Car Fule

The ZFE (Low Emission Zones) are proliferating in France: they aim to restrict the circulation of older vehicles, with the initial objective of reducing air pollution in cities. This is how the Crit’air sticker system was created, with several categories of vehicles classified by their age.

With this discriminating system, older models are now banned from major French cities, such as Paris, Lyon or Toulouse, for example. But however, some local derogations exist, such as that concerning vintage cars, with a gray card with the mention “collection”, which will continue to be able to circulate.

Vignette Crit’air collection: diesel vehicles discarded?

To distinguish the collectible vehicles other old vehicles over 30 years old, and allow them to circulate in ZFEs, the FFVE (French Federation of Vintage Vehicles) has worked with the public authorities to create a specific Crit’air sticker for collectible vehicles.

However, according to a recent guide on EPZs published by the Ministry of Ecological Transition, collectible diesel fuel vehicles could be refused this exemption. Indeed, it gives recommendations for local authorities which must set up an EPZ, and therefore study exemptions for certain categories of specific vehicles.

Local derogations for classic cars

This guide, published last fall, refers in particular to “collector’s vehicles fulfilling certain characteristics (having a registration certificate with the mention collector’s vehicle, engine other than dieselno use for commuting to work, first registration before January 1, 1992 or over 35)”.

What should be remembered is that each local authority has the power to define the different categories of vehicles that can circulate by derogation, and therefore to choose whether diesel collection models will be banned. The document of the Ministry of Ecological Transition makes simple recommendations for the study of ZFEs, but these restrictions will not be not necessarily applied on a large scale for the moment.

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The gray card collection: sesame

To qualify for the future Crit’air collection sticker, the vehicle must have a gray card with the mention “collection”. To obtain it, he must meet the following 3 conditions, according to article R 311-1 paragraph 6.3 of the Highway Code:

• The vehicle must have been built or first registered at least 30 years ago
• The vehicle model should no longer be produced
• The vehicle has been preserved and maintained in its original condition, and no essential modifications have been made to its main technical characteristics