Motorists across Spain can now find environmental emission stickers, essential for accessing Low Emission Zones, at a wider range of locations—including some authorised tobacconists. This move aims to make these crucial labels more accessible, with the stickers costing €5.
Since 2016, Spain’s Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) has required vehicles to be classified according to their environmental impact. The labels, designed to identify which cars are eligible to drive in Low Emission Zones (Zonas de Bajas Emisiones or ZBE), are becoming increasingly important as cities across Spain introduce measures to curb pollution. Though displaying the sticker on your vehicle’s windscreen remains optional, it is strongly recommended, especially for those travelling in cities with low-emission regulations.
Also available in tobacconists
Until now, drivers could purchase these stickers from various official outlets, including post offices, certain authorised workshops (like CETRAA, Norauto, and Euromaster), as well as automotive study institutes and administrative management colleges. However, in a bid to boost availability, these labels are also now being sold in some authorised tobacconists across Spain.
Logista, the logistics company behind the distribution to tobacconists, has reported that nearly 5,000 stickers have already been issued in 500 tobacconist shops spanning over 300 different towns and cities. This expansion will continue in the coming months to reach more locations and make purchasing the label more convenient, as Low Emission Zones become more widespread.
How to get your sticker
The process of buying an emissions label is relatively simple. All you need is your vehicle registration number, and you must scan a QR code to upload your driving licence and vehicle registration documents. The stickers cost around €5 and there are four types available, each assigned based on the vehicle’s propulsion system and emissions category.
These categories are:
- Zero Emissions (Blue): For electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids with a minimum range of 40 km, and fuel cell vehicles.
- Eco (Green and Blue): For plug-in hybrids with less than 40 km of electric range, non-plug-in hybrids, and vehicles running on natural gas or LPG.
- C (Green): For petrol cars registered from 2006 onwards and diesel cars from September 2015 onwards, which comply with recent Euro emissions standards.
- B (Yellow): For older petrol and diesel vehicles that meet earlier Euro emissions standards.
Concerns over label assignments
While the sticker system was designed to help cities manage pollution, it hasn’t been without criticism. The Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU) has criticised the classification system for failing to reflect the real emissions of individual vehicles. Labels are largely assigned based on the year a car was registered rather than its actual emissions standards. This means some vehicles may have received labels that do not accurately reflect their environmental performance. For example, older diesel cars registered before 2006 or petrol vehicles from before 2000 are typically ineligible for a sticker, even if their emissions might match newer standards.
To ensure the correct label for your car, it is advisable to check your vehicle’s technical documentation and cross-reference its Euro emissions standard.
Expanding low emission zones
With cities across Spain expanding Low Emission Zones, from Madrid to Barcelona, ensuring your car has the correct environmental label is becoming more essential. The DGT’s initiative to sell these stickers in more locations aims to streamline the process, helping more drivers comply with local regulations and contribute to lowering urban emissions.
Also read: What is the status of the introduction of the Low Emission Zones (LEZ) in the province of Málaga?