Van is too old to drive in France

[glastry]

If you van is pre -1997 it currently cannot get a "Crit Air " sticker,
this will make it difficult to drive in many areas in France.(at certain times in the day).
The classification of older motorhomes as Classic vehicles was mentioned on some french sites, but does not seem to have happened.
Just wondered if there was more up to date information out there?
thanks

 

[Spriddler]

I've no desire to take my 1995 motorhome anywhere that a 'Crit Air' sticker is needed.
However, it has to be at least 30 years old to qualify as a 'Vehicule de Collection' on the Carte Grise. Even then it isn't guaranteed to be granted.
I've been involved with this for several classic/historic motorbikes.
See the full details on the government website here;

Carte grise How to get a collection vehicle?

Carte grise You can only request a collectible vehicle if you own or buy a vehicle older than 30 years.

www.service-public.fr

 

[nicholsong]

If you van is pre -1997 it currently cannot get a "Crit Air " sticker,
this will make it difficult to drive in many areas in France.(at certain times in the day).
The classification of older motorhomes as Classic vehicles was mentioned on some french sites, but does not seem to have happened.
Just wondered if there was more up to date information out there?
thanks

There are two reasons for a Crit Air sticker to be needed

1 In certain cities, currently Paris, Lyon, Rouen I think where permanent emissions regulations are in force.

2 In many other towns and cities even when local emissions regulations have not been put in force.

In the second case it would seem unjust to fine a driver who cannot obtain a sticker, but in circumstances when there is no emissions problem.

 

[Phill D]

It is not difficult to avoid those areas I particularly dislike transiting Rouen and Lyon and avoid Paris like the plague.
You don’t need it unless you particularly want to go into those areas there will always be a way around.

 

[nicholsong]

It is not difficult to avoid those areas I particularly dislike transiting Rouen and Lyon and avoid Paris like the plague.
You don’t need it unless you particularly want to go into those areas there will always be a way around.

Avoiding those cities in my category 1 in my post above is one thing but it may be inconvenient to avoid all the towns and cities which require a sticker even when no restrictions are in force, and there are many now.

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[Riverbankannie]

When we last went to France in classic MG, we had this problem as staying in Saumur which is in Loire valley and they could call a temporary crit air zone if pollution levels indicated. It’s not just big cities.
From past experience though, gendarmes just wave happily at our cars so we decided that it would be ok.

 

[Manic]

I did try to get one for my 2001 Fiat based Hymer but couldn’t, not that we need one , don’t go to big city’s and if an area has a pop-up zone we would move from that area.

 

[Phill D]

I have just re read the requirements and it does state pre 1997 vehicles are banned.
I cannot believe however that there are not pre 1997 vehicles being used in France.

 

[Jim]

unless you particularly want to go into those areas

Stay away.. from those cities, they are only going to be rude to you anyway . Chatting to someone the other day who had their first experience of the classic French indifferent service. At a supermarket the checkout cashier was literally throwing his purchases behind her at him, while talking to someone else.

 

[MarionK]

I have just re read the requirements and it does state pre 1997 vehicles are banned.
I cannot believe however that there are not pre 1997 vehicles being used in France.

I presume you mean banned from getting a Crit Air cert. rather than banned per se.

edit, So there surely will be older than 1997 vehicles around, just not in Crit Air Zones.

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[Phill D]

Stay away.. from those cities, they are only going to be rude to you anyway . Chatting to someone the other day who had their first experience of the classic French indifferent service. At a supermarket the checkout cashier was literally throwing his purchases behind her at him, while talking to someone else.

I have had a elderly shop owner give me serious grief because I handed her a melon I wanted to buy.
Apparently that is not the done thing.

 

[Phill D]

I presume you mean banned from getting a Crit Air cert. rather than banned per se.

The scrip says banned without further explanation.
I assume it means banned from the crit air zone completely.
But your interpretation may be correct.

 

[MarionK]

The scrip says banned without further explanation.
I assume it means banned from the crit air zone completely.
But your interpretation may be correct.

That's correct, you're previous post just said banned, no mention of zones. Pedantic I know, but the post title had already given me a nasty shake.
My van is 1996, and I would like to visit France in it some day. Thankfully, I'm not interested in Paris or Rouen, etc..

Just done a bit of googling to be absolutely sure, and all their classifications are based on date of manufacture and engine type, with absolutely no referrence to actual emissions!

 

[Phill D]

That's correct, you're previous post just said banned, no mention of zones. Pedantic I know, but the post title had already given me a nasty shake.
My van is 1996, and I would like to visit France in it some day. Thankfully, I'm not interested in Paris or Rouen, etc..

Just done a bit of googling to be absolutely sure, and all their classifications are based on date of manufacture and engine type, with absolutely no referrence to actual emissions!

It would not stop me going to France and I’d stay away from the larger towns and cities anyway

 

[nicholsong]

I did try to get one for my 2001 Fiat based Hymer but couldn’t, not that we need one , don’t go to big city’s and if an area has a pop-up zone we would move from that area.

If you mean by 'pop=up zone' those areas which have authorisation to impose restrictions if pollution levels rise to a set figure, then you still need a Crit Air sticker to drive within those areas, even when no restrictions are in place.

We got a sticker for our 2002 Fiat 2.8Jtd and I would have thought your engine is in the same Euro 3 category

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[Manic]

If you mean by 'pop=up zone' those areas which have authorisation to impose restrictions if pollution levels rise to a set figure, then you still need a Crit Air sticker to drive within those areas, even when no restrictions are in place.

We got a sticker for our 2002 Fiat 2.8Jtd and I would have thought your engine is in the same Euro 3 category

Mine a 2.8idtd that’s probably why.

 

[Itsmcb]

Mines a 1996 an doesn't qualify for a critair sticker. I had a lovely 10 days in France last year and a week in France and Belgium a couple of weeks ago. Most of these zones are city centres where you wouldn't to drive anyway. It's not affected my travel at all apart fro trying to get to the Aire in Reims when there was a road closure. I just went to the next town.

 

[Verteuil Man]

Just stay out of the cities. There is plenty of lovely scenery to look at out in the countryside.

The Crit Air stickers are only checked by the Gendarmes seeing you. They do not have electronic checking like London.

 

[Itsmcb]

Yep and if there's no restriction in force they are unlikely to be looking for stickers.

 

[Reallyretired]

Rouen, Lyon and Paris should be avoided anyway. Rouen has the motorhome decapitating underpasses, Lyon has terrible traffic congestion and Paris is unspeakable, even the French can't stand the parisiens.

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[Folkranger]

Stay away.. from those cities, they are only going to be rude to you anyway . Chatting to someone the other day who had their first experience of the classic French indifferent service. At a supermarket the checkout cashier was literally throwing his purchases behind her at him, while talking to someone else.

Sounds like my Aldi

 

[vzac]

I have had a elderly shop owner give me serious grief because I handed her a melon I wanted to buy.
Apparently that is not the done thing.

I had the same reaction in honflour. Just dropped it and went to another vendor. Sacre blur.

 

[jongood]

If you mean by 'pop=up zone' those areas which have authorisation to impose restrictions if pollution levels rise to a set figure, then you still need a Crit Air sticker to drive within those areas, even when no restrictions are in place.

We got a sticker for our 2002 Fiat 2.8Jtd and I would have thought your engine is in the same Euro 3 category

I'm a regular visitor to France and don't have a Crit Air sticker and havent had any problems yet. I also don't have an umwelt sticker. I tend to stay away from environmental zones although I did cut through Paris in 2020 and havent heard anything.

 

[Verteuil Man]

I found this app on Android Play Store. It has the clean air zones around Europe. Its a handy tool.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

If you van is pre -1997 it currently cannot get a "Crit Air " sticker,
this will make it difficult to drive in many areas in France.(at certain times in the day).
The classification of older motorhomes as Classic vehicles was mentioned on some french sites, but does not seem to have happened.
Just wondered if there was more up to date information out there?
thanks

Its just a few of the major town that you have to avoid ,much like the clean air zones in the UK.
Never been questioned or asked about the sticker although we do have one.

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[Riverbankannie]

Its just a few of the major town that you have to avoid ,much like the clean air zones in the UK.
Never been questioned or asked about the sticker although we do have one.

There are the temporary clean air zones to be aware of particularly in summer. Travellers may well be going through some of these.

​

​

French emergency low emission zone (ZPA)​

As opposed to ZCRs, emergency low emissions zones (known as ZPAs) are temporary restrictions imposed on certain vehicles. These are implemented in certain locations when there is a risk of dangerously high air pollution levels.

These areas tend to be significantly larger than the permanent zones, and all vehicles must display a vignette when public announcements dictate that restrictions are in place, or face a fine.

As of July 2019, there are currently 28 areas where emergency low emission zones are implemented during certain conditions:

France ZPA zones​

• Paris
• Annecy
• Chambery
• Arve Valley
• Côte d’Or/Dijon
• Creuse/Guéret
• Deux-Sèvres/Niort
• Drôme/Valence
• Eure-et-Loir/Chartres
• Gers/Auch
• Gironde/Bordeaux
• Grenoble
• Haute-Savoie/Annecy
• Hérault/Montpelier
• Isère/Grenoble
• Lille
• Loiret/Orléans
• Lyon
• Maine-et-Loire
• Marseille
• Puy-de-Dome/Clermont Ferrand
• Pyrénées-Atlantiques
• Rennes
• Savoie/Chambery
• Strasbourg
• Toulouse
• Vendée/La Rouche-sur-Yon
• Vienne/Poitiers

However, this situation could change quickly as more cities and departments introduce low-emission zones in response to weather conditions, so check the Urban Access Regulations website before setting off.

 

[Carole Lynne]

Anyone been to France lately? Do you need a covid pass to get into France? Thinking of going end of August/ September. Many thanks

 

[Phill D]

Anyone been to France lately? Do you need a covid pass to get into France? Thinking of going end of August/ September. Many thanks

You only need your passport

 

[Itsmcb]

From UK Gov website:-

All travellers
All travellers should familiarise themselves with the entry rules for France before travel.

From 1 August 2022, all COVID-19 travel restrictions for travellers to France have been lifted. The rules that previous applied to travellers coming to France no longer apply:

you are no longer required to present proof of vaccination
you are no longer required to fill out any forms prior to your arrival in France, such as a justification for travel or a sworn statement
you are no longer required to show proof of a negative PCR or antigen test upon arrival in France

 

[MattR]

I'm a regular visitor to France and don't have a Crit Air sticker and havent had any problems yet. I also don't have an umwelt sticker. I tend to stay away from environmental zones although I did cut through Paris in 2020 and havent heard anything.

Restrictions around Paris have increased since 2020; the low emissions zone is much larger and will prevent older vehicles accessing the Paris campsite.

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