Crit'Air label or tablet (air quality certificate)
Verified 01 January 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Additional cases ?
You have just bought a car and you wonder what is its ranking to be able to order a Crit'Air sticker? We tell you what you need to know.
The Crit'Air thumbnail (air quality certificate) allows vehicles to be classified according to their level of air pollutant emissions.
There are 6 thumbnails : the higher the number of the sticker, the higher the level of pollutant emissions.
The Crit'Air sticker concerns motor vehicles of the categories M, N and L : car, utility, motorcycle, scooter, heavy goods vehicle…
The vignette is mandatory to circulate when the prefect establishes the differentiated circulation (alternating) during a pollution episode.
FYI
The road signs indicate any reductions in maximum permitted speeds or traffic diversions.
View the service Atmospheric vigilance to know the measures taken in case of pollution episodes.
Consult the map of pollution episodes and prefectural procedures
Also consult the site of your prefecture.
Measures concerning the free public transport may be provided for.
Who shall I contact
FYI
You are informed of the implementation of the differentiated circulation by the media, the day before before 7pm (newspapers, television, radio). The differentiated traffic perimeter and the vehicles concerned shall be specified.
In your region, visit the website of the Approved Air Quality Monitoring Association (AASQAI):
Check the air quality map near you
Nationally, visit the website of Prev'air :
The vignette is mandatory to circulate in a low-emission mobility zone (LFE-m).
However, access to an m-EPZ may not be prohibited to vehicles displaying a mobility card inclusion with the parking for people with disabilities.
The sites Itineraries and Bison Futé allow know the ZFE-m and their movement restrictions :
Routes: list of EPZs and route simulation
Smart Bison: View Low Emission Zone Map (LFE-m)
Example :
In the ZFE-m of the Greater Paris Metropolis, light vehicles (PTAC: titleContent 3.5 tons) not classified or bearing the Crit'Air 5, Crit'Air 4 or Crit'Air 3 sticker may not circulate from Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 8 pm, excluding public holidays.
This movement restriction applies to heavy goods vehicles 7 days a week, from 8am to 8pm.
However, exceptions may apply.
If you have classic car, ask your local council to find out what rules apply.
The Crit'Air sticker depends on the following criteria:
- Type of vehicle : car, lightweight utility, motorcycle, scooter, heavy goods vehicle…
- Type of energy or fuel : electric, diesel, gasoline…
- Euro Standard of the vehicle or date of 1re registration.
Use the simulator to find out which Crit'Air sticker to buy for your vehicle:
Know the classification of a vehicle (Crit'Air sticker)
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Car
The classification of the vehicle depends on the type of energy or fuel:
Hybrid electric car, gas and hydrogen
Class | Thumbnail Color | Type of vehicle | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Electric | Green | Electric and hydrogen whatever the date | ||
1 | Violet |
| ||
Petrol or diesel car
Class | Color of the pellet | Date of 1st registration or Euro standard | |
|---|---|---|---|
Car | |||
Diesel | Gasoline | ||
1 | Violet | _ | From 2011 EURO 5 and 6 |
2 | Yellow | From 2011 EURO 5 and 6 | January 2006 to December 2010 EURO4 |
3 | Orange | EURO4 Between 2006 and 2010 | January 1997 to December 2005 EURO 2 and 3 |
4 | Bordeaux | Between 2001 and 2005 EURO 3 | - |
5 | Gray | Between 1997 and 2000 EURO 2 | - |
Unclassified | No lozenge | Before 1997 EURO 1 and before | Before 1997 EURO 1 and before |
Light Utility
The classification of the vehicle depends on the type of energy or fuel:
Hybrid electric, gas and hydrogen light commercial vehicle
Class | Thumbnail Color | Type of vehicle | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Electric | Green | Electric and hydrogen whatever the date | ||
1 | Violet |
| ||
Light utility gasoline or diesel
Class | Color of the pellet | Date of 1st registration or Euro standard | |
|---|---|---|---|
Light commercial vehicle | |||
Diesel | Gasoline | ||
1 | Violet | _ | From 2011 EURO 5 and 6 |
2 | Yellow | From 2011 EURO 5 and 6A | January 2006 to December 2010 EURO4 |
3 | Orange | January 2006 to December 2010 EURO4 | October 1997 to December 2005 EURO 2 and 3 |
4 | Bordeaux | Between 2001 and 2005 EURO 3 | - |
5 | Gray | Between 1997 and 2000 EURO 2 | - |
Unclassified | No lozenge | Before October 1997 EURO 1 and before | Before October 1997 EURO 1 and before |
2 wheels, tricycle, motor quadricycle
The classification of the vehicle depends on the type of energy or fuel:
2 wheels, tricycle, hybrid electric quadricycle, gas or hydrogen
Class | Thumbnail Color | Type of vehicle | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Electric | Green | Electric and hydrogen whatever the date | ||
1 | Violet | - Gas whatever the date - Rechargeable Hybrid whatever the date | ||
2 wheels, tricycle, quadricycle petrol or diesel
Class | Color of the pellet | Date of 1st registration or Euro standard |
|---|---|---|
2 wheels, tricycle, motor quadricycle | ||
1 | Violet | From 2017 for motorcycles From 2018 for mopeds EURO 4 and 5A |
2 | Yellow | From January 2007 to December 2016 for motorcycles From January 2007 to December 2017 for mopeds EURO 3 |
3 | Orange | July 2004 to December 2006 EURO 2 |
4 | Bordeaux | June 2000 as at 30 june 2004 No standard of any kind |
5 | Gray | - |
Unclassified | No lozenge | Until 31 May 2000 No standard of any kind |
The price of the Crit'Air vignette is €3.85postage, including postage, for a shipment to France.
There is a single Crit'Air vignette per vehicle.
The approach varies depending on whether the vehicle is registered in France or abroad:
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Vehicle registered in France
You can do this online or by mail:
Online
Apply online for a Crit'Air sticker (air quality certificate) for a vehicle registered in France
An online service allows you to know the status of the application:
Follow an application for Vignette Crit'Air (air quality certificate)
By post
The request can be made by mail via a form:
Application for an air quality certificate for a vehicle registered in France
Vehicle registered abroad
The application is only made online for a vehicle registered abroad:
Apply online for a Crit'Air sticker (air quality certificate) for a vehicle registered abroad
An online service allows you to know the status of the application:
Follow an application for Vignette Crit'Air (air quality certificate)
Warning
The site certificat-air.gouv.fr is the only official website for issuing Crit'Air vignettes.
You must paste the thumbnail at the front of the vehicle so that it is visible from the outside.
- For a 2 or 3 wheels: on the fork
- For a car, utility, heavy goods vehicle....: inside the vehicle, front visible from the outside, on the lower right part of the windshield.
Vidéo - How to affix the Crit'Air sticker (air quality certificate)?
Operating instructions for a vehicle with windshield
Clean the inside of the windshield at the bottom right.
The surface must be clean and dry before application.
Peel off the whole from the back of the document and paste it on the cleaned area.
The Crit'Air sticker must be visible from the outside.
Once glued, do not try to reposition the whole under penalty of seeing the sticker tear.
Operating instructions for a vehicle without windshield
Remove the patch that is on the front of the mail
Take off the certificate gently. Be careful the surface is sticky.
Return the certificate and reposition it in the same place.
Peel the assembly from behind the document.
The Crit'Air sticker must be affixed, front visible on the outside, on a surface located at the front of the vehicle in a very visible manner: fork, mudguard, right front fairing.
The Crit'Air sticker is issued without limitation of duration and does not need to be renewed.
Thus, a vehicle retains the same Crit'Air thumbnail throughout his life. Once purchased, the vignette remains valid as long as she stays readable.
FYI
The Crit'Air sticker is designed securely and cannot be transferred from one windshield to another.
Moving in a low-emission mobility zone (LFE-m) with an unauthorized vehicle or without sticker Crit'Air is sanctioned by a fine up to €450. In general, it is a flat-rate fine from €68.
The same fine is provided if you do not comply with traffic restrictions in case of alternating circulation during a pollution episode.
The following vehicles are concerned:
- Private car
- 2 or 3 wheels, motor quadricycles
- Light Utility.
This offense may result in immobilization of the vehicle and its impoundment.
On the same subject
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Air quality certificate issuing service (Crit'Air sticker)
By phone
0 800 97 00 33 (free from a landline)
Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm
Outside France, please call +33 800 970 033.
By email
Use the contact form.
By post
Air Quality Certificate Issuing Service
PO Box 50637
59506 Douai Cedex
Air quality certificate (article R318-2)
Pollution-related traffic restrictions (sections R411-19 and R411-19-1)
Traffic rules related to pollution (articles L2213-2, L2213-4, L2213-4-1, L2213-4-2)
Exceptions to the prohibition of access to the m-EPZ
Emergency measures in the event of pollution episodes
Ambient air quality monitoring
Ambient air quality information
Emergency measures in the event of pollution episodes
Low emission vehicle (item D224-15-11), very low emission vehicle (item D224-15-12)
Online service
Search tools
Search tools
Service-Public.fr
Ministry for the Environment
Ministry for the Environment
Ministry for the Environment
Ministry for the Environment
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Ministry for the Environment
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City of Paris
Ministry for the Environment