In the constant search to have cleaner air and reduce the emission of polluting particles that contribute to climate change, there is a measure that has been positioned as key in most of the world's large cities: the creation of a Low Emissions Zone (ZBE). In this context, the Spanish government approved the Climate Change and Energy Transition Law in 2021. This law seeks to encourage all Spanish cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants to have their own ZBE, reducing the circulation of passenger cars and, consequently, the emission of greenhouse gases.
A Low Emissions Zone could be defined as a restricted area that regulates vehicle circulation and parking in the urban area of cities with the aim of improving air quality. Generally, only vehicles that have an environmental label from the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) B, C, ECO and 0 emissions can circulate through the aforementioned ZBE. Although it is true that some cities in Spain have not yet integrated the Low Emission Zones, the Climate Change and Energy Transition Law requires that by 2023 all cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants must have the ZBE integrated.
If you do not know what the environmental label of your vehicle is, you can directly consult the DGT electronic headquarters to find out what badge is associated with your car's license plate. There are four distinctives. The 0 emissions label or blue label which, as published by the DGT, identifies the most efficient vehicles; those that are battery electric, extended range electric or plug-in hybrid electric. The ECO label identifies the vast majority of hybrid vehicles, powered by natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas or both. For its part, label C is green and is intended for those internal combustion vehicles that comply with the latest EURO emissions regulations and label B, yellow, is for internal combustion vehicles that, although they do not comply with the latest regulations, of EURO emissions if they do so with the previous ones.
If your vehicle does not have any of these labels, it is considered very polluting and is not entitled to any environmental label.
Now, access to each ZBE according to the DGT label will ultimately depend on each municipality and City Council.
