The short answer
- • Yes — motorcycles, mopeds and scooters all need a Crit'Air sticker in French ZFEs
- • Registered from 2017: typically Crit'Air 1 (purple) — full ZFE access
- • Registered 2007–2016: typically Crit'Air 2 (yellow) — accepted in all current ZFEs
- • Registered 2000–2006: typically Crit'Air 3 (orange) — restricted in Paris on weekdays
- • Registered before June 2000: cannot get a sticker — banned from all ZFEs
- • The sticker is valid for the lifetime of the vehicle — you only ever apply once per bike
Yes — motorcycles, mopeds, and scooters all need a Crit'Air sticker to drive in French low-emission zones (ZFEs). The requirement applies to UK-registered bikes just as it does to French ones. Fines start at €68.
Do I need a Crit'Air sticker for my motorbike?
If your route takes you through any major French city — Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Grenoble, Nice, Rouen and others — yes. All French cities with a population over 150,000 now operate low-emission zones where the sticker is mandatory for all motor vehicles, including two-wheelers.
The sticker is valid for the lifetime of your vehicle. You only ever need to apply once per bike.
Bikes registered before 1 June 2000 cannot be issued a Crit'Air sticker and are banned from all ZFEs. If your bike predates June 2000, you will need to avoid ZFE city centres entirely.
What Crit'Air category is my motorbike?
Motorcycles and mopeds use the same six-category Crit'Air system as cars, based on Euro emissions standard and first registration date.
Registered from 2017 onwards
Likely Euro 4 or Euro 5 — typically Crit'Air 1 (purple). Full access to all current French ZFEs.
Registered 2007–2016
Typically Crit'Air 2 (yellow). Accepted in all current French ZFEs under normal conditions.
Registered 2000–2006
Typically Crit'Air 3 (orange). Faces restrictions in Paris on weekdays and tightening rules in other cities.
Registered before June 2000
Cannot be issued a sticker — banned from all ZFEs.
Motorcycles vs mopeds — is there a difference?
For Crit'Air purposes, motorcycles and mopeds are handled separately on the French application form — you select the correct vehicle category at the start of the application. The category system and sticker colours are the same for both. The key difference is engine size and vehicle classification on your V5C logbook.
Where do you display the sticker on a motorcycle?
Unlike cars, motorcycles don't have a windscreen in the same way. The sticker should be displayed in a clearly visible position — typically on the front fairing, headlight surround, or front forks. It must be visible to enforcement cameras and officers from the front of the vehicle.
Naked bikes and bikes without fairings
Place the sticker on the front forks or headlight surround where it is clearly visible from the front. Avoid positions that will be obscured by mud, dirt, or the rider's leg at low speed.
Applying for a Crit'Air sticker for a UK motorcycle
The application process is the same as for cars — the same French government site, the same V5C upload, the same fuel type selection. You'll need your bike's V5C logbook to hand.
Modern bikes — particularly those registered from 2017 onwards — may encounter a specific step in the application process that isn't immediately obvious from what's printed on a UK V5C. We handle this correctly as part of our service.
Order your Crit'Air sticker — we handle motorcycle applications
- ✓ Digital certificate emailed within 24–48 hours
- ✓ Physical sticker sent directly to your UK address
- ✓ Motorcycles and mopeds handled as standard
- ✓ £19.95 all-in including the French government fee
- ✓ During peak season (July–August) allow up to six weeks for the physical sticker — the digital certificate covers you in the meantime
Frequently asked questions
Do motorbikes need a Crit'Air sticker in France?
Yes. Motorcycles, mopeds, and scooters must display a valid Crit'Air sticker to drive in French low-emission zones. The same rules apply to UK-registered bikes as to French ones.
What Crit'Air sticker does a motorbike registered in 2020 need?
A motorcycle registered in 2020 will typically be Euro 5 and qualify for Crit'Air 1 (purple), giving full access to all current French ZFEs.
Can I ride my motorbike in Paris without a Crit'Air sticker?
No. Paris ZFE applies to all motor vehicles including motorcycles and mopeds. Riding without a sticker displayed risks a €68 fine. Even with a sticker, Crit'Air 3 bikes are banned from Paris on weekdays.
Where do I put the Crit'Air sticker on a motorbike?
On the front fairing, headlight surround, or front forks — somewhere clearly visible from the front of the vehicle. Unlike cars there is no specific corner requirement, but it must be legible to enforcement cameras.
Is the Crit'Air sticker the same for motorcycles and cars?
The same six-category system applies, and the sticker itself looks the same. The application form asks you to select your vehicle type at the start — make sure you select motorcycle or moped rather than car.
My motorbike is from 1998 — can I get a Crit'Air sticker?
No. Bikes registered before 1 June 2000 cannot be issued a Crit'Air sticker and are banned from all French ZFEs. You would need to route around ZFE city centres.