In Spain, drivers living in cities with more than 50.000 inhabitants have become accustomed to scrutinizing the DGT (Spanish Directorate General of Traffic) sticker to determine if they can enter the city center. However, throughout this summer and with autumn approaching, the implementation of Low Emission Zones (LEZs) has entered a crucial phase in several provincial capitals, where restrictions will cease to be merely a promise and become a plan with specific dates, times, and real warnings. Implementation varies, but it shares a common thread: vehicles without a sticker will be excluded from the restricted area.
Despite the controversy surrounding these projects and the legal setbacks some municipalities, like Segovia and Murcia, have faced, the process continues. New regulations being implemented in cities such as Soria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife demonstrate that local councils have opted for a gradual approach, with trial periods before imposing €200 fines. This initial approach, with warnings and no financial penalties, is key to helping drivers adapt to the new system without running red lights.
The Soria Low Emission Zone (LEZ) will be launched on September 16th with a warning period.
The municipality of Soria has published and clarified its ordinance in the Official Gazette of the Province. This week, the final schedule and initial access restrictions for vehicles without an environmental sticker were announced . The measure will be in effect Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., at least until the end of the adaptation period, which runs from this month until October 31.
But the surprising thing is that, despite the fact that drivers without a sticker will no longer be able to drive freely through the city center from September 16th, the City Council has decided to use the first few months as a trial period. Thus, during this initial phase, drivers will only receive a warning for the infraction and no fines will be issued. Things will change from November 1st, when the penalty system will be activated with a €200 fine for anyone who violates the rules. Vehicles with B, C, ECO, and 0 stickers will continue to be allowed entry and will not be stopped by patrols.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife launches new ordinance but will keep the sanctions under lock and key.
Meanwhile, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the situation follows a different path. Their ordinance has just been published, but neither speed limits nor restrictions will be applied for at least 18 months. This extended period, which the city council describes as informative, will allow residents time to understand the process. The Canary Island city, which includes the historic center and the El Toscal neighborhood, will allow vehicles with a DGT (Spanish Directorate General of Traffic) sticker to pass through the ring road without difficulty ; vehicles with a zero-emissions or ECO sticker are also exempt.
The system will begin enforcing the actual speed limit next year, in a two-phase approach: first, checks will be made to see if cars have the required permits; second, warnings will not carry a fine until 36 months after the system's approval. Thus, drivers who cross Castillo Street without authorization will not receive a warning about the installation, but on the third offense, they could face the dreaded €200 fine.
The ordinance itself has already registered an avalanche of claims from hoteliers, merchants and residents, which has resulted in the inclusion of authorizations for professionals, for VTC vehicles associated with accommodations and, more importantly, for registered residents, who have free rein to sleep inside the premises with their car without a sticker as long as they process the accreditation.
Which cars are excluded and what exceptions are there?
One of the points that clarifies the most doubts in city regulations is the environmental label classification. In both Soria and Santa Cruz, vehicles without a label are the most affected and, in principle, cannot even enter the city. According to the law, these vehicles are the oldest, both gasoline and diesel, and represent a considerable portion of the current vehicle fleet.
But drivers with cars lacking a sticker aren't doomed. There's a comprehensive list of exceptions, including residents, those with a garage or parking space within the Low Emission Zone (LEZ), and those who run a business or have loading and unloading zones . For them, the restriction doesn't apply in the same way. Garage owners can register one vehicle per space for parking, while people with reduced mobility or emergency services have a permit to circulate intermittently. Each municipality must add other specific authorizations, which are requested through the municipal registry.
Another nuance to consider is the possibility that the FEMP, the Spanish Federation of Municipalities, will publish a standard ordinance allowing municipalities to impose more tolls on access roads. According to the latest update to national regulations, requirements such as a valid vehicle inspection certificate (ITV) or minimum insurance coverage are being considered, which could create a new layer of red tape for those vehicles that already have the required A or B environmental labels.
In practice, the arrival of Low Emission Zones (LEZs) in these cities marks a turning point in mobility, with the added burden of the euro. Implementation schedules have been designed in a relaxed manner, and fines are eventually issued, even in those municipalities that have opted to inform drivers before penalizing them. Therefore, to avoid paying more than necessary, it's crucial to check whether your car has a sticker and, if not, obtain the required daily or permanent permit to avoid a fine.
