The short answer
- • Yes, motorhomes need a Crit'Air sticker to drive in French low-emission zones
- • Under 3,500kg: classified as a car (M1) — same category table as passenger vehicles
- • Over 3,500kg: treated as a heavy goods vehicle with different restrictions
- • Older diesel motorhomes (pre-2015) may be banned from Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, and others — regardless of having a sticker
- • Pre-1997 vehicles cannot be issued a Crit'Air sticker at all
Yes, your motorhome or campervan needs a Crit'Air sticker to drive in French low-emission zones. But there's something more important than getting the sticker — understanding what your sticker actually lets you do.
A Crit'Air sticker is not a pass into every French city. It's a classification. And for older diesel motorhomes, that classification may mean the cities on your route are simply off limits.
Do motorhomes need a Crit'Air sticker?
Yes — all motorhomes, campervans, and converted vans driving in French low-emission zones (ZFEs) must display a valid Crit'Air sticker. This applies to UK-registered vehicles just as it does to French ones. Fines start at €68 for cars and light vehicles, and rise for heavier vehicles.
Motorhomes up to 3,500kg are classified as cars for Crit'Air purposes (Category M1) and follow the same category table as passenger vehicles. Motorhomes over 3,500kg are treated as heavy goods vehicles with a different set of restrictions.
What Crit'Air category will my motorhome get?
Your category depends on your vehicle's Euro emissions standard, which is determined by fuel type and first registration date — the same as for cars.
Modern diesel motorhome — registered from September 2015 onwards
Euro 6 diesel — typically Crit'Air 2 (yellow). Accepted in all current French ZFEs under normal conditions.
Mid-range diesel motorhome — registered 2006–2014
Euro 4 or Euro 5 diesel — typically Crit'Air 3 (orange). Banned from Paris on weekdays, and facing tightening restrictions in Lyon from summer 2026. Other cities are following.
Older diesel motorhome — registered before 2006
Euro 3 or earlier diesel — Crit'Air 4 or 5. Banned from most major French city centres. Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille, Toulouse, Strasbourg and others are effectively off limits.
Pre-1997 vehicles
Cannot be issued a Crit'Air sticker at all and are banned from all ZFEs.
The thing most motorhomers don't realise
Getting a Crit'Air sticker does not mean you can drive anywhere in France freely. It means you have a classification — and depending on what that classification is, certain cities may be legally closed to you regardless of whether you have a sticker displayed.
This catches a significant number of UK motorhomers off guard, particularly those with older diesel vehicles. An older Ducato-based motorhome from the mid-2000s, for example, is likely to be Crit'Air 4 or 5 — which means Paris is out, Lyon is out, and most other large French cities are out too, whatever sticker is in your windscreen.
Motorhome-specific things to check
Vehicle weight matters
Motorhomes over 3,500kg are classified differently and face their own set of restrictions. Check your V5C for the maximum permissible mass (field F.1) to confirm which category applies to you.
Converted vans may be registered as N1
A panel van converted to a campervan may still show N1 (commercial vehicle) on the V5C rather than M1 (car/motorhome). This can affect which Crit'Air table applies. Check field J on your V5C for your vehicle category.
Sticker placement on split windscreens
The sticker goes in the lower right corner of the windscreen as seen from outside the vehicle, clearly visible from the front. For most UK RHD motorhomes this is the passenger side — but for left-hand drive vehicles (grey imports, some continental-cab motorhomes), the passenger side is the left, so use the outside-facing right regardless. Some motorhomes have split windscreens — use the right-hand panel as seen from outside.
Hired motorhomes
If you're hiring a motorhome in France, check it already has a valid Crit'Air sticker before driving into a ZFE. You are responsible for displaying the correct sticker, not the hire company.
Plan your route around your category
If your motorhome falls into Crit'Air 3, 4, or 5, it's worth planning your route carefully before you travel. Many motorway routes through France bypass ZFEs entirely — and most rural areas, smaller towns, and campsites have no restrictions at all. The ZFEs are concentrated in city centres, not the whole country.
Before you travel, check your V5C for your fuel type and first registration date. Then check the specific restrictions for every city on your planned route — not just Paris. ZFE boundaries are expanding and rules are tightening year on year.
Apply for your Crit'Air sticker — we handle the application for you
Upload your motorhome's V5C and we take care of the entire application — classification, French government form, and delivery — in English.
- ✓ Digital certificate emailed within 24–48 hours
- ✓ Physical sticker sent directly to your UK address
- ✓ All motorhome and campervan types handled
- ✓ £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 campervans need a Crit'Air sticker?
Yes. Campervans and converted vans driving in French ZFEs must display a valid Crit'Air sticker. The category is based on the vehicle's original fuel type and first registration date, not the conversion date.
What Crit'Air sticker does a Fiat Ducato motorhome need?
It depends on the registration year. A Ducato registered from September 2015 onwards (Euro 6 diesel) is typically Crit'Air 2. A Ducato registered between 2006 and 2014 (Euro 4 or 5) is typically Crit'Air 3. Pre-2006 Ducatos are Crit'Air 4 or 5 and face restrictions in major cities.
Can a motorhome drive through Paris without a Crit'Air sticker?
No — not legally. All vehicles driving in Paris's ZFE must display a Crit'Air sticker. Without one, you are liable for a fine. But note that even with a sticker, Crit'Air 3 motorhomes are banned from Paris on weekdays, and Crit'Air 4 and 5 are banned entirely.
Does a motorhome over 3.5 tonnes need a different sticker?
The sticker itself is the same, but the category table and restrictions are different for vehicles over 3,500kg. These are treated as heavy goods vehicles for ZFE purposes. Check your V5C field F.1 (maximum permissible mass) to confirm your vehicle's weight category.
What if my motorhome is pre-1997?
Pre-1997 vehicles cannot be issued a Crit'Air sticker and are banned from all French ZFEs. If your planned route requires driving through a ZFE city centre, you will need to find an alternative route or leave the vehicle outside the zone.