The colors of the French emissions sticker
On this page, you will learn more about the different colors of the French emissions sticker. The vehicle types are always listed in parentheses and can be found under J on your vehicle registration certificate. The emission standards are listed under V. Are these not listed? Then look at the date of first admission under B on your certificate.
The green emissions sticker
The green emissions sticker is for the most environmentally friendly vehicles. The vehicle must be equipped with an all-electric engine or an engine based on a fuel cell. It does not matter whether the vehicle is a moped, a passenger car, a bus or a truck. Please note that vehicles with hybrid engines do not qualify. These are eligible for the purple sticker instead.
The purple emissions sticker
A purple emissions sticker with the number 1 is for slightly less environmentally friendly vehicles. In most cases, these are vehicles from recent years equipped with an LPG system, a petrol or a hybrid engine.
- Passenger cars (M1) and light commercial vehicles (N1) with a petrol engine that meet the Euro 5 or Euro 6 emission standard (January 2011).
- Large trucks and buses (M2, M3, N2 and N3) with petrol engines that meet the Euro 6 emission standard (January 2014).
- Motorcycles and light motorized vehicles (L3e, L4e, L5e and L7e) that meet the Euro 4 emission standard (January 2017).
- Mopeds and scooters (L1e, L2e and L6e) that meet the Euro 4 emission standard (January 2018).
- Vehicles with an LPG system and plug-in hybrids (PHEV).
The yellow emissions sticker
Slightly older vehicles are eligible for the yellow emissions sticker with the number 2. These vehicles emit more harmful particulate matter, but are currently almost always still allowed to enter French low-emission zones.
The vehicle must be one of the following:
- Passenger cars (M1) and light commercial vehicles (N1) with a petrol engine that meets the Euro 4 emission standard (January 2006).
- Passenger cars (M1) and light commercial vehicles (N1) with a diesel engine that meets the Euro 5 or Euro 6 emission standard (January 2011).
- Larger trucks and buses (M2, M3, N2 and N3) with a petrol engine that meets the Euro 5 emission standard (October 2010).
- Larger trucks and buses (M2, M3, N2 and N3) with a diesel engine that meets the Euro 6 emission standard (October 2010).
- Motorcycles and light motorized vehicles (L3e, L4e, L5e and L7e) and mopeds and scooters (L1e, L2e and L6e) that meet the Euro 3 emission standard (January 2007).
The orange emissions sticker
Even older vehicles receive an orange sticker with the number 3. These are relatively polluting vehicles. Although vehicles with an orange sticker are allowed to drive within most French low-emission zones, they will be refused more often in the future.
The vehicle must be one of the following:
- Passenger cars (M1) and light commercial vehicles (N1) with a petrol engine that meets the Euro 2 or Euro 3 emission standard (January 1997).
- Passenger cars (M1) and light commercial vehicles (N1) with a diesel engine that meets the Euro 4 emission standard (January 2006).
- Larger trucks and buses (M2, M3, N2 and N3) with a petrol engine that meets the Euro 3 emission standard (October 2001).
- Larger trucks and buses (M2, M3, N2 and N3) with a diesel engine that meets the Euro 5 emission standard (October 2009).
- Motorcycles and light motorized vehicles (L3e, L4e, L5e and L7e) and mopeds and scooters (L1e, L2e and L6e) that meet the Euro 2 emission standard (July 2004).
The burgundy red sticker
The burgundy red sticker with the number 4 is only for older vehicles with a diesel engine and for motorcycles and mopeds. In some low-emission zones, vehicles with the burgundy red sticker are already not allowed to enter.
The vehicle must be one of the following:
- Passenger cars (M1) and light commercial vehicles (N1) with a diesel engine that meets the Euro 3 emission standard (January 2001).
- Larger trucks and buses (M2, M3, N2 and N3) with a diesel engine that meets the Euro 4 emission standard (October 2006).
- Motorcycles and light motorized vehicles (L3e, L4e, L5e and L7e) and mopeds and scooters (L1e, L2e and L6e) from June 2000 or later.
The gray sticker
The gray emissions sticker with the number 5 is for the most polluting diesel vehicles. In the near future you will often not be allowed to enter French low-emission zones. In some low-emission zones, vehicles with a gray sticker are already banned by default.
The vehicle must be one of the following:
- Passenger cars (M1) and light commercial vehicles (N1) with a diesel engine that meets the Euro 2 emission standard (January 1997).
- Large trucks and buses (M2, M3, N2 and N3) with a diesel engine that meets the Euro 3 emission standard (October 2001).
Vehicles not eligible for a sticker
Vehicles that do not fall into any of the categories above are not eligible for an emissions sticker. This then means that you are not allowed to enter French low-emission zones. These are the following vehicles:
- Passenger cars (M1) that meet the Euro 1 emission standard or have a first admission date from before January 1997.
- Light commercial vehicles (N1) that meet the the Euro 1 emission standards or have a first admission date from before October 1997.
- Large trucks and buses (M2, M3, N2 and N3) that have a first admission date from before October 2001.
- Motorcycles and light motorized vehicles (L3e, L4e, L5e and L7e) and mopeds and scooters (L1e, L2e and L6e) that have a first admission date from before June 2000.