Low emission zone Athens

Important!

Athens has two environmental zones: Athens Big Ring, Athens Small Ring

Name of the environmental zone: Environmental zone Athen Big Ring - Greece

Date of entry into effect of the zone: 01-01-1982

Type of environmental zone: Zone of air protection, depending on weather conditions and activated if the pollutant values exceed, for example, >50 µg/m³ for particulate matter.

Not allowed to drive (temporarily): Weight: > 2.2 t
Country of registration: Greece
Vehicle class: M1, M2, M3, N1, N2, N3
2023: Year of first registration < 2000
2024: Year of first registration < 2001
2025: Year of first registration < 2002
etc.

Not allowed to drive (permanently): Information currently unavailable

Fines: 200 €

Area/extension of the environmental zone: The zone covers the entire urban area.

Special features: Vehicles registered abroad (e.g. rental cars) are only affected by the driving ban if they stay over 40 days in Greece.

Contact of the environmental zone and exceptions: Traffic Division of Attika (Dievthysi Trochaias Attikis)
Th. Diliyianni 24-26, 4th floor, Athens

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

Name of the environmental zone: Environmental zone Athen Small Ring – Greece

Date of entry into effect of the zone: 01-01-1982

Type of environmental zone: Permanent, 10.10.2022 - 21.07.2023, Monday - Thursday 07 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 07 a.m.-3 p.m.

Not allowed to drive (temporarily): Information currently unavailable

Not allowed to drive (permanently): Vehicle class: passenger car, motor home (M1), van (N1)
Weight: ≤ 2.2 t
Fuel type: diesel, petrol
Euronorm: 0-6
First registration date before 31.12.2020: > 120 g/km CO2
First registration date after 01.01.2021: > 145 g/km CO2

On even days (e.g. 02.10. or 24.11.):
Plate number: even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8)

On odd days (e.g. 03.10. or 25.11.):
Plate number: odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9)

Fines: 100 €

Area/extension of the environmental zone: The roads that border the ring are viewed from above (north) clockwise:
Leof. Alexandras, Leof. Vas. Sofias, Messogeion, Michalakopoulou, Merkouri Spyrou, Vryaxidos, Ymittou, Ilia Iliou, Frantzi Am., Kallirrois, Tsaldari Pan., Hamosternas, Tsaldari Pan., Peiraios, Iera Odos, Leof. Konstantinoupoleos, Achilleos, Karolou, Marni.

Special features: Each year a new time period is set for the environmental zone. Usually from September to July of the following year.
Vehicles registered abroad (e.g. rental cars) are only affected by the driving ban if they stay in Greece for more than 40 days.
Electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as vehicles with LPG or CNG fuel are always allowed to enter. This also applies to vehicles with Euro standard 6 and a maximum of 120 g CO₂/km.

Contact of the environmental zone and exceptions: Traffic Division of Attika (Dievthysi Trochaias Attikis)
Th. Diliyianni 24-26, 4th floor, Athens

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

What is an environmental zone (LEZ/ZFE/ZBE)?

An environmental zone is a specific area in a city or region that is protected by regulations and restrictions to improve air quality. These zones are usually established to reduce emissions of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, which are responsible for poor air quality in many cities.

In these zones, certain rules apply to vehicle access based on vehicle emissions. This may include imposing driving bans on certain types of vehicles, such as older diesel vehicles, or requiring the creation of an eco-label for vehicles. This mark, which must be affixed to the vehicle, confirms that the vehicle complies with the applicable emission regulations and is therefore authorized to drive in the low emission zone.

The introduction of low emission zones has led to a significant improvement in air quality in many cities. It has been observed that emissions of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter have been reduced in these zones, thereby improving the health of residents. The number of respiratory diseases and cardiovascular diseases also decreased.

However, it is not just the introduction of environmental zones alone that can lead to an improvement in air quality. It is necessary to take other measures to reduce emissions overall. These include, for example, promoting electromobility, increasing energy efficiency and creating alternative means of transportation such as bicycles and public transportation.

Environmental zones are an important tool to improve air quality in cities and regions and reduce the impact of air pollution on the health of residents. They are used in many European countries and have shown to have a positive effect on air quality.

Environmental zones are also known in other countries as Environmental Zones, Clean Air Zones (England), Miljøzone (Denmark), Miljözon (Sweden), Lavutslippssone (Norway), Alacsony Kibocsátási Övezet (Hungary), Zona ambientale (Italy), Umweltzonen (Germany), Milieuzones (Netherlands), ZFE - Zone à Faibles Émissions (France) and Lage-emissiezone (Belgium), ZBE - Zona de baixes emissiones (Spain).

Winter zone: There are environmental zones which are only seasonally active or have stricter rules for certain months. This means that these zones are active, for example, from September 15 to April 15 of the following year. Outside of this time, no or less strict driving restrictions apply and you can drive freely. One country with many winter zones is Italy. 

What is an air protection zone (ZPA)?

A ZPA (French: Zone de Protection de l'Air) is an area established by the government to improve air quality and reduce the impact of air pollution on public health. These zones are usually established in urban areas or near large industrial facilities or power plants that are considered major emitters of air pollutants. Air protection zones exist in different countries with different characteristics and are also called anti-smog zones.

ZPA zones do not apply permanently, but are only active during bad weather and when air pollution levels are high. In ZPA zones, stricter rules apply to emissions from industrial facilities, power plants, and other large emitters of air pollutants such as transportation. 
These rules are designed to reduce emissions of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, which are responsible for poor air quality in many cities. These pollutants can affect health, especially the respiratory system and lungs, and can even lead to fatal cardiovascular disease. 

The government regularly monitors and reviews air quality in ZPA zones and, if necessary, takes further action to reduce emissions and improve air quality. This may include wide-ranging bans on certain vehicles, environmental badges, and/or Euro standards.

 

Do I need stickers or registrations?

No. Here you do not need to buy a sticker or apply for registration. You only have to follow the rules of entry.


Our Green-Zones App helps you to avoid penalties.

Unfortunately there are no exact street signs known. Therefore it is difficult to know when you are in the environmental zone.


Our Green-Zones App helps you to avoid penalties.

Good to know...

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


ACEEE study: The most environmentally friendly car is not an electric vehicle!

Electromobility is a key building block for more sustainable mobility. Electric cars are considered to be significantly more environmentally friendly than their petrol-guzzling counterparts. However, a recent study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) shows: Electric cars are not always the more environmentally friendly option. In 2024, a plug-in hybrid, the Toyota Prius Prime SE, will top the list of the most environmentally friendly cars. This is despite the fact that electric cars follow in the next four places.