Are Crit’Air vignettes still needed in France after MPs vote to axe low-emission zones?
The sticker scheme came into force in 2017
MPs from across the political spectrum backed a full repeal of ZFE obligations on May 28
Ricochet64 / Shutterstock
The end may be in sight for Crit’Air vignettes after MPs voted to abolish France’s low-emission zones (ZFEs) - but the change is not yet law.
Drivers in France must still display a Crit’Air air quality vignette where required.
The vote by MPs, passed late on Wednesday, May 28, as part of a broader economic simplification bill, signals a political U-turn on ZFE, which had been one of the flagship measures of France’s 2021 Climat et résilience law.
MPs from across the political spectrum – including the far-right Rassemblement National, conservative Les Républicains, and left-wing La France Insoumise – backed a full repeal of ZFE obligations, rejecting a government compromise that would have limited the zones to Paris and Lyon.
Crit’Air not yet scrapped
Despite the vote, nothing has changed on the ground: Crit’Air stickers remain mandatory in cities that enforce ZFE restrictions, including Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and Strasbourg.
Drivers without them risk fines of up to €135.
The process to end the ZFE system could take months.The Senate must now debate the full bill, which includes more than 600 proposed amendments, after which it could still be blocked.
The final text will also need to pass constitutional scrutiny, with some MPs warning that the ZFE repeal could be struck down due to its weak link with the rest of the economic legislation.
This happened previously when an automatic visa right for second-home owners was included in France’s proposed 2024 immigration law was blocked - along with 30 other amendments - by the Conseil constitutionnel.
If the repeal survives the next round of parliamentary scrutiny and any legal challenges, it may effectively render Crit’Air vignettes obsolete.
But until then they remain required by law in affected cities.
A final vote in the National Assembly is expected in the coming weeks, followed by Senate deliberations.
In the meantime, drivers are advised not to remove their stickers or ignore local ZFE rules.
