According to Public Health France, air pollution causes more than 40,000 deaths per year. In large cities, the transport sector accounts for more than half of emissions.
After several shuttles between the 2 congress chambers, the timetable and conditions for implementing the Low Emission Mobility Zones (LEZs) were approved in France in July 2022. The "Climate and Resilience" law including the establishment of these zones was promulgated on August 22.
The air quality certificate, more commonly called "Crit'Air sticker" determines the suitability or otherwise for all types of vehicles (2 wheels, cars, utility vehicles, heavy goods vehicles) to circulate in these ZFE. It is based on the date of first registration or the EURO standard of the vehicle as well as its type of engine. It was officially introduced on June 24, 2016 following the publication of the decree "establishing the nomenclature of vehicles classified according to their level of atmospheric pollutant emissions".
Let’s take a closer look at how the Crit’Air motorcycle sticker works?
What is a LEZ?
Low-emission mobility zones (LEZs) are intended to reduce emissions of atmospheric pollutants and therefore improve air quality in large cities.
Its principle is to restrict the circulation of the most polluting petrol and diesel vehicles in a defined area and according to time slots determined by local authorities. To circulate, each vehicle must display a Crit'Air sticker with a coloured sticker and a number to distinguish it according to its level of pollutant emissions such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
The Crit'Air classification also serves as a basis when traffic has to be reduced due to pollution peaks. It is therefore no longer necessary to set up alternating traffic (even and odd number plates), but to simply exclude older vehicles.
While the classification is common to the entire territory, this is not the case for the regulations regarding restrictions since this depends on each zone. As the restrictions become a little stricter each year, it is therefore very useful to know the level of approval of your machine or the one you would like to acquire to avoid unpleasant surprises.
How many LEZ are there?
France is not the only area concerned by these measures. There are more than 230 LEZ in Europe because air pollution is a real public health problem. Pollutants from the combustion of petrol and diesel by cars must be reduced at all costs in favour of electric vehicles and soft mobility.
In France, there are now 11 urban areas that have set up a LEZ: Paris, Aix-Marseille Metropolis, Toulouse, Nice, Montpellier, Lyon Metropolis, Strasbourg, Grenoble, Rouen, Reims and Saint-Etienne.
By 2025, 32 additional LEZ will be created in urban areas with more than 150,000 inhabitants such as Avignon, Bordeaux, Clermont-Ferrand, Metz, Nancy, Nantes, Orléans, Rennes, Rouen, Lille metropolitan area, Saint-Étienne, Toulon, Tours and Valenciennes.
If you live in a metropolis, you won't be able to avoid it!
Which Crit'Air sticker for which 2-wheelers?
All two-wheeled vehicles are affected: motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, quads and three-wheelers. They are classified into five categories, plus the green sticker for electric motorcycles, such as the BMW CE04 or the Super Soco motorcycles.
Each Crit'Air motorcycle category is defined by a color and a number. The sticker includes the pollution level and the registration date, governed by the Euro standard.
For those who do not have stickers because they were produced before 2000, each zone has its own rules. In Paris, for example, you can continue to drive during the week between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., as well as all day on weekends.
Here is a summary table of the Crit'Air categories to understand which sticker goes with which 2 or 3 wheels:
How do you know the Crit'Air level of your motorbike?
The Euro standards for motorcycles are shown on the registration documents, at section V9. There is also the Crit'Air simulator set up by the Ministry of Ecological Transition, to find out the class of your vehicle.
When will the Crit'Air sticker be mandatory?
The Crit'Air sticker has been mandatory in France since September 1st 2022 for driving in the LEZ, even if the vehicle is electric or if you have a driving exemption.
It is also used in Paris to check whether the owner of the 2-wheeler has paid for parking since the 1st September. Officers scan the bar code on the sticker rather than entering the license plate.
Who is exempt from the Crit'air sticker?
Nobody! All vehicles eligible for the Crit'Air sticker must have one, including foreign vehicles or those of disabled people holding a disabled card. The sticker is linked to the vehicle and not to the driver.
What steps should I take to obtain the Crit'Air sticker for two wheels?
The fastest way is online, on the official website certificat-air.gouv.fr . With your registration card and your registration number, you can order your sticker in a few minutes. You can also obtain a Crit'Air motorcycle sticker by making a request by mail to the Air Quality Certificate Delivery Service BP 50637 59506 Douai Cedex or by email to contact@certificat-air.gouv.fr .
As soon as your file is processed, you will receive by email a temporary sticker for your motorcycle, scooter or moped. The final certificate will be sent by post to the address on the registration document.
How much does the Crit'Air sticker cost for two-wheelers?
The price is the same for a scooter, a motorbike or a car. The price of a Crit'Air sticker is 3.72 euros, including shipping costs. If you are offered a higher price, it means that you are on a non-governmental site and that it is a scam!
How long is the Crit'Air sticker valid for?
The vehicle classification is valid for its entire lifespan, which limits the procedures.
What are the risks if you do not present the Crit'Air motorcycle sticker?
Driving an unauthorized 2-wheeler without a Crit'Air sticker (or if it is illegible) is punishable by a fine of up to €450 . In general, this is a fixed fine of €68 . The same fine applies if you do not comply with traffic restrictions in the event of differentiated traffic during a pollution peak. This fine can be reduced to €45 if you make an immediate payment and cost you up to €180 in the event of late payment.
Having a falsified sticker is an offence that can be very costly in the event of a check. You are liable to a fixed fine of €135 and the high probability of seeing your two-wheeler seized.
Where to place your Crit'Air sticker on a motorcycle?
Upon receipt of your certificate, it is advisable to stick it on the windshield or fork of your motorcycle next to the insurance certificate to have everything in one place.
How to protect yourself from pollution when you are a biker?
A motorcycle anti-pollution mask remains an effective and inexpensive way to protect yourself from dust and fine particles, such as those from Diesel, suspended in the air. Even if speed reduces the sensation of pollution, especially its smell, it is still present 100% of the time among cars. This is why motorcyclists, like cyclists, are particularly exposed in built-up areas.
Frogmask motorcycle anti-pollution masks excellent value for money
Frogmask motorcycle masks, made in France, with their FFP2/N95 standard filters, were designed for motorcyclists equipped with Jet or convertible helmets.
Available in 3 sizes, they ensure that they fit perfectly around your face and prevent inspired air from passing through the sides of the mask rather than through the filter. The FFP2/N95 standard ensures filtration of at least 94% of particles up to 0.4µm.
The neck attachment system does not interfere with wearing a helmet even with a ponytail. Please note, however, that the Frogmask motorcycle mask is not compatible with a full-face helmet.
The 2 flexible aluminum nosebands (one on the filter and the other in the structure of the mask) prevent hot exhaled air from rising up the nose and causing fogging on the glasses.
Finally, the structure of the Mesh 3 mask is unravelable, abrasion-resistant and water-repellent. These masks therefore protect against the cold in winter, water when it rains and pollen and insects in spring. Strong arguments in addition to the assurance of breathing better quality air on a motorcycle.
