Low-emission zone of Paris

On 1 July 2016, Paris was the first French city to introduce a low-emission zone. You are only allowed to drive a motorized vehicle within this zone if you have a French emissions sticker. On this page you will find a map and everything you need to know about the low-emission zone of Paris. Want to read more about the emissions sticker itself? Then check out the main page of this site. Looking for another city? Head over to our list of all low-emission zones in France.

Map of the low-emission zone in Paris

map: low-emission zone of Paris

The zone à faibles émissions (ZFE) or Paris low-emission zone is marked in orange on the map above. A total of 77 municipalities of the Métropole du Grand Paris fall within the zone. This is a collaboration of the city of Paris with a large number of surrounding municipalities.

The boundary of the low-emission zone is always determined by the boundaries of the outer participating municipalities. This boundary does not always make sense for traffic. Useful to keep in mind is the A86, indicated with blue on the map. This second ring road is mostly still just inside and sometimes just outside the low-emission zone. On the A86 itself and quite a few roads connecting to the A86 from outside, an emissions sticker is not yet mandatory.

These connecting roads from outside the low-emission zone to the A86 are marked with red on the map. They are, clockwise, the A15, the N1, the A1, the N186, the A3, the exit to the D116, the A4, the N406, the N6, the A106, the A10, the A6 and the A14.

It is best to use the following rule of thumb when visiting Paris:

  1. If your destination is within the A86, then an emissions sticker is mandatory, except in the communes of Vélizy-Villacoublay and Viroflay near Versailles. These are just outside the zone southwest of Paris (see bottom left on the map).
  2. If you are entering Paris via the A86 then an emissions sticker is not required, as long as you enter and exit the A86 via the main roads (red on the map).
  3. If your destination is near the A86, then look carefully at the map. It may be that your destination is outside the A86 but still just inside the low-emission zone.

When it was introduced in 2016, the low-emission zone of Paris was much smaller. The Boulevard Périphérique or first ring road then formed the zone’s boundary. The low-emission zone was expanded in 2021, and there are plans in the future to require an emissions sticker in the entire Paris metropolis.

The low-emission zone of Paris

The low-emission zone of Paris differs slightly from that of most other low-emission zones. For example, the rules only apply at certain times and there are different rules for different types of vehicles.

  1. For heavy trucks (categories M2 and M3) and buses (N2 and N3), an emissions sticker is required daily between 8 and 20 hours. The vehicle category is listed under J on your vehicle registration certificate.
  2. For all other motorized vehicles an emissions sticker is mandatory on weekdays from 8 to 20 hours. On weekends and holidays, a sticker is not required.

The latter means that if you visit Paris on weekends, an emissions sticker is not required for your passenger car. This makes the rules in Paris more lenient than almost all other low-emission zones in France.

Parking outside the low-emission zone

Do you need to be in the French capital during the week, in a truck or a bus and do not have an emissions sticker? Then you can park outside the low-emission zone and take the metro. That way you will still get to your destination quickly. It is recommended to park at a parking relais found near one of the city’s larger metro stations. You can see a map of all parking relais on this page on the Île-de-France Mobilités website.

Future expansion

While the ZFE now covers 77 municipalities of the Métropole du Grand Paris, there are plans to expand the low-emission zone in the future. However, this will require consultation between the municipalities first. Plans will also depend on how air quality develops in the coming years.

Which emissions sticker in Paris?

French emissions sticker 0-1-2-3

Currently, all vehicles with a green, purple (1), yellow (2) and orange emissions sticker (3) are allowed to drive within the low-emission zone of Paris. Do you not have an emissions sticker or one of older burgundy (4) or gray (5) stickers? Then you risk a fine. Good to know in advance is that the rules will be tightened as of 1 January 2025. Vehicles with an orange sticker will also be banned from that date.

Other low-emission zones nearby

In northern France, an emissions sticker is also required in Rouen and in Reims. Reims is located 150 kilometers northwest of Paris in the Normandy region, while Reims can be found 150 kilometers to the northeast in Grand Est.

What to see and do in Paris?

Paris is known as one of the most beautiful, romantic and impressive cities in the world. With beautiful boulevards, cafes and architecture, too many attractions to see during one visit, prominent museums and endless shopping and entertainment options, there is something for everyone.

Paris

Everyone obviously wants to visit the Eiffel Tower, and most will also have heard of the Notre-Dame or the Louvre. These are certainly major tourist attractions that should not be skipped when visiting Paris. But what about old and atmospheric neighborhoods such as the Latin Quarter or Montmartre? There are also more than enough monumental buildings in Paris such as Les Invalides, the Panthéon and the Grand Palais, which are all worth a visit. In addition, the versatile French capital has attractions such as the skyscraper complex La Défense, the gardens at the Palais du Luxembourg and the millions of skeletons of the Catacombs preserved in underground passages.

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