Spain is accelerating the rollout of Low Emission Zones (ZBEs) in cities across the country, requiring drivers to ensure their vehicles meet emissions standards or face restrictions and fines. The push, mandated by the 2021 Climate Change & Energy Transition Law, aims to improve air quality and move the nation towards climate neutrality.
The requirement for municipalities with over 50,000 residents to implement ZBEs began in January 2023 and 2026 sees a wave of new cities joining Barcelona and Madrid in restricting access for polluting vehicles. Newly affected areas include Girona, Castelldefels and Vilanova I la Geltrú in Catalonia; Torrevieja and Alcoy in Valencia; Murcia city, and Cádiz, Marbella and Mijas in Andalusia.
Central to the ZBE system is the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico – the Spanish Directorate of Traffic) environmental sticker, which classifies vehicles based on their emissions. The sticker determines whether a vehicle is permitted to enter a ZBE, and if so, under what conditions. As of this year, the DGT has refined these classifications, integrating Euro regulations to better define vehicle categories.
Vehicles are now categorized into five groups: Zero Emissions, ECO, C, B, and those without a sticker, designated as Group A. Zero Emissions stickers are reserved for fully electric, hydrogen, and plug-in hybrid vehicles with an electric range of at least 90 kilometers. The ECO label applies to plug-in hybrids with shorter electric ranges, non-plug-in hybrids, and gas vehicles meeting Euro 6d or higher standards.
The C label is for less polluting vehicles, including petrol cars registered since 2006 and diesel vehicles registered since September 2015, both complying with Euro 6d standards. It also covers Euro 3 and Euro 4 motorcycles and mopeds. The B label is assigned to older, more polluting vehicles – petrol cars registered from 2001 with Euro 4, and diesel vehicles registered from 2006 with Euro 6. Euro 2 motorcycles and mopeds also fall into this category.
Vehicles that do not qualify for any of these labels are placed in Group A and face the most significant restrictions, often being prohibited from entering ZBEs altogether.
While vehicles purchased new from dealerships typically come with the appropriate sticker, owners of older or second-hand vehicles may demand to obtain one. The sticker costs €6 and can be acquired online through the DGT website or in person at Correos (the Spanish Post Office) and other designated DGT locations. Online applications are currently experiencing delays due to high demand. To apply in person, vehicle registration documents (permiso de circulación) and identification are required; another individual can collect the sticker on behalf of the owner with the necessary documentation.
For foreign-registered vehicles, obtaining a Spanish environmental sticker is not possible. However, some cities, notably Barcelona, are beginning to require registration even for vehicles with the French Crit’Air sticker, a system used in France to identify vehicle emissions levels. Barcelona’s ZBE, active on weekdays, has been expanding its enforcement, with surrounding areas now issuing fines since January 2024.
Entering a ZBE without authorization can result in fines, typically around €200, though the exact amount varies by city. Enforcement is carried out through automated cameras and roadside checks that verify license plates and DGT sticker status.
