The entry into force of the new Restrictions on cars with a B label in the Low Emission Zones (LEZ) of Catalonia This marks a turning point in mobility and air quality policy. What until a few years ago was a vague warning in the form of signs and information campaigns has become a real control system, with cameras, fines, and very specific schedules.
This change is due to a combination of several rules: the Air Quality Plan Horizon 2027 of the Generalitat and State legislation on sustainable mobility and climate changeall of this under the umbrella of the climate requirements of the European UnionThe objective is clear: to reduce the presence of the most polluting vehicles within cities, starting by tightening the net around passenger cars with environmental label B.
What does the B label imply and why is its circulation restricted?
La DGT B label identifies passenger cars and light vans powered by petrol, registered approximately between 2001 and 2006 and diesel vehicles registered between 2006 and 2014For years, these vehicles have been tolerated within Low Emission Zones while the focus has been on cars without a sticker (classification A), considered the most polluting compared to those without. cars that pollute less.
However, emissions studies have shown that Vehicles with a B label continue to account for a significant portion of nitrogen oxides (NOâ‚‚) and particulate matter. in dense urban environments. In cities like Barcelona or its metropolitan area, where atmospheric ventilation is limited and traffic is heavy, their contribution to poor air quality is not insignificant.
Therefore, the new Catalan regulatory framework takes a further step: The restrictions no longer only affect cars without a sticker, but extend to the large fleet of vehicles with a yellow sticker.This is being done in stages, with different phases between 2026 and 2028 to allow some adaptation time for drivers and local councils.
It should be noted that Low Emission Zones are not a Catalan rarity. Above 200 European cities, including London, Paris, Berlin, and BrusselsThey have established systems to limit the most polluting traffic with similar logic: restrictions by environmental badge, time slots, special activation in episodes of high pollution and extensive use of cameras.
Calendar in Catalonia: from high pollution episodes to a total ban
The Catalan calendar for cars with B label in the ZBE It is structured around two major milestones: the year 2026 as the start of sanctions linked to pollution episodes and the year 2028 as the moment when the prohibition becomes general and permanent.
Beginning January 1, 2026, vehicles with a B sticker They cannot circulate in Catalan Low Emission Zones during high pollution episodes declared by the competent authorities. This means that when an air quality episode is officially activated, The entry of these vehicles is prohibited within the perimeter of each ZBE (Low Emission Zone)..
Apart from those episodes, at least in this first phase, Cars with a B sticker can continue to circulate in the ZBE under normal conditionsIn other words, the ban is not yet continuous, but is linked to specific moments when pollutant levels, especially NOâ‚‚ and fine particles, exceed the thresholds set in pollution protocols.
The situation changes markedly from the January 1, 2028. From that date, The Catalan government intends for the ban on vehicles with a B label to be permanent in all Low Emission Zones (LEZs) in Catalonia.This would happen even without a specific high pollution episode. Cars with yellow stickers would, in practice, be excluded from daily use in these areas, and not just during peak times.
This progressive hardening is integrated into the climate and health roadmap that seeks to reduce combustion traffic in large metropolitan areasThe idea is that the 2026-2027 period will act as a transition phase, giving drivers time to reorganize their mobility. change vehicle or opt for alternatives such as public transport.
Which Catalan Low Emission Zones (LEZs) apply restrictions and how are they controlled?
The Low Emission Zones in Catalonia primarily affect the environment of Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB)But they don't stop there. State regulations require the establishment of Low Emission Zones in municipalities with more than 50.000 inhabitants and also in urban centers with more than 20.000 inhabitants that exceed certain levels of pollution.
In practice, this means that, in addition to Barcelona and the municipalities that make up the ZBE of the Rounds, Other medium-sized Catalan cities have already activated or are activating their own Low Emission Zones (LEZs).. This is the case of Tarragona, Terrassa, Sabadell or Reus, where the sanctioning regime is already fully operational for vehicles that violate access regulations.
Control is carried out by means of automatic license plate reading camera networksinstalled at strategic entry and exit points of each restricted zone. When a pollution episode is activated or permanent restrictions are applied, These cameras record access points and cross-reference the data with the environmental badge registry., identifying vehicles with a B label or other restricted categories.
The consequence for a driver who improperly enters a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) with a car affected by the restrictions is clear: a penalty of around 200 euros per infractionThese are fines considered, in most cases, as serious offenses in the field of mobility and air protection, although They do not normally involve the removal of points. of the driver's license.
In the last weeks, Many Catalan municipalities have moved from the "educational" phase of warnings and stickers to effective control with sanctionsLow Emission Zones (LEZs) have ceased to be "theoretical" areas and have become controlled spaces where, if the regulations are not followed, the fine ends up arriving in your mailbox.
Municipalities with moratoriums and territorial exceptions
Although the general criterion is to extend the restrictions to all the Low Emission Zones in CataloniaHowever, not all municipalities are in the same situation. There are a number of towns that, for various reasons, have obtained moratoriums or temporary exemptions for the full application of the sanctions regime.
In the province of Barcelona, 12 municipalities have been exempted from applying sanctions in 2026 despite having an obligation to have a Low Emission Zone (LEZ). Among them are Barberà del Vallès, Castellar del Vallès, Les Franqueses del Vallès, Montcada i Reixac, Ripollet, Sant Quirze del Vallès, Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, Esparreguera, Martorell, Olesa de Montserrat, Sant Andreu de la Barca and Santa Coloma de Gramenet.
In these cases, the annual review of air quality data and the requests from local councils have allowed the full implementation of sanctions to be delayed, so that The toughest restrictions for cars with a B sticker are postponed until the coming years., with a maximum horizon in 2028.
This does not mean that these municipalities are excluded from the emissions reduction policy, but rather that They have a little more time to adapt their road network, signage, control systems and information campaignsThe idea, in theory, is that the measures are implemented effectively without causing an administrative collapse or a disproportionate social impact.
Moratoriums have also been a tool used to to soften the entry into force of the Low Emission Zones in certain cities that were launching a new zone or expanding its perimeterallowing periods of coexistence between warnings, informational controls and actual sanctions.
Tarragona as an example of an expanding Low Emission Zone
The city of Tarragona It has become one of the most visible examples of how Low Emission Zones are being deployed outside of Barcelona. The Low Emission Zone came into effect on December 31, 2025, initially focused on restrict access to vehicles without an environmental stickerbut with a timeline that also includes the arrival of limitations to the B label.
In this city, the ZBE operates from Monday to Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 19:00 p.m.and covers areas such as Part Alta, the Eixample and the Maritime DistrictsFor its operation, approximately 45 license plate reading cameras and environmental sensors, in addition to specific signage on the asphalt and on public roads.
In order to facilitate the transition, the City Council has established an adaptation period for registered residentsThroughout 2026, vehicles without a sticker will be allowed to circulate. without being penalized, although the restrictions will be progressively tightened for vehicles from outside the municipality and, later on, also for the residents themselves.
The Tarragona timetable anticipates that as of December 31, 2026 The restrictions apply to vehicles from Tarragona that circulate within the Low Emission Zone without meeting environmental requirements, while for those who live within the perimeter of the LEZ full implementation is moved to December 31th 2027. From As of January 1, 2028, it is estimated that approximately 20% of the local vehicle fleet will be affected by the restrictionsincluding cars with a B label.
In this scheme, the Unregistered drivers entering without the appropriate permit are already exposed to fines of around 200 euroswith surcharges for repeat offenses. The city has reinforced communication through a ZBE office, information campaigns and sending letters to residents to try to make the rule change as unconfusing as possible.
Fines, automated control, and time margin
The new framework of restrictions on cars with a B sticker in the ZBE Catalan projects would not be possible without a significant technological deployment. The central piece is the Automatic license plate reading systems (ANPR), which allow monitor access points and detect in real time which vehicles comply or violate regulations.
When a car with a B sticker enters a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) at a time when its circulation is restricted —for example, during a high pollution episode in 2026 or permanently from 2028 onwards—, The cameras record the license plate and the system cross-references it with the DGT database.If it is confirmed that the vehicle is not authorized to circulate, a penalty is automatically generated.
The Fines are usually around 200 eurosThis amount is comparable to other serious traffic violations. Although it may seem high, the authorities justify it as a deterrent measure designed to effectively reduce the presence of more polluting vehicles in areas where public health is especially at stake.
In many municipalities, the Restrictions apply during specific time slots, usually Monday to Friday during working hourswhich leaves some flexibility for Vehicles with a B sticker can circulate at night, on weekends and holidaysat least during the initial phase. Over the years, these windows of flexibility tend to shrink.
The existence of this time frame is intended not to abruptly disrupt the routine of those who depend on the car, but at the same time It sends a clear signal that the use of vehicles with a B sticker in dense urban areas will gradually decline.and that their place should be progressively taken by less polluting means of transport or by cars with C, ECO or Zero labels.
Social, economic and health impact of the restrictions
The implementation of Low Emission Zone (LEZ) with restrictions on vehicles with a B label It generates a mix of reactions among the population. Some see it as a This measure is essential to reduce respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. linked to poor air quality, and who perceives it as a a blow to the wallet and to daily mobilityespecially in the case of families with fewer resources.
The Catalan government and the city councils argue that the right to breathe cleaner air It must take precedence over the indiscriminate use of private cars, especially in already congested urban environments. Studies cited by the regional government indicate that Reducing the most polluting traffic can prevent a significant number of premature deaths each year.as well as reducing asthma attacks, hospital admissions and other respiratory ailments.
At the same time, the institutions recognize that these policies They have a social cost, especially for those who depend on the car to get to work or to travel in areas with limited public transport alternatives.Therefore, they have been put together exceptions and specific authorizations for certain groups.
These exceptions usually include Vehicles intended for the transport of people with reduced mobility, essential and emergency services, as well as certain cases of low-income families who can prove the need for the vehicleIn some cases, they are granted temporary moratoriums or specific permits for specific uses.
The second-hand market is not immune to the impact either: The value of cars with a B sticker is being pressured downwards in CataloniaWhile The demand for vehicles with C, ECO and Zero emissions labels has increasedThis influences both buying and selling decisions and leads many to consult a battery guideThis move reflects the perception that, in the medium term, Cars with yellow stickers will become less useful in large citieswhich influences both buying and selling decisions.
Low Emission Zones in the Spanish and European context
Although attention is now focused on Catalonia, Low Emission Zones are part of a broader strategy at the state and European levelsSpanish climate law requires all municipalities with more than 50.000 inhabitants to have their own LEZ, and the extension to activate them ends on January 1, 2026.
In Spain, there are already at least 56 cities with active Low Emission Zones, between them Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Bilbao, San Sebastián, Zaragoza, Palma, Valladolid, Salamanca, Seville, Málaga, Granada, Alicante or Benidormas well as numerous municipalities in the metropolitan areas of Madrid and Barcelona. Others 89 cities They are in the process of designing or implementing their low-emission zones.
Most of these ZBEs use the DGT environmental badge as an access criterionIn general, vehicles with Zero and ECO label enjoy greater freedom of movement, while the C and, above all, B badges come restrictions will gradually increaseCars classified as A (unlabeled), in other words, gasoline engines manufactured before 2001 and diesel engines manufactured before 2006They are the first to be excluded from the interior of these zones.
Cities like Madrid They follow their own path, with a progressive expansion of its Low Emission Zone until it covers practically the entire municipalityalthough with specific moratoriums for residents with older vehicles. Barcelona, ​​for its part, It advocates for a clear timetable in which the B label will be banned first on days of high pollution and then permanently.turning its ZBE into a laboratory for the transition to cleaner mobility.
At the European level, the trend is similar: More and more cities are restricting the circulation of older and more polluting combustion engine vehiclescombining traffic measures with urban toll zones, incentives for public transport, cycling infrastructure and support for electric mobilityCatalonia is trying to position itself along the same lines, justifying its decisions based on shared climate commitments.
The reinforcement of the restrictions on cars with a B sticker in Catalan Low Emission Zones This is not an isolated action, but rather one more piece of a profound change in how people move around cities. With a timetable that begins in 2026 and becomes significantly stricter in 2028, the message being sent by the Catalan government and the city councils is that Urban space will tend to be reserved for less polluting vehicles and alternative modes of transport.For drivers, the practical message is clear: know the rules of each Low Emission Zone, check your vehicle's sticker, and start planning how you will move around in a scenario where the yellow sticker will have increasingly less room for maneuver.