Guides
Crit'Air rules on cross-border routes, explained
Crit’Air stickers divide French vehicles into six categories. If the cheapest station sits inside a ZFE perimeter and your sticker is level 3 or above, the ‘best’ stop on the map may be illegal. This guide explains which levels face restrictions, and when transiting a zone on a motorway is still allowed.
Decision question
Can the driver legally and practically use the route that contains the cheaper station?
What Kilomo should compare
- Crit’Air 1–2 (petrol Euro 4+, diesel Euro 5–6, electrics) are unaffected by most daily French ZFE restrictions — a post-2011 diesel or post-2006 petrol car is usually clear.
- Sticker 3 (diesel Euro 4, petrol up to Euro 2) faces restrictions in Grenoble, Strasbourg ZFE and during national pollution alerts; sticker 4–5 adds Lyon and can be banned from Paris ZCZ.
- Pollution alerts (arrêtés préfectoraux) can be declared on 24 hours’ notice and lifted the following day — always check the morning of your trip, not the day before.
- Transiting a ZFE via motorway without exiting (e.g. A4, A35, A7) does not trigger Crit’Air rules — the restrictions apply to surface streets and city-centre roads, not transit corridors.
Important
Crit’Air zone classifications, pollution alert thresholds and affected areas are set by French authorities and can change at short notice. Kilomo surfaces route and station options for information only—always verify current restrictions on official French government sources before driving into or through a low-emission zone.