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Date Published: 11/12/2024

Low Emission Zones expand in Spain: A guide to staying on the road in 2025

Cars without an environmental label face even more restrictions in Spain next year

Low Emission Zones (ZBEs) are rapidly reshaping urban driving across Spain and 2025 will bring significant changes for drivers without a DGT environmental label. Here’s what you need to know to stay ahead of the curve and avoid hefty fines.

What are Low Emission Zones?

Low Emission Zones, or Zonas de Bajas Emisiones (ZBEs), are urban areas, generally parts of the town or city centre, designed to limit access to the most polluting vehicles.

The goal is to reduce harmful air particles and improve air quality in major cities. By law, all municipalities with more than 50,000 residents - or more than 20,000 if pollution exceeds acceptable levels - must implement ZBEs.

While cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Sevilla already enforce ZBE rules, many others are lagging behind. However, changes are coming fast and by 2025, enforcement will expand across Spain to the 149 affected municipalities.

What are the environmental labels?

Spain uses a system of environmental badges, issued by the DGT, to determine which vehicles can enter Low Emission Zones. These labels - B, C, Eco and Zero Emissions -categorise cars based on fuel type, registration year and compliance with emissions standards (e.g., Euro 3, Euro 4).

The most polluting vehicles are those without a label, such as diesel cars registered before 2006 and petrol models registered before 2001. Following them are B-labelled vehicles (diesel from 2006 onward or petrol from 2001 onward) and C-labelled vehicles (diesel from 2015 onward or petrol from 2006 onward).

Currently, vehicles with any environmental label face no access or circulation restrictions in most areas.

However, restrictions are expected to gradually tighten, starting with B-labelled vehicles and eventually affecting C-labelled ones as well.

What changes are coming in 2025?

From 2025, many cities will fully implement their ZBE policies and enforcement will tighten. Here's what this means:

Cars without an environmental label

In cities like Madrid, these vehicles will be completely banned from circulating, even if registered locally. You won’t even be able to drive them out of the garage.
However, you’ll still be required to pay vehicle taxes for ownership, even if the car remains stationary.

Cars with labels B and C

Access to restricted areas like Madrid’s ZBEDEP (Special Protection Low Emission Zones) will be allowed only under specific conditions, such as parking in public garages, owning a private space or transporting people with reduced mobility.
Driving through low emission zones without meeting these criteria will result in a 200 euro fine.

What about older cars?

If your car is more than 30 years old and in good condition, consider classifying it as a Historic Vehicle. This status grants occasional use, up to 96 days a year, and exempts the vehicle from frequent inspections.

Process cost: 30 euros.
Sticker required: Black ‘H’ on a yellow background.
Benefits: Only an ITV test every four years (or none at all after 60 years).

How will ZBEs be monitored?

Cities and large towns will clearly mark ZBE perimeters with signs, posters and in some cases, ground markings like Madrid’s red boundary line.

Surveillance cameras and traffic police will ensure compliance, monitoring vehicle types and environmental labels.

Find all the latest motoring and travel news here or join our Driving in Spain Facebook group for regular updates

Image: DGT

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