PHEV owners often get confused:

• Do not select “Electric” - that is for fully electric vehicles (Crit’Air 0)
• Do not select “Petrol” or “Diesel” - that would classify your car based on Euro standard alone
• Select “Hybrid” or the plug-in hybrid option - this ensures Crit’Air 1

When you apply through our service, we handle this automatically. Our DVLA lookup identifies your vehicle as a plug-in hybrid and selects the correct fuel type classification.

Benefits of Crit’Air 1

Crit’Air 1 vehicles are currently allowed in every active ZFE zone in France without restriction. Even during high-pollution episodes (pics de pollution), when additional restrictions may apply:

• Crit’Air 0 and 1 are almost never restricted during pollution spikes
• Higher categories (3, 4, 5) may face temporary driving bans during these episodes
• Your PHEV gives you maximum flexibility

Do I still need a sticker if driving on electric?

Yes. The Crit’Air sticker is required regardless of which mode your car is in. French enforcement does not distinguish between electric and hybrid driving modes - they check the sticker category.

Even if you are driving through a ZFE zone on pure electric power, you need the sticker on your windscreen. Without it, you face a fine of €68 - regardless of your actual emissions at that moment.