ZFE Marseille: Which cars are banned in the Phocaean city?

Since September 2022, Marseille’s Low Emission Zone (ZFE) has been in effect, prohibiting the most polluting cars. Which vehicles exactly, and what is the schedule?

Although Marseille is the second most populous city in France and the largest in area, it was slow to implement its ZFE. Or rather, it should be called ZFE-m, emphasizing “mobility” in the term. The city of Marseille launched its Low Emission Zone only in 2022, but will quickly accelerate to align with the ZFE regulations of Paris and other metropolitan areas across the country.

Which cars cannot operate in the ZFE Marseille?

The very first ZFE-m in Marseille was studied in 2019, opened for consultation in January-February 2022, and began on September 1, 2022. It follows the same rules as other zones of this type, which prohibit vehicles and heavy trucks with a Crit’Air 5 sticker.

The city excludes all diesels registered before 2001 and gasoline vehicles from before 1997. At inception, they represented about 2% of all circulating cars and 1% of utility vehicles. Two-wheelers registered before June 2000 are also affected by the measure, but not gasoline, gas, electric, or hybrid cars.

What is the affected zone? What are the penalties?

Unlike most other metropolitan areas, the ZFE Marseille only concerns the city itself, and only a central part. Thus, the ZFE-m comes into effect within the perimeter formed by the avenues of Cap Pinède, Alexandre Fleming, du Prado 2, and the boulevards of Capitaine Gèze, de Plombières, Françoise Duparc, Sakakini, Jean Moulin, and Rabatau.

There are some exceptions, such as the Prado tunnel and the bridge over the A55 highway. In total, the ZFE covers 19.5 km², which is one-twelfth of Marseille’s surface area and a population of 314,000 inhabitants according to the city.

If you travel within the ZFE Marseille perimeter with a prohibited vehicle, you face a fine of €68 for a car or motorcycle, and €135 for a heavy truck. This also applies to other vehicles if they do not display a Crit’Air sticker on the windshield.

ZFE Marseille 2024, which vehicles are banned?

After the initial implementation in 2022, the second phase arrives quickly, marking the first anniversary. The Marseille ZFE measure will tighten on September 1, 2023 with the ban on cars and vehicles with a Crit’Air 4 sticker. In addition to diesels manufactured before 2011, those before 2006 will no longer be allowed to circulate within the city zone. Furthermore, two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheeled motorized vehicles (thermal) registered before 2000 are also prohibited from circulation within Marseille.

Following the same principle, the third phase of ZFE-m will be implemented on September 1, 2024. It will be even stricter than the previous, covering Crit’Air 3. This means excluding diesels manufactured before 2011, as well as gasoline vehicles first registered before 2006. For two, three, or four-wheelers powered by thermal engines, they must be registered after January 1, 2007 to continue operating within the zone.

The Marseille ZFE, however, does not specify the end of the schedule. It is still unknown when the city will ban Crit’Air 2 vehicles, including all diesels and gasoline cars manufactured before 2011, and when it will only allow electric or hydrogen-powered cars.

Low Emission Zone Schedule in Marseille

Also read: ZFE, which cities might hope for exemptions?