Grand Paris: classic cars still allowed

Good news, vintage cars can still circulate in the ZFE of the Metropolis of Greater Paris despite the restrictions.

Since Tuesday, June 1, a new step has been taken in the hunt for so-called polluting cars, while the Metropolis of Greater Paris has now banned all vehicles classified Crit’Air 4 and above. A measure already in force in the capital, aimed at prohibiting the circulation of too old cars from 8 to 20 hours during the week, accused of emitting too much CO2. Concretely, all diesel vehicles registered before 2006 are now banned from entering intramural Paris and throughout the perimeter of the A86, i.e. more than 240,000 additional vehicles compared to the period preceding the implementation of this measured. If no ticketing is planned before next year, in order to give the motorists concerned time to adapt and why not, to change vehicles thanks to state aid, many owners of vintage cars are worried that they would no longer be able to use their car in the 79 municipalities that make up this news ZFE.

Rest assured, they will always have the right to enter and circulate normally in this area, regardless of the time and day, even if their vehicle is in theory “unclassified”, that is to say registered before 1992. It is the FFVE, the French Federation of Vintage Vehicles which confirms this very good news in a press release, claiming to have succeeded in obtaining an exemption from the Metropolis of Greater Paris. A great victory for the old automobile, and the guarantee of still being able to see beautiful vintage cars in the streets of the capital and around. This decision was therefore confirmed by a municipal decree published on May 28, 2021, stating that the traffic restriction measures do not apply ” vehicles whose registration certificate bears the mention “collection” “. Note that the ” vehicles over 30 years old used in the context of a commercial activity of a tourist nature Are also still allowed in the EPZ.

=> Find out in which Crit’Air category your vehicle is classified

Gray card collection: many advantages

Created in 1984, the gray card collection is in fact an additional mention appearing on the registration certificate of a vehicle, introduced in order to better protect the automobile heritage. To obtain it, several conditions must then be met, since the vehicle concerned must be over 30 years old, no longer produced and have its original characteristics. A simple request to the ANTS will then allow you to change your vehicle registration card, subject to presenting several supporting documents attesting to the age of the latter, as well as your identity. Increasingly popular, this status has many advantages, since it allows you to travel throughout France and abroad, as well as in EPZs, even during pics de pollution. In addition, the technical control is lightened, since it does not have to be passed only once every five years against two for a standard vehicle. It should also be noted that in the event of an accident, the insurance cannot under any circumstances immobilize your car to scrapping it by declaring it irreparable.

The disadvantages are minimal, since it is simply forbidden to use a car with a vehicle registration document as professional vehicle. Concretely, you will not be able to rent it or use it as a food truck for example, even if the nature of the sanctions has never really been clarified by law.