UK tourists in France face £116 fines because of new '8am to 8pm' rule

With the Paris Olympics around the corner and a 50% surge in online searches for ‘France driving holidays,’ the electric vehicle experts at Auto Trader are urging British motorists to obtain a Crit'Air Sticker before driving in France to avoid an on-the-spot fine of £116.

Introduced in 2017 to help improve the city's air quality, the Crit'Air Sticker is a requirement in many parts of France, including Paris. As of 2017, the French government introduced the Crit'Air vignette as a legal necessity in many parts of the country, including Paris, to help improve air quality. It costs just £3.90 and works by categorising cars based on their level of emissions which, in turn, restricts high emitters from accessing certain low-emission zones.

Auto Trader is warning those planning to drive to Paris to enjoy the Olympic festivities that without this important sticker, drivers are liable for an on-the-spot fine of up to £116, and facing fines for driving through low-emission zones between 8am and 8pm.

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Erin Baker, Editorial Director at Auto Trader, commented: “British drivers are probably aware of the ULEZ regulations in the UK, however, it’s really important that they are aware of similar systems that are in place in European cities, too.

"For drivers planning a Parisian getaway this summer applying for the Crit’Air sticker is a simple and cost-effective process that will help individuals avoid any fines and enjoy a smooth holiday.” To obtain a Crit’Air sticker and determine which type of emissions your vehicle produces, drivers must apply on the French government website.

When applying online, you will need to upload an image of your car’s V5C registration form in a JPEG, PNG or PDF format, and files must not exceed 400KB. It can take up to six weeks to process, so drivers must act well in advance of their travels and plan accordingly.

The sticker costs just £3.90 (€4.61 including postage) per vehicle and can be easily purchased online via the official French government website. Driving without a Crit'Air sticker in restricted areas can result in an on-the-spot fine of up to £116 (€135).