What RV Owners Absolutely Need to Know

Planning a campervan holiday this summer and wondering if your vehicle needs to be fitted with a Crit’Air sticker? Here’s the crucial information you need to know.

Low Emission Zones (LEZs) are multiplying rapidly in France! With the holidays, you are probably planning to go camping and you could cross LEZs, where traffic restrictions may be applied to older vehicles, thus favoring newer and less polluting models.

As with light cars, it is necessary to purchase and glue a vignette Crit’air on the windshield of your campervan to drive in a ZFE. This sticker, which classifies your vehicle from 1 to 5 or in the category of electric cars, depends on its age. This system makes it possible to identify the oldest vehicles and prohibit them from ZFEs.

Motorhome: two types of Crit’Air sticker?

Motorhomes have a special feature, as they are divided into multiple categories. On the one hand, there are motorhomes that are considered cars, i.e. those whose PTAC (Total Authorized Weight) is less than 3.5 tonnes. Beyond this weight, motorhomes are classified in the heavy goods vehicle category, similar to trucks. To find out the PTAC of your motorhome, simply check the “F.1” field on the registration document (or registration certificate).

For the Light vehicles, Crit’Air stickers are determined by the Euro standard of the engine. Here are the classifications for diesel engines, which equip the majority of camping-cars :

• First put into circulation before December 31, 1996: not eligible for the Crit’Air sticker
• Euro 2 (between July 1, 1997 and December 31, 2000): Crit’Air 5 sticker
• Euro 3 (between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2005): Crit’Air 4 sticker
• Euro 4 (between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2010): Crit’Air 3 sticker
• Euro 5 and 6 (from January 1, 2011): Crit’Air 2 sticker

Crit’Air sticker: what regulations apply to heavy motorhomes?

If the PTAC of your motorhome exceeds 3,500 kg, it is classified among the heavyweightwith stricter regulations. Here are the categories of Crit’Air stickers for diesel engines, which equip the majority of heavy motorhomes:

• First put into circulation before September 30, 2001: not eligible for the Crit’Air sticker
• Euro 3 (between October 1, 2001 and September 30, 2006 inclusive): Crit’Air 5 sticker
• Euro 4 (between October 1, 2006 and September 30, 2009 inclusive): Crit’Air 4 sticker
• Euro 5 (between October 1, 2009 and December 31, 2013 inclusive): Crit’Air 3 sticker
• Euro 6 (from January 1, 2014): Crit’Air 2 sticker

Please note, if you do not have a Crit’Air sticker: driving in a ZFE with an unauthorized vehicle or without a Crit’Air sticker can result in a fine of up to €450. In general, the fixed fine is €68. (€135 for heavy motorhomes).