From 2023 environmental stickers mandatory in Spanish cities
From 1 January 2023, new environmental rules will apply with mandatory low-emission zones in 148 cities in Spain with more than 50,000 inhabitants. These environmental stickers are mandatory for all vehicles, both those with a Spanish and foreign number plate. But which cities does this apply to and how do you get an environmental sticker if you do or do not have a Spanish license plate?
Environmental zones or low emission zones (zonas de bajas emisiones) are only accessible to vehicles that have a valid environmental sticker (etiquetas medioambientales or distintivo ambiental). The new traffic signs indicate which vehicles are allowed to enter these environmental zones or low-emission zones.
IMPORTANT: The Spanish environmental sticker cannot be purchased for vehicles registered abroad. So if you go on holiday to Spain or drive around in that country with a vehicle with a foreign license plate, you can use the Danish, German, Austrian or French environmental sticker that are valid in Spain. If you drive through France to Spain, the French vignette Crit’Air is the best option because it is valid in France and Spain. The environmental stickers apply to cities and not to the entire country. CLICK HERE to see which cities this applies to in Spain.
For vehicles registered in Spain, there are four Spanish environmental stickers:
- Blue – 0: no emissions such as 100% electric cars and plug-in hybrid cars (40 km or more).
- Green-blue – eco: plug-in hybrid (less than 40 km) and gas-powered vehicles that meet the criteria of the green sticker (C).
- Green – C: petrol cars registered in 2006 or later; diesel cars registered in 2014 or later; vehicles with more than 8 seats and heavy vehicles, both petrol and diesel, registered in 2014 or later. Petrol vehicles must comply with Euro standard 4, 5 or 6 and diesel vehicles with Euro standard 6.
- Yellow – B: petrol cars registered in 2000-2005; diesel cars registered in 2006-2013; vehicles with more than 8 seats and heavy vehicles, both petrol and diesel, registered in 2005-2013. Petrol vehicles must comply with Euro standard 3 and diesel vehicles with Euro standard 4 or 5.
There is no sticker for other vehicles.
Where can I buy the Spanish environmental sticker?
The Spanish environmental sticker is therefore only for sale for vehicles with a Spanish license plate. These can be purchased for 5 euros at post offices (CLICK HERE for the website); the network of workshops of the Spanish Confederation of Workshops (CETRAA) and other networks of authorized workshops; Stored; the Institute for Automotive Studies (IDEAUTO).
On THIS website you can enter the Spanish registration number to see which environmental sticker you need.
Source: Spanje Vandaag