Just a heads up that crit air stickers are taking a long time to arrive. There's been some mention on FB, but for those of you that don't access that it seems that they are taking weeks rather than days. The emails and electronic badge are coming through as normal.
The payment went through my bank account (via PayPal) on the 29th January and it hasn't arrived yet.
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On the topic of Crit'Air, our last newsletter from Brittany Ferries mentioned that Caen and Le Havre are becoming Low Emission Zones so anyone transiting through them will require a Crit' Air sticker.
Whether it affects people just travelling from the port to the ring road, I'm not sure, but I'd say it's worth getting one just in case.
Rennes and Nantes are also joining the scheme, it would appear.
Whilst the port is often billed as Caen, it's actually in Quistreham, and Caen town can be avoided by some cross country driving if in doubt about the ring road, you are not straight off the ferry and into an emission zone.
At under £5 including postage to UK and lasting life of your vehicle, it's such a no brainer to just get a Crit Air regardless and never worry about whether you need one or not! …. assuming your vehicle qualifies for one of the 6 grades! The French official web site has an English Language version which makes it all so easy to apply. https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/
Got mine about 3-4 years ago without specific need for it where I was going, but as safeguard in case I strayed into a zone, or one of the 'emergency' pop-up zones was created. Since I obtained it a lot more permanent zones have been created, and an 'emergency' pop-up zone can appear in just about any sizeable town at very short notice.
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At under £5 including postage to UK and lasting life of your vehicle, it's such a no brainer to just get a Crit Air regardless and never worry about whether you need one or not! …. assuming your vehicle qualifies for one of the 6 grades! The French official web site has an English Language version which makes it all so easy to apply. https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/
I'm with Monty on this. We got ours when we acquired our current car. No need to worry about accidentally straying into a controlled area and if you suddenly decide that you want or need to go somewhere you're already covered.
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At under £5 including postage to UK and lasting life of your vehicle, it's such a no brainer to just get a Crit Air regardless and never worry about whether you need one or not! …. assuming your vehicle qualifies for one of the 6 grades! The French official web site has an English Language version which makes it all so easy to apply. https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/
I'm with Monty on this. We got ours when we acquired our current car. No need to worry about accidentally straying into a controlled area and if you suddenly decide that you want or need to go somewhere you're already covered.
Totally agree, why wouldn't you get one at that price; to me it's well worth it, rather than having to figure out ways of avoiding these zones. And knowing the French and their diversions, you could inadvertently well end up in one.
We have them in our last 2 towcars, it's a no brainer. It's a bit cheaper than Rip off Britain cash collection schemes. Especially in Kahn's Kingdom. Both our cars are Ulez exempt but we normally see London from M25!
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It's one of the first things I get when changing the the car or moho.
As others have said, for the sake of a few Euros it's worth it compared to the fine. I know you don't need them everywhere in France and you could plan your journey to avoid them but you might get diverted into such a zone and non-compliant. Plus there's more and more places joining the scheme.
People come on forums and say they have got a Crit Air certificate…but they never say which of the six grades of certificate they have. But that’s what matters.
I can get a certificate of some sort for a vehicle I own - it will probably be category 4. But to go into central Rouen it won’t do because I need category 3 - and next year they may decide to tighten their rules and require category 2.
So simply saying you have a Crit air certificate is pretty meaningless - unless you say which one. And where you are going.
Got mine about 3-4 years ago without specific need for it where I was going, but as safeguard in case I strayed into a zone, or one of the 'emergency' pop-up zones was created. Since I obtained it a lot more permanent zones have been created, and an 'emergency' pop-up zone can appear in just about any sizeable town at very short notice.
Live in France - never heard any report of an emergency pop up zone implemented anywhere.
"Pop up" zones are meant to be implemented by police. Given less than a third of cars in France have critair stickers (vast majority naturally in large urban areas already covered by critair regs) wherever they were trying to implement a pop up zone would grind to a halt on roads were police checks being carried out.
When I go to our local LeClercs (Sarlat) I am usually the only person in the car park with a critair sticker outside the main tourist season. Similarly when I've had cause to visit Perigueux, Bergerac etc. A pop up zone for any of the towns in the Dordogne - or the Department as a whole - would be unenforeceable.
Restrictions in all bar the initial 5 big urban areas are being made less stringent.
Got mine about 3-4 years ago without specific need for it where I was going, but as safeguard in case I strayed into a zone, or one of the 'emergency' pop-up zones was created. Since I obtained it a lot more permanent zones have been created, and an 'emergency' pop-up zone can appear in just about any sizeable town at very short notice.
Live in France - never heard any report of an emergency pop up zone implemented anywhere.
"Pop up" zones are meant to be implemented by police. Given less than a third of cars in France have critair stickers (vast majority naturally in large urban areas already covered by critair regs) wherever they were trying to implement a pop up zone would grind to a halt on roads were police checks being carried out.
When I go to our local LeClercs (Sarlat) I am usually the only person in the car park with a critair sticker outside the main tourist season. Similarly when I've had cause to visit Perigueux, Bergerac etc. A pop up zone for any of the towns in the Dordogne - or the Department as a whole - would be unenforeceable.
Restrictions in all bar the initial 5 big urban areas are being made less stringent.
It's the 'publicity' that's promoted by the powers that be! I think many of us know that the 'powers that be' threaten all sorts in France, and the populace carry on ignoring it with impunity! Those of us residing on this side of the channel have become accustomed to petty threats from our 'powers that be' that are a mere shadow of the consequences they really have in mind! From this side of the channel, it's not a natural reaction to overlook the threats, we expect the threats and FAR worse!
There was a vote passed a few days ago in the French Parliament to abolish ZFE's (and therefore no need for Crit Air stickers). Could be a while before it becomes law - if at all.
So if going near a ZFE this year, worth getting a sticker for peace of mind.
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Topic: Crit Air delays
via mobile 20/2/2025 at 4:35pm
