ZFE Lyon: Which cars are banned in the metropolitan area?

Excluding the most polluting vehicles since September 2022, the Lyon Low Emission Zone (ZFE Lyon) implements several phases, here is the schedule and details.

With over 520,000 inhabitants and up to 1.7 million in the metropolitan area, Lyon is the third most populous city in France. But it is also the densest outside Île-de-France, with many drivers concentrated in a limited space. Fortunately, this is changing, firstly with the municipal government endorsing a green flag since 2020, focusing more on soft mobility and public transportation deployment. Additionally, the ZFE Lyon will gradually ban the most polluting vehicles to improve air quality in the city.

Which cars are not allowed to circulate in the ZFE Lyon?

On January 1, 2020, the Lyon Low Emission Zone, or rather Greater Lyon, started. But only by banning light commercial vehicles and heavy trucks classified Crit’Air 3, 4, 5, and non-classified:

• Diesel utility vehicles older than 2011
• Gasoline utility vehicles older than 2015
• Heavy trucks diesel older than October 2011
• Heavy trucks gasoline older than October 2009

It was only on September 1, 2022, that private cars began to be banned under the ZFE-m. It follows the principle of the ZFE Greater Paris, initially excluding all vehicles with Crit’Air stickers. More specifically, this means that your diesel vehicle registered before 2001 or gasoline before 1997 can no longer circulate or park within the zone. As opposed to Paris, the Lyon ZFE enforces these restrictions every day, 24/7. Two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and thermal quadricycles are also excluded, but only those registered before June 1, 2000.

Like Toulouse’s ZFE, individuals and occasional professionals are entitled to a pass allowing entry into the Greater Lyon ZFE 52 days a year.

Exceptions also exist for certain vehicles:

• Mobility inclusion card
• Collection or association vehicles (online exemption)
• Individuals with a tax income below €19,600 (until the end of 2023)
• Individuals with a new vehicle with a significant delivery delay (valid for 6 months)

What is the area of Greater Lyon affected? What are the risks?

Similar to what can be seen in the Toulouse ZFE, Lyon’s zone includes part of the city—excluding some neighborhoods in the 7th and 9th arrondissements—as well as certain neighboring communes. The Low Emission Mobility Zone roughly encompasses the area bounded by the A6 and A7 motorways to the west and the Laurent Bonnevay ring road to the east. The entire city of Caluire-et-Cuire, a majority of Villeurbanne, a small western zone of Bron and North Vénissieux are therefore included.

As with all other ZFE-m zones in France, parking or circulating a prohibited vehicle can result in a €68 fine. For heavy trucks, the penalty increases from class 3 to 4, totaling €135. Between September and December 2022, enforcement was educational, but control began in 2023. 

The Greater Lyon Metropolis adds that while initial controls were carried out by police officers, they will eventually be automated with automatic license plate recognition radars at entrances and within the zone. It’s also important to note that even if your vehicle is not banned, lacking a Crit’Air sticker may also expose you to a fine within the Low Emission Zone.

ZFE Lyon 2024-2026: which vehicles will be banned?

Following the initial phase targeting private cars in 2022, three more phases will progressively exclude newer vehicles from the Lyon zone. As of January 1, 2024, Crit’Air 4 vehicles will no longer be allowed to circulate or park, including gasoline vehicles before 1997 (still banned) and diesel vehicles before 2006, as well as 2/3/4-wheel motorized vehicles registered before July 2004. 

In 2025, Crit’Air 3 vehicles will be banned. This includes diesel vehicles before 2011, gasoline before 2006, and 2/3/4-wheel motorized vehicles registered before 2007. Then, on January 1, 2026, Crit’Air 2 vehicles will be banned, including gasoline vehicles before 2011, motorcycles before 2017, scooters before 2018, and all diesels.

In addition to the vehicles listed above, the city will also exclude diesel vehicles registered before 2011. It will also mark the beginning of the prohibition of gasoline vehicles with first registration before January 1, 2006. For two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and thermal quadricycles, the cutoff date is January 1, 2007.

Finally, the Greater Lyon ZFE has not specified a date for banning all gasoline vehicles (Crit’Air 1) and will only permit electric and hydrogen-powered cars.

Lyon ZFE Schedule

Also read: ZFE: which cities could hope for an exemption?