Do you live in Paris, Lyon or their respective conurbations? In this article, you’ll find details of the traffic restrictions in the Low Emission Zones (ZFE) in these two conurbations:

The Greater Paris ZFE-m: First introduced in 2015, the ZFE-m initially covered only the Paris conurbation. Since July 1, 2019, the regulations have evolved to extend the geographical area of the ZFE-m to 77 communes in the Île-de-France region, included within the perimeter of the A86 motorway.

The first traffic restrictions came into force on July 1, 2019 for Crit’Air 5 and non-classified vehicles. A second phase of restrictions was introduced on June 1, 2021, with the addition of Crit’air 4 vehicles. A third phase of restrictions, initially scheduled for 2024, has been postponed to January 2025 and concerns Crit’air 3 vehicles.

Ultimately, by 2030, the aim of the Greater Paris ZFE-m is to have 100% clean vehicles on the road in the conurbation, thus complying with European limits on air pollution. This objective will be achieved through restrictions on Crit’Air 2 vehicles, allowing only Crit’Air 1 and 0 vehicles to circulate in the Greater Paris ZFE-m.

If you own a vehicle subject to traffic restrictions, here are the time slots for Greater Paris, by vehicle type:

• Trucks: 7 days a week, 8am to 8pm.
• Light commercial vehicles, passenger cars and two-wheelers: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., except on public holidays.

Greater Lyon’s ZFE-m: Coming into force on January 1, 2020, the Greater Lyon metropolitan area was one of the pioneers in the introduction of Low Emission Zones. Since January 2020, the Greater Lyon ZFE-m has covered five communes in the Lyon metropolitan area (Lyon, Caluire-et-Cuire, Villeurbanne, Bron and Vénissieux) within the limits of the M6, M7, the Northern ring road and the Laurent Bonnevay ring road.

Since 2020, the Lyon urban area has banned access and parking for unclassified LCVs and HGVs, as well as Crit’Air 3, 4 and 5 vehicles. All Crit’Air 5 and unclassified vehicles are also banned.

Coverage of the Lyon EPZ will be extended on January 1, 2024, with the inclusion of the above-mentioned peripheral roads in the Greater Lyon EPZ-m. Beyond 2024, Grand Lyon has published a timetable for the expansion of the Lyon EPZ, extending to 2028.

This timetable illustrates the future restrictions on vehicles. From 2025, all Crit’Air 3, 4, 5 and unclassified vehicles will be banned from entering the Lyon urban area. In 2028, all Crit’Air 3 vehicles will be added.

If you own a vehicle subject to traffic restrictions, unlike Greater Paris, the Greater Lyon conurbation restricts access to all types of vehicles concerned 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.