New rules for low emission zones in January 2022
The new year is barely a few days old, but already there are important changes in the environmental zones in many European cities. Often the changes only affect individual cities, but sometimes they affect entire countries. But some tightening has been postponed, on the one hand because pollutants have decreased due to the pandemic-related decrease in traffic, and on the other hand because drivers want to be given enough time to adjust to innovations in difficult times. Green-Zones® lists the new rules for January.
Denmark:
- Only trucks (N2, N3) and buses (M2, M3) of Euroclass 6 can still drive in the environmental zones.
- Retrofitting with particle filter possible for Euroclass 5. Registration of the vehicles is necessary, also for vehicles of Euronorm 6, if registered for the first time before 01.01.2015.
Netherlands:
- Only trucks (N2, N3) permitted with Euroclass 6. This affects all low emission zones (Amsterdam, Arnhem, Breda, Delft, Den Haag, Eindhoven, Leiden, Maastricht, Rijswijk, Rotterdam, 's-Hertogenbosch, Tilburg and Utrecht).
- New low emission zone with the same regulations in Haarlem.
- Also, in The Hague and Utrecht, no more entry of buses (M2, M3) with less than Euroclass 6, as already in Amsterdam and Eindhoven.
Belgium:
- All diesel vehicles in Brussels must have at least Euroclass 5. Mandatory in Antwerp and Ghent for two years already.
- Fines for Euro 4 diesel vehicles will not be distributed until April 2022.
France:
Strasbourg:
- Permanent Low Emission Zone becomes considerably larger and now encompasses the entire conurbation (Eurometropole).
- Extent corresponds to the area affected by driving restrictions even in the case of a temporary environmental warning.
- Rules now apply to all vehicles, not just vans and trucks.
- Entry prohibited without French environmental sticker and with sticker 5. Fines only from next year.
Rouen:
- Low emission zone becomes larger and now encompasses twelve municipalities.
Saint-Etienne:
- Permanent low emission zone from the end of January, but only for vans and trucks used exclusively for commercial purposes.
- Motorbikes and vehicles belonging to private individuals have free passage.
Reims:
- Low emission zone already started in September, since 1 January 2022 you have to pay a fine for missing or wrong sticker.
Spain:
Madrid:
- All cars need a Spanish environmental sticker, a Distintivo Ambiental. Classes 0, Eco, B and C are permitted.
- Valid within the M-30 ring road, except for the ring road itself, which will be added next year.
Postponed were:
- the introduction of an environmental zone in Toulouse.
- the introduction of an environmental zone in Lille.
- Restrictions for private cars without stickers or with sticker 5 in Lyon.
- Automatic registration of cars and stickers in the permanent low emission zone in Paris.