Crit’Air

[delta0]

Are any of the common routes to Le Mans impacted by this yet? Very tricky to get the latest info from the various websites.

[jsat_100]

Doesn't look like it's anywhere other than a couple of the larger cities yet.

More here - https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/

[LawrieC]

Its as clear as smog! It covers the centres of Paris, Lyon, Grenoble, Lille, Strasbourg and Toulouse, so isn't really a problem, unless you visit the Eiffel Tower. I think that even the perifique is still useable. They had great plans, even for rural areas (like the M1 in Derbyshire) but like breathalysers, they've lost interest.

If you're likely to detour, the sticker is easy to get online, for a few quid and a pdf of the log book, provided the car is only a few years old

Edited by LawrieC on Tuesday 12th April 15:06

[Truckosaurus]

LawrieC said:

...provided the car is only a few years old

If you have a petrol engine then anything from the mid-90s onwards should be Euro 2 and get you band 3 which is good enough for central Paris.

Edit: Of course, in typical government fashion they have got the numbering system the wrong way round, so would have to scrap the whole system if they want to tighten the levels, rather than adding new bands on the end if 1 was the worst group....

[delta0]

Thanks everyone. I had read a while back Rouen would be included and possibly Le Mans. Seems like that has not happened yet. Also Paris is going to stop everything except for 1 and EV soon so even group 2 downwards will have trouble soon.

[LawrieC]

delta0 said:

Thanks everyone. I had read a while back Rouen would be included.........

I remember that too. It must have been 5 years ago, and I started getting the stickers as I have holidays in France too.

The problem is that if you drive through a town that operates Crit'air, without a sticker, then you'll get a ticket, even when there are no restrictions in force. But I've only seen one French car with the sticker. Typical.

[delta0]

At the start of this month the expanded Crit’air around Rouen now impacts personal vehicles. It’s currently prohibited to drive through the area with a vehicle that is Crit’air 4 or 5. In January this changes to include Crit’air 3. Only Crit’air 2 and above will be able to pass through the Rouen area. This will impact those that drive in anything below Euro 5 emissions standard.

https://www.metropole-rouen-normandie.fr/zone-faib...

https://www.green-zones.eu/en/low-emission-zones/f...

[Vette_1978]

I've been looking at this as my old V8 definitely won't fit into any of the Crit Air categories. But looking at this map, it appears you can go through Rouen, just not stop:
https://urbanaccessregulations.eu/countries-mainme...

This might have changed so will be keeping an eye on it as our usual hotel is within the zone, which means thats a no go from now on.

[delta0]

Vette_1978 said:

I've been looking at this as my old V8 definitely won't fit into any of the Crit Air categories. But looking at this map, it appears you can go through Rouen, just not stop:
https://urbanaccessregulations.eu/countries-mainme...

This might have changed so will be keeping an eye on it as our usual hotel is within the zone, which means thats a no go from now on.

Where does it say you can go through without being impacted? Everything I’ve seen says the opposite. It won’t be possible to go remotely near Rouen with a non-compliant car.

[OvalOwl]

delta0 said:

Vette_1978 said:

I've been looking at this as my old V8 definitely won't fit into any of the Crit Air categories. But looking at this map, it appears you can go through Rouen, just not stop:
https://urbanaccessregulations.eu/countries-mainme...

This might have changed so will be keeping an eye on it as our usual hotel is within the zone, which means thats a no go from now on.

Where does it say you can go through without being impacted? Everything I’ve seen says the opposite. It won’t be possible to go remotely near Rouen with a non-compliant car.

The page linked to shows a map of the old HGV exclusion zone which didn't cover the Pont Guillaume and the dual carriageways connecting to it.

This gives the up-to-date situation in French only.

https://www.metropole-rouen-normandie.fr/zone-faib...

[delta0]

OvalOwl said:

delta0 said:

Vette_1978 said:

I've been looking at this as my old V8 definitely won't fit into any of the Crit Air categories. But looking at this map, it appears you can go through Rouen, just not stop:
https://urbanaccessregulations.eu/countries-mainme...

This might have changed so will be keeping an eye on it as our usual hotel is within the zone, which means thats a no go from now on.

Where does it say you can go through without being impacted? Everything I’ve seen says the opposite. It won’t be possible to go remotely near Rouen with a non-compliant car.

The page linked to shows a map of the old HGV exclusion zone which didn't cover the Pont Guillaume and the dual carriageways connecting to it.

This gives the up-to-date situation in French only.

https://www.metropole-rouen-normandie.fr/zone-faib...

That’s a good link. Looks like it impacts the common A28 route and connecting roads that are usually used by the Calais to Le Mans drivers.

Everyone will need a Crit’Air sticker to pass through but some cars won’t be able to enter the area at all.

[OvalOwl]

delta0 said:

OvalOwl said:

This gives the up-to-date situation in French only.

https://www.metropole-rouen-normandie.fr/zone-faib...

That’s a good link. Looks like it impacts the common A28 route and connecting roads that are usually used by the Calais to Le Mans drivers.

Everyone will need a Crit’Air sticker to pass through but some cars won’t be able to enter the area at all.

Crit 4 & 5 and not classified will be banned.

If your vehicle doesn't meet Crit 3 you will have to detour via Yvetot and miss out on the tunnel.

These are the standards from https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/

Crit 3

Euro 2, 3 petrol vehicles, Euro 3, 4 petrol HGVs
Euro 4 diesel vehicles, Euro 5 diesel HGVs
Euro 5 Biodiesel HGVs
Euro 2 2 wheels

Crit 4

Euro 3 diesel vehicles, Euro 4 diesel HGVs
Euro 4 Biodiesel HGVs
2 wheels without standard from June 2000 to June 2004

Crit 5

Euro 2 diesel vehicles, Euro 3 diesel HGVs
Euro 3 Biodiesel HGVs

[delta0]

OvalOwl said:

delta0 said:

OvalOwl said:

This gives the up-to-date situation in French only.

https://www.metropole-rouen-normandie.fr/zone-faib...

That’s a good link. Looks like it impacts the common A28 route and connecting roads that are usually used by the Calais to Le Mans drivers.

Everyone will need a Crit’Air sticker to pass through but some cars won’t be able to enter the area at all.

Crit 4 & 5 and not classified will be banned.

If your vehicle doesn't meet Crit 3 you will have to detour via Yvetot and miss out on the tunnel.

These are the standards from https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/

Crit 3

Euro 2, 3 petrol vehicles, Euro 3, 4 petrol HGVs
Euro 4 diesel vehicles, Euro 5 diesel HGVs
Euro 5 Biodiesel HGVs
Euro 2 2 wheels

Crit 4

Euro 3 diesel vehicles, Euro 4 diesel HGVs
Euro 4 Biodiesel HGVs
2 wheels without standard from June 2000 to June 2004

Crit 5

Euro 2 diesel vehicles, Euro 3 diesel HGVs
Euro 3 Biodiesel HGVs

By the time everyone goes next year it will be Crit’Air 2.

[old'uns]

so for those who cant get a Crit'Air it looks like heading to Yvetot/Pont de Brotonne , Duclair ferry crossing or possibly off at Canteleu > La Bouille ferry for anyone using Newhaven> Dieppe.
from Calais direction it doesnt look as easy once off the A28 north of Rouen for those in a rush, unless you head to Yvetot on the A29 as well?

[//j17]

Or from Calais off the A28 north of Rouen at Estouteville-Ecalles, down the D11/D13, crossing the Seine at Pont-de-l'Archie and rejoining the A13 at Val-de-Reuill.

Google saying it's only 10 min slower than going through Rouen - but I think that might just be Rouen being a mess today.

[RL17]

So it's Euro4.51 per sticker for a modern petrol car. Has anyone got one and how long do they last?

Presumably every time the restrictions get tighter the stickers on some older cars become invalid? Would make sense to buy early in some cases?

Unless it's all linked up to costly camera systems reading stickers and number plates, surely it's just a way of collecting revenue. Or is it mainly to deter use of older vehicles regularly in those areas - i.e. they just catch those that stop and park up in restricted areas.

[Truckosaurus]

I have a nice '2' sticker for my elderly Lexus.

In theory the sticker lasts the life of the car - ie. you don't have to re-register it if it gets sold. Although I am sure dimwit car salesmen will remove the stickers when you part-ex the car.

I've said before that they have got the numbering scheme the wrong way round as they've nowhere to go when new EURO regs come in - although probably they will go to 'Electric vehicles only' eventually.

The Rouen scheme is manual enforcement only - so in theory they could stand at the side of the road and flag down any older British cars during Le Mans week.

[OvalOwl]

Truckosaurus said:

I have a nice '2' sticker for my elderly Lexus.

I've said before that they have got the numbering scheme the wrong way round as they've nowhere to go when new EURO regs come in - although probably they will go to 'Electric vehicles only' eventually.

The Rouen scheme is manual enforcement only - so in theory they could stand at the side of the road and flag down any older British cars during Le Mans week.

I have a nice '1' ready to go on my 59 plate E91

In theory if you have a true classic (30+ years) is should be exempt but you would need a carte grise « véhicule de collection »

There isn't going to be much between a '1' and an 'e' There is a Euro 7 in the works for 2025 but that will only last a few years until everything new is electric only.

The route via the Yvetot bypass and Pont de Brotonne was tested against going over the Pont de Mathilde by a group a few years back and found to almost the same time.

I have only gone via Rouen once, normally going over the Pont de Brotonne.

Edited by OvalOwl on Monday 5th September 17:12

[Vette_1978]

OvalOwl said:

The page linked to shows a map of the old HGV exclusion zone which didn't cover the Pont Guillaume and the dual carriageways connecting to it.

This gives the up-to-date situation in French only.

https://www.metropole-rouen-normandie.fr/zone-faib...

Ah, that kind of seals the deal then, no more Rouen for me.

[delta0]

Truckosaurus said:

I have a nice '2' sticker for my elderly Lexus.

In theory the sticker lasts the life of the car - ie. you don't have to re-register it if it gets sold. Although I am sure dimwit car salesmen will remove the stickers when you part-ex the car.

I've said before that they have got the numbering scheme the wrong way round as they've nowhere to go when new EURO regs come in - although probably they will go to 'Electric vehicles only' eventually.

The Rouen scheme is manual enforcement only - so in theory they could stand at the side of the road and flag down any older British cars during Le Mans week.

After the 1 it’s the green sticker for zero emission vehicles.

I suspect they use an ANPR so it’s not really the sticker that’s important, it’s the system recognising the number plate and if it is registered. Would be typically French if it was manual checks

Edited by delta0 on Tuesday 6th September 09:49