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Low emission zone Grenoble

Important!

Grenoble has six environmental zones: Grenoble Central ZFE, Grenoble Extended ZFE, Grenoble eco-lanes, Grenoble ZPA, Isère/Grenoble ZPAd, Grenoble ZTL

Name of the environmental zone: Environmental zone ZFE Grenoble Central - France

Date of entry into effect of the zone: 01-07-2023

Type of environmental zone: 7h to 19h, Monday to Friday except public holidays

Not allowed to drive (temporarily): Information currently unavailable

Not allowed to drive (permanently): Vans (N1), HGVs (N2, N3): without vignette and vehicles with vignette 5, 4, 3.
Cars, motorhomes (M1), motorbikes (L): without vignette as well as vehicles that have a vignette 5, 4.

Fines: 68-450 €

Area/extension of the environmental zone: The ZFE Grenoble Central consists of 13 municipalities: Échirolles, Eybens, Fontaine, Gières, Grenoble, La Tronche, Le Pont-de-Claix, Meylan, Saint-Égrève, Saint-Martin-d'Hères, Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux, Seyssinet-Pariset and Seyssins. Not part of the zone are the motorways A48, A480, N87, A41 and N481.

Special features: The Grenoble ZFE zone is located within the Grenoble-Alpes-Métropole ZPA zone. For this reason, when an air pollution alert is triggered in the ZPA zone, these driving bans also apply in the ZFE.

Exception for VASP possible upon request

Contact of the environmental zone and exceptions: Exemptions may be requested under certain conditions. Please contact: voirie@lametro.fr

Exemptions: Doctor, Fire brigade, Military, Police car, Customs, Snow plough, Public bus and Ambulance

Name of the environmental zone: Environmental zone Grenoble Extended ZFE - France

Date of entry into effect of the zone: 02-05-2019

Type of environmental zone: Permanent

Not allowed to drive (temporarily): Information currently unavailable

Not allowed to drive (permanently): Permanent driving ban for trucks and light commercial vehicles without badge as well as with badge class 5, 4 and 3.

Fines: 68-450 €

Area/extension of the environmental zone: Since 02.02.2020, the ZFE zone of Grenoble consists of the area of the city of Grenoble and 27 neighbouring municipalities belonging to the Grenoble-Alpes Métropole: Bresson, Échirolles, Eybens, La Tronche, Poisat, Pont-de-Claix, Saint-Égrève, Saint-Martin-d’Hères (including the University Campus), Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux and Champ-sur-Drac, Champagnier, Claix, Corenc, Fontaine, Gières, Jarrie, Meylan, Montchaboud, Noyarey, Quaix-en-Chartreuse, Saint-Georges-de-Commiers, Sassenage, Seyssinet-Pariset, Seyssins, Varces-Allières-et-Risset, Venon, Veurey-Voroize.
The A48, N481, A480, A41, N87 (ring road), N85 and A51 transport axes within the zone are not affected by driving bans.

Special features: In case of an air pollution alert of the Grenoble ZPA zone, the rules of the Grenoble Extended ZFE zone will be overridden.

Exception for VASP possible upon request

Contact of the environmental zone and exceptions: Exemptions may be requested under certain conditions. Please contact: voirie@lametro.fr

Exemptions: Doctor, Fire brigade, Military, Police car, Customs, Snow plough, Public bus and Ambulance

Name of the environmental zone: Eco-lanes Grenoble - France

Date of entry into effect of the zone: 28-09-2020

Type of environmental zone: Temporary, only with high traffic volume

Not allowed to drive (temporarily): Vehicles up to 3.5 t that do not have a green French sticker for electric or hydrogen propulsion.

Not allowed to drive (permanently): All vehicles over 3.5 t are always prohibited (M1, M2, N2, N3).

Fines: 135 €

Area/extension of the environmental zone: The eco-lane runs for 8 km on the A48 motorway between Lyon and Grenoble, but only in the direction of Grenoble. It is located between the Voreppes toll booth in the north and the A48/RN481 junction. When the white diamond above the left lane is lit, this lane is reserved for authorised vehicles. Otherwise it is open to all. When the diamond is lit, the speed is reduced to 50km/h on all lanes. The eco-lane on the A48 is not in Grenoble ZFE, but within Grenoble ZPA.

Special features: Carpooling (from 2 persons incl. driver) only applies to vehicles under 3.5 t.

Contact of the environmental zone and exceptions: Information currently unavailable

Exemptions: Public bus, Taxi and Carpools

Name of the environmental zone: Environmental zone ZPA Grenoble - France

Date of entry into effect of the zone: 01-01-2017

Type of environmental zone: temporary, weather-related air protection zone, active when pollution limits are exceeded

Not allowed to drive (temporarily): Vehicles without a badge and vehicles with insufficient badge class, depending on the level and duration of the air pollution peak.

Not allowed to drive (permanently): Information currently unavailable

Fines: 68-450 €

Area/extension of the environmental zone: The ZPA zone of Grenoble-Alpes includes all 49 municipalities of the metropolis. The area stretches along the A41 highway to the Crolles toll station and along the A48 highway to the Voreppe toll station. For this reason, the A41, A48, A480 and N481 highways could be affected by driving bans.

Special features: From the second day of the early warning stage, speed limits of 20 km/h and discounts on public transport tickets will apply on all ordinary roads, expressways and highways. Once the air pollution peak has occurred, the driving bans and restrictions on the badge class also apply to the ZCR zone Grenoble within the ZPA zone.

Contact of the environmental zone and exceptions: Information currently unavailable

Exemptions: Doctor, Fire brigade, Military, Police car, Customs, Snow plough, Public bus and Ambulance

Name of the environmental zone: Environmental zone Grenoble/Isère ZPAd - France

Date of entry into effect of the zone: 04-01-2018

Type of environmental zone: temporary, weather-related air protection zone, active when pollution limits are exceeded

Not allowed to drive (temporarily): Vehicles without a badge and vehicles with insufficient badge class, depending on the level and duration of the air pollution.

Not allowed to drive (permanently): Information currently unavailable

Fines: 68-450 €

Area/extension of the environmental zone: The zone covers theoretically the entire Department of Isère. Within the basin of Grenoble, however, the borders of the existing ZPA Zone of Grenoble will apply. In addition, during each air pollution peak, the actual extension of the activated zone is redefined and notified in an individual order, which announces the entry into force of the zone. The highways A41, A43, A48, A49 and A51 within the Department of Isère may be affected.

Contact of the environmental zone and exceptions: Information currently unavailable

Exemptions: Doctor, Fire brigade, Military, Police car, Customs, Snow plough, Public bus and Ambulance

Name of the environmental zone: Environmental zone Grenoble ZTL - France

Date of entry into effect of the zone: 30-12-2021

Type of environmental zone: permanently valid, 0:00 - 24:00

Not allowed to drive (temporarily): Information currently unavailable

Not allowed to drive (permanently): Vehicle class: all

Fines: 135€

Area/extension of the environmental zone: The zone includes the following streets of Grenoble: Boulevards Édouard Rey and Agutte-Sembat.

Special features: Maximum speed 30 km/h;
Loading/unloading allowed for a maximum of 20 minutes. (A parking disc is required.); permits required

Contact of the environmental zone and exceptions: Phone: 0 800 805 807

Exemptions: Fire brigade, Police car, Residents (registration/application necessary), Disabled vehicle (registration/application necessary), Patient transport (registration/application necessary), Public bus, Hearse and Ambulance

Environmental zone ZFE

Do I need stickers or registrations?

To enter the low emission zone, each vehicle concerned requires a valid French environmental sticker (Certificat qualité de l'Air). Otherwise, a fine of 68 euros to 375 euros is to be expected.

The ZFE zones (Zone à Faibles Émissions), which were still called ZCR zones from 2016 to the end of 2019, are fixed zones that can be identified by traffic signs.
The establishment of a ZFE in France is the responsibility of the respective city or municipality and is regulated by the national decree Décret ZCR 2016-847 of 28.06.2016. After a 6-month legal consultation procedure, which also provides for a right of participation of affected persons, the zone can come into force.
In order to be able to travel in the ZFE environmental zones established by cities or municipalities in France, a Certificat qualité de l'Air is then required, which is allocated to 6 categories.

The respective city or commune determines which sticker classes may enter when. On an additional sign, under the actual ZFE sign, days and times are indicated at which one may enter with a certain French vignette.

 

In the long term, more and more vignette categories are being excluded from entering low emission zones, so that in some years only categories E and 1 will be allowed to enter.
In a ZFE zone, vignette colours are permanently excluded and do not depend on the respective weather conditions. However, it is possible that a ZFE and a ZPA zone overlap. If driving bans are then imposed within the ZPA zone due to the weather, these also apply to the ZFE/zone. In this case, the rules of the ZPA also apply to the ZFE zone.
However, if the ZFE zone is not within a ZPA zone, this case cannot occur and the rules are unchangeable.

The beginning and end of the environmental zones are marked with signs. This shows a red circle as a prohibition sign with the remark "Zones à Circulation Restreinte" (Restricted Zone).  Exactly who may or may not enter the zone is not indicated by the entry sign.


In our Green Zones App we have a detailed map of each low emission zone. So you can easily see the boundaries and avoid penalties.

Yes, a lot of them. France has over 30 different environmental zones. These differ in ZFE (permanent), ZPA (temporary) and ZPAd (temporary département) zones.


In our Green Zones App we have gathered together all the low emission zones in Europe and presented them clearly.

What are eco lanes?

An eco lane is a special lane for particularly low-emission and therefore environmentally friendly vehicles. The environmental lane may only be used by vehicles that meet certain emission standards. These include, for example, electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles or vehicles that run on hydrogen. By using the environmental lane, these vehicles are rewarded and gain an advantage in traffic, for example by passing through faster. The environmental lane can be established in certain cities or on certain road sections and is intended to help relieve traffic congestion while reducing pollutant emissions. It is also possible for environmental lanes to be closed entirely to individual traffic and only public transport and bicycles are allowed.

The goal of the environmental lane is to encourage the use of low-emission vehicles and reduce pollutant emissions. This will help improve air quality and support the transition to more sustainable mobility.
It is important to emphasize that the environmental lane is not a panacea, but only one part of a broader approach to making road transport less harmful to the environment. Additional measures such as the promotion of public transport or the introduction of measures to reduce car traffic are also necessary to achieve sustainable mobility.

Environmental zone ZPA

Do I need stickers or registrations?

If there is a peak in air pollution and the ZPA zone is activated, each affected vehicle requires a valid French environmental sticker (Certificat qualité de l'Air) to enter the low emission zone. Otherwise, a fine of between 68 euros and 375 euros is to be expected.


You can find out whether a ZPAd zone is active and which vignette is affected by the driving ban in our Green-Zones App.

ZPA zones ("zones de protection de l'air") do not apply permanently, but are only active during bad weather and high air pollution. They can cover the areas of entire large municipalities (known as "metropolitan areas" in French) or a specific geographical area. The outlines of each air protection zone are therefore precisely defined in advance.
Since ZPA zones are only valid in the event of a peak in air pollution, the traffic restrictions laid down in a decree only apply if predefined air pollution limits are exceeded. In this case, certain vignette colours are excluded from traffic in order to reduce pollutant emissions. For each air protection zone, recommendations have been drawn up in advance as to which vignette colours should be excluded in the event of severe air pollution. However, in the specific case of air pollution this is always decided by the prefect of the department first.

The mostly large ZPA air protection zones within a department are usually not signposted. In the 95 departments of continental France, it is therefore almost impossible for non-residents to see the exact extent of a ZPA air protection zone. In accordance with article R411-19 of the French Road Code, the decision to create an air protection zone and to define the local rules applicable there falls to the prefect of each department. Once the ZPA zone has been decided, it is legally published in a décret issued by the prefect.

The traffic restrictions decided in a CPA do not come into force on the same day as they are announced. They are usually announced in the afternoon or evening for the following day. The driving bans then apply throughout the ZPA. In case there is an urban ZCR zone within the ZPA zone, its rules are overridden during an air pollution peak. Only after the end of the air pollution peak will the permanent traffic restrictions for vignette categories apply again within the ZCR zone.

ZPA zones are only activated temporarily. The size and dimensions of the zone are completely individual. This is determined by the respective prefect, depending on the intensity of air pollution. Therefore there are no special signs for ZPA zones.

The situation is different for the ZFE zones. There, the beginning and the end of the environmental zones are marked with signs. This shows a red circle as prohibition sign with the remark "Zones à Circulation Restreinte" (Restricted Zone).  Who exactly is allowed to enter or not is not indicated by the entry sign.


In our Green Zones App we have a detailed map of each low emission zone. So you can easily see the boundaries and avoid penalties.

Yes, a lot of them. France has over 30 different environmental zones. These differ in ZFE (permanent), ZPA (temporary) and ZPAd (temporary département) zones.


In our Green Zones App we have gathered together all the low emission zones in Europe and presented them clearly.

Environmental zone ZPAd

Do I need stickers or registrations?

If there is a peak in air pollution and the ZPAd zone is activated, each affected vehicle requires a valid French environmental sticker (Certificat qualité de l'Air) to enter the low emission zone. Otherwise, a fine of between 68 euros and 375 euros is to be expected.


You can find out whether a ZPAd zone is active and which vignette is affected by the driving ban in our Green-Zones App.

ZPAd ("zone de protection de l'air départementale") are air protection zones that apply to an entire department. It is not possible to define in advance in which local areas within the ZPAd traffic restrictions will occur due to a peak in air pollution. In the event of a peak in air pollution, the respective initial decree provides for specific traffic restrictions, so that only then is the area within the department determined in a specific police decree, in which specific measures are then taken. In theory, even an entire department could be affected by a concrete measure, but this is relatively unlikely.
In any case, the prefect of the department is responsible for imposing driving bans where necessary (e.g. in one or more communes, on a motorway or within the entire department), based on data supplied to him by the regional air protection institute. The Certificat qualité de l'Air Vignette, which must be excluded from traffic, is also decided in these cases.

ZPAd zones are only activated temporarily. The size and dimensions of the zone are completely individual. This is determined by the respective prefect, depending on the intensity of air pollution. Therefore there are no special signs for ZPAd zones.

The situation is different for the ZFE zones. There, the beginning and the end of the environmental zones are marked with signs. This shows a red circle as prohibition sign with the remark "Zones à Circulation Restreinte" (Restricted Zone).  Who exactly is allowed to enter or not is not indicated by the entry sign.


In our Green Zones App we have a detailed map of each low emission zone. So you can easily see the boundaries and avoid penalties.

Yes, a lot of them. France has over 30 different environmental zones. These differ in ZFE (permanent), ZPA (temporary) and ZPAd (temporary département) zones.


In our Green Zones App we have gathered together all the low emission zones in Europe and presented them clearly.

What is a traffic restricted zone (ZTL)?

A ZTL (Italian: Zona a Traffico Limitato) is a specific area in a city or region where vehicle access is restricted or limited in order to reduce traffic and emissions. These zones are often established in historic centers of cities or in residential areas to improve the quality of life for residents and reduce noise and exhaust pollution.

In a ZTL, for example, there may be bans on driving certain types of vehicles, such as older diesel vehicles, or restrictions on access at certain times of day. It may also be necessary to have a special permit or parking pass to drive in these zones.

Access to a ZTL is usually controlled via electronic monitoring systems, such as cameras or induction loops. Vehicle owners who violate the rules risk heavy fines.

The introduction of ZTLs has led to a reduction in traffic volumes in many cities.

Good to know...

All current driving bans and further information are available in our Green-Zones App.


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