Crit’Air, small driver exemption: what you need to know about the Low Emission Mobility Zone applied to Nîmes

From January 1, 2025, the City of Nîmes is implementing a Low Emission Zone. Midi Libre – MIKAËL ANISSET

From January 1, 2025, the City of Nîmes has defined a Low Emission Zone perimeter. It has decided to move there gradually while maintaining the goal of polluting less.

Starting Wednesday, January 1, 2025, the city of Nîmes will set up, like other urban areas, a Low Emission Mobility Zone perimeter to meet the requirements of the Climate and Resilience Act and limit pollution. But how will this come to fruition? ? The municipality reiterated this during the last city council meeting on December 14: it is a question of going there gradually.

Thus, any owner of a vehicle registered for the first time after 1996 can apply for a Crit'air sticker to drive or park within the perimeter of the Nîmes ZFE-m.

It covers the entire city, but there are exceptions as indicated by the City: “In order to maintain continuity of transit routes outside the ZFE-m but also to allow accessibility to the Carémeau hospital on the one hand, and to economic activity zones on the other hand, derogatory routes are planned within the perimeter of the ZFE. This concerns the motorway network (A9/A54), national roads (RN106 towards Alès, RN113 towards Montpellier), and departmental roads that connect to the structuring network”.

To order a Crit’air sticker, go to the official website: certificat-air.gouv.fr.

Exemption for less than 8,000 km per year

For owners of vehicles put into circulation before 1996 (light, utility, heavy goods vehicles and unclassified motorized two-wheelers), access to the ZFE-m perimeter is prohibited… well, not completely. In fact, the municipality has set up a small exemption for them drivers (8,000 km driven per year). However, you must provide proof, certificates (technical inspection, insurance). You must go to the city website: mes-demarches.nimes.fr/fiche/263/

This system, controlled by the national police, will be evaluated by 2028. It should be noted that the municipality is also asking the State to limit the speed of the A9 and A54 motorways to 110 km/h in their sections that cross Nîmes.