Zero-Emission Zone Toulouse: Which Cars Are Banned in the Pink City?

In effect since 2022, the Low Emission Zone for mobility ZFE-m of Toulouse restricts the circulation of many polluting vehicles. Which ones and on which territory?

Long after other major French cities — Paris, Rouen, Marseille — the city of Toulouse has finally decided to implement a ZFE-m within its territory. Although such measures are mandatory in 2025, the pink city is ahead of the law, with the implementation date set for 2022. This started with trucks, buses, or utility vehicles, on March 1, 2022.

Which vehicles cannot circulate in Toulouse’s ZFE?

The first phase of Toulouse’s ZFE began on January 1, 2023. Excluding vehicles with Crit’Air 5, the city removes Crit’Air 4 and Crit’Air 5 from its zone. This means diesel vehicles registered before 2006, and gasoline vehicles registered before 1997, can no longer circulate or park there.

The anti-pollution measure affects not only cars and utility vehicles but also scooters and motorcycles. The restriction for Crit’Air 4 also includes two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and thermal quadricycles registered before July 1, 2004.

Individuals and professionals who occasionally travel within Toulouse’s ZFE can request a pass. It grants the right to circulate there but for only 52 days per year. This pass became available early 2023, though no specific date was provided.

There are also exceptions for certain vehicles:

• Passenger transport VASP/VTSU and persons with disabilities*
• Collector’s vehicles*
• Tanker, refrigeration, concrete mixer, dump, washer, dangerous substances vehicles*
• Transport of dangerous goods, animals**
• Moving vehicles, mobile traders**
• Solidarity enterprise vehicles “ESUS”**

*(until December 31, 2025), **individual derogation

What is the affected zone in Toulouse? What are the risks?

Similar to Marseille, for example, Toulouse’s ZFE-m only covers a certain part of the city. It is far from a metropolitan zone like Greater Paris. The Toulouse perimeter includes the area inside the ring road, including Route d’Auch and the West Bypass. However, the ZFE does not cover the east bypass, Arc-en-Ciel bypass, Fil d’Ariane, or any highways. Additionally, the ring road area touches two other municipalities: Colomiers and Tournefeuille.

If you park or circulate within the Toulouse ZFE zone with an prohibited vehicle, you risk a fine of 68 to 135 euros. These penalties also apply to any vehicle without a Crit’Air sticker on the windshield.

The metropolis has also set up park-and-ride facilities around the ZFE-m, near metro and tram stations. They are, moreover, free for Tisséo cardholders, to encourage the use of public transportation.

Toulouse ZFE 2024, which vehicles are prohibited?

Following trucks and utility vehicles in 2022, then the first phase for cars in 2023, the ZFE-m will evolve further next year. From January 1, 2024, Toulouse will prohibit vehicles meeting the criteria of Crit’Air 3 stickers. 

In addition to the vehicles mentioned above, the city will also ban diesel vehicles registered before 2011. This will also mark the beginning of the first bans on gasoline vehicles, those first registered before January 1, 2006. For two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and thermal quadricycles, the deadline is January 1, 2007.

The Toulouse ZFE has not yet finalized the next deployment phases. We do not know the dates when Crit’Air 2 and 1 vehicles will be banned.

Toulouse ZFE-m Schedule

Also read: ZFE: which cities can expect exemptions?