Low-emission zone of Rennes

Rennes in Brittany in western France established a low-emission zone on 1 January 2025. An emissions sticker is required within this zone. On this page you can read everything you need to know. We also have a useful map of the low-emission zone for you. Will you visit other French cities with a low-emission zone besides Rennes? Then check out our overview map. On the home page our website you can read which color of sticker your car qualifies for.

Map of the low-emission zone in Rennes

map: low-emission zone in Rennes

On the map above, you can see the low-emission zone of Rennes. The zone is marked orange. To the north, south and west, the boundary is formed by the rocade, which the ring road of Rennes. To the east, the boundary largely corresponds to the boulevard des Alliés. Only a small residential area between avenue de la Renaudière, avenue de la Touraudais, avenue Général Leclerc and the river Vilaine, is not part of the zone.

There are also some roads that run from the edge of the low-emission zone to a parc relais within the zone. From these park-and-ride-sites you can then take public transportation to the center of Rennes. An emissions sticker is not required on these roads. They are indicated on the map by blue lines.

The low-emission zone of Rennes

On paper, the low-emission zone is called the zone à faibles émissions (ZFE) of the Rennes Métropole. In addition to Rennes itself, 42 other municipalities fall within this cooperation. This makes it easy to expand the low-emission zone in the future, if necessary.

If you need to be in Rennes and your car does not have an emissions sticker, it is possible to request a pass from the city of Rennes. This will then allow you to drive within the low-emission zone for 24 hours without a sticker. You must have a thorough reason. Ordinary tourists cannot use this option.

Parking outside the low-emission zone

As mentioned above, there are a number of streets within the low-emission zone that you can use to reach a parc relais without an emissions sticker. Most of these large parking lots are located near a metro station. We have listed them for you below.

  1. P+R Les Gayeulles: rue Guy Ropartz, 373 parking spaces, near Les Gayeulles station on line B.
  2. P+R Cesson-Viasilva: boulevard des Alliés in Cesson-Sévigné, 813 parking spaces, at Cesson-Viasilva station on line B.
  3. P+R Les Préales: 1 rue Django Reinhardt, 280 parking spaces, buses C4, N4 and C6. Open only during school vacations.
  4. P+R La Poterie: route d’Angers, 679 parking spaces, at La Poterie station on line A.
  5. P+R Henri Fréville: boulevard Henri Fréville, 386 parking spaces, at Henri Fréville station on line A.
  6. P+R Saint-Jacques-Gaîté: boulevard Jean Mermoz in Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande, 737 parking spaces, at Saint-Jacques-Gaîté station on line B.
  7. P+R JF Kennedy: boulevard d’Anjou, 362 parking spaces, at JF Kennedy station on line A.
  8. P+R Villejean-Université: rue d’Alsace, 354 parking spaces, at Villejean-Université station on line A.

Which emissions sticker in Rennes?

All colors of the French emissions sticker

Rennes is one of the few French cities with a low-emission zone where different rules apply to four-wheeled and two-wheeled vehicles. For cars, buses and trucks, all colors of the emissions sticker currently allowed. Only in 2027 will the rules be tightened.

For motorcycles and other two-wheeled vehicles, you must have a green, purple (1), yellow (2), orange (3) or burgundy (4) emissions sticker. If you have a gray (5) or no emissions sticker, you risk a fine. These usually are motorcycles and other two-wheelers manufactured before 1 June 2000.

Other low-emission zones nearby

Near Rennes, you’ll find a number of other low-emission zones. Driving 180 kilometers to the northeast, an emissions sticker is required in Caen. In Nantes, 110 kilometers south of Rennes, the emissions sticker is also mandatory. Finally, 130 kilometers to the southeast, be aware of a low-emission zone in Angers.

What to see and do in Rennes

Rennes

Marché des Lices in Rennes, photo by ENoz (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Rennes is the second largest city in historic Brittany after Nantes and one of the larger cities in France. The city grew especially after World War II with the construction of a large Citroën factory. Sights include the Parlement de Bretagne, the 17th-century Palais Saint-Georges and the Parc du Thabor. The latter is considered one of the most beautiful urban parks in this part of France.

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