Driving UK car in Spain - LEZ

[rst99]

I will be heading for a tour of northern Spain and Portugal in a few weeks. I have realised that several towns we will be visiting have LEZs.

We will be going through Bilbao, San Sebastian, Salamanca, Ponferrada, Valladolid, Pamplona, Burgos, etc.

Does anyone know if I can register my car in one place which covers all towns in Spain or is it register in each town individually?

I have been going round in circles on the DGT website and some local council websites, but can't work it out.

My car is Euro 5 Petrol.

[Metric Max]

Copied from the RAC web site, HTH

Spanish low emission zones
Low emission zone in Barcelona

A 95 square km area including the city of Barcelona and several neighbouring towns has become a low emission zone, where traffic is restricted in the event of a pollution peak. This affects all vehicles, includes those visiting from the UK.

The low emission zone includes the city of Barcelona (except the Vallvidrera neighbourhood, the Tibidabo mountain, Les Planes park and the Zona Franca industrial area), and also part of some neighbouring towns like Sant Adrià de Besòs, L’Hospitalet, Esplugues and Cornellà.

Restrictions affect:

private petrol cars registered before 2000
private diesel cars registered before 2006
vans registered before 1st October 1994
The national traffic directorate (DGT) has launched a new environmental sticker that the owners of vehicles not affected by these restrictions can put on their windscreens so that the local police can easily identify them.

The use of these stickers is not compulsory yet, but it is strongly recommended. The stickers are currently available from 30 post office branches in Catalonia at a price of 5 EUR.

[rst99]

Thanks, I saw that but it doesn't address all the other towns and cities with LEZ.

I am struggling to get info on UK cars and whether there is a national registration

Cheers

[Rushjob]

rst99 said:

Thanks, I saw that but it doesn't address all the other towns and cities with LEZ.

I am struggling to get info on UK cars and whether there is a national registration

Cheers

Yes the emissions sticker is a national one covering every LEZ in Spain, but a foreign registered car does not need one in Spain.

See this linked Spanish Govt website to confirm it.

[saveloy]

I was in Spain last year & used my French Crit' Air emissions sticker, which is valid there.

Kyri

[rst99]

Rushjob said:

Yes the emissions sticker is a national one covering every LEZ in Spain, but a foreign registered car does not need one in Spain.

See this linked Spanish Govt website to confirm it.

That's interesting but contradicts the San Sebastian region website.

---

In the case of vehicles with foreign registration, all must request authorization prior to accessing the Low Emission Zone .

The minimum requirements for vehicles with foreign registrations to be able to enter are as follows:

FIRST PHASE (2025-2027)

Motorcycles and mopeds registered from 01-07-2004

Passenger cars and vans (petrol and diesel) registered from 01-01-2006

Trucks, buses and coaches :

Gasoline: registered from 01-10-2001

Diesel: registered from 01-10-2006

[Rushjob]

rst99 said:

That's interesting but contradicts the San Sebastian region website.

---

In the case of vehicles with foreign registration, all must request authorization prior to accessing the Low Emission Zone .

The minimum requirements for vehicles with foreign registrations to be able to enter are as follows:

FIRST PHASE (2025-2027)

Motorcycles and mopeds registered from 01-07-2004

Passenger cars and vans (petrol and diesel) registered from 01-01-2006

Trucks, buses and coaches :

Gasoline: registered from 01-10-2001

Diesel: registered from 01-10-2006

Welcome to Spain!

National law is as I've posted.

Unfortunately each Autonomous Region often decides on its own interpretation / rules like they seem to have here.

Belt and braces, either do the necessary declaration on the San Sebastián website HERE or apply for a French Crit-Air and stick that on the screen then you are showing a valid certificate.

[rst99]

Thanks.

Looking at Crit air it says it can take up 6 weeks to arrive by post. I'm leaving in 3 weeks. Happy days.

[Metric Max]

Mine arrived in less than 10 days

[Baldchap]

We spend quite a bit of our time in Spain and I've never got to an actual answer on the LEZ paperwork.

Our Spanish car is a obviously all above board but the parking company do all that and we don't tend to use the UK car once we have arrived at the house.

In the end I have paperwork for Barcelona and a Crit Air for France. Thankfully never had any problems.

Note on roundabouts in Spain the outside lane is for all exits and the inside lane is for overtaking only. If you use the inside lane even to go all the way round and have an accident you will be considered at fault. Almost every hire car (many cheaper ones can be identified by a sticker on the rear window) will get it wrong, so be aware!

[rst99]

Thanks for all the help.

I have applied for a Crit'Air and will cross my fingers it arrives in time.

[TwoMinds]

If you are staying in hotel parking that might require you to drive through an LEZ or restricted road to get there, the hotel will usually sort out a pass for you after you arrive - but check in advance. They did that in Bilbao (The Artist), Salamanca (Palacio San Esteban) and Granada (Palacio Gran Vía).

[bolidemichael]

I’ve never received penalties for Spanish LEZ; too much hassle to apply. I wouldn’t worry. Didn’t know that French critter also applies there. What’s that about?

[NDA]

rst99 said:

Thanks for all the help.

I have applied for a Crit'Air and will cross my fingers it arrives in time.

You can put the application confirmation in your window when you park up - at least in France you can. You should have received a PDF from Crit'Air confirming your application, print this out and keep with the car.