If you have been out and about on the Costa Blanca you might have noticed little stickers on car window screens for Low Emission Zones, or Zonas de Bajas Emisiones.
An emissions badge is basically a way of rating vehicles according to how much they impact the environment and how efficient they are with energy.
The main idea behind these badges is twofold. First, they reward vehicles that are kinder to the environment. Second, they give local authorities a simple tool to manage traffic during high pollution days or to encourage drivers to switch to cleaner technologies, sometimes with financial perks or easier parking.
The Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) issues the badges based on the type of vehicle. However, it is the individual towns and cities that decide the rules about where and when you can drive depending on your badge. If you plan to drive around, it is wise to check the website of each municipality to see if any restrictions apply.
How can you check your vehicle’s emissions badge?
Checking your badge is straightforward. You can visit the DGT website and enter your vehicle registration to see your badge. No need to log in. There is also a file on the DGT statistics portal with all registered vehicles and their badges.
If you prefer checking on the go, you can use the miDGT mobile app, available for both Android and iOS. This lets you check your own vehicles quickly and easily.
You can also call 060 to speak directly with a DGT representative, or you can visit any Traffic Office in person. If you choose to go in person, make sure to book an appointment online or by phone.
What do the Low Emission Zones car stickers mean?
There are four badges, ranked from the most environmentally friendly to the least:
Zero-emissions badge, Blue: These are the top dogs, awarded to vehicles that leave almost no mark on the planet. This includes fully electric cars, range-extended electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids that can drive at least 40 kilometres on electricity, and fuel cell electric vehicles.
Eco badge: The second tier, mainly hybrid vehicles and those powered by natural gas. This covers plug-in hybrids with a shorter electric range, standard hybrids, and cars using compressed or liquefied natural gas, or LPG. They also need to meet the criteria for the C badge.
C badge, Green: Petrol or diesel cars and small vans that meet the latest Euro emissions standards. Petrol vehicles registered from January 2006 and diesel from September 2015 qualify. Larger vehicles with more than eight seats registered from 2014 also make the cut.
B badge, Yellow: Older vehicles that do not meet the newest Euro standards but comply with earlier ones. Petrol cars and small vans registered from 2001, diesel from 2006, and larger vehicles from 2006 qualify.
Comparing emissions badges across Europe
Many EU countries have their own way of classifying vehicles by emissions.
In Spain, cars registered abroad do not get a Spanish emissions badge, because it is not needed. If your car comes from a country that has its own emissions scheme, such as Austria, Denmark, France or Germany, it is treated as having the equivalent Spanish badge.
There is a handy guide showing how badges from different countries match up. This is useful to figure out which Spanish restrictions might apply when driving here.
Remember, this only works for driving in Spain. Other countries have their own rules, so if you plan a road trip across Europe, check in advance whether you need a badge for each country and what the rules are.
