The short answer
- • France does not issue duplicate or replacement Crit'Air stickers
- • If yours is lost, damaged or gone with an old windscreen, you order a new one for the same vehicle
- • It costs the same as the first time
- • The emailed certificate covers you while the new sticker is in the post
A Crit'Air sticker lasts for the life of the vehicle — in theory. In practice windscreens get chipped and replaced, stickers fade or peel, and cars get new number plates. People then go looking for a "replacement" and find there's no such option on the French government site. That's because there isn't one: the answer in every case is simply a new order.
Need a new sticker for the same car?
Same process, same price. Official certificate by email within 24–48 hours.
When You Need a New One
New windscreen
The most common reason. It is a security sticker designed to be applied once: peeling it off destroys it or leaves it unreadable, so it can't be moved to the new glass. The new sticker is charged at the normal price; the French authorities do not replace it free of charge, even when the glass was broken through no fault of yours.
Damaged, faded or peeling
The sticker has to be readable from outside the car. If the category number or the registration can no longer be made out, treat it as missing and order a new one.
Lost before it was fitted
If the envelope from France never arrived or went astray at home, wait a reasonable time first — post from France can take several weeks in summer. Our guide to how long a Crit'Air sticker takes covers what's normal. If you ordered through us, email us before re-ordering and we'll check the application.
New registration number
The registration is printed on the sticker. If you put a private plate on the car, or take one off, the sticker no longer matches and you need a new one, applied for with the updated V5C.
When You Don't
- It's a few years old. There's no expiry date and no renewal.
- You've moved house. The sticker isn't tied to your address.
- The rules have changed in a city. Your category stays the same; what changes is which categories that city allows.
Changed car? That's a new sticker, not a replacement.
The sticker belongs to the vehicle. It stays with the car you sold, and the car you bought needs its own — unless the previous owner already fitted one, in which case it's still valid.
Travelling Before It Arrives?
You don't need to wait for the post. Each new order produces an official certificate by email, showing the vehicle and its category. Print it and keep it in the car: it's accepted as proof until the sticker arrives. When it does, fit it in the lower corner of the windscreen on the passenger side — see where to put a Crit'Air sticker on a UK car.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a replacement Crit'Air sticker?
Not a replacement as such. The French authorities do not issue duplicates. If your sticker is lost, damaged or went with an old windscreen, you place a new order for the same vehicle and a new sticker is printed and posted. It costs the same as the first one.
My windscreen was replaced. Can the sticker be moved to the new one?
No. The sticker is designed to be applied once; peeling it off destroys it or leaves it unreadable, so it cannot be transferred. You need to order a new one, and it is charged at the normal price — there is no free replacement after a windscreen change.
Can I drive in France while I wait for the new sticker?
Yes. When a new order is processed, the French system emails an official certificate showing your vehicle and its Crit'Air category. Print it and keep it in the car — it is valid on its own until the sticker arrives.
I've sold my car. Can I move the sticker to my new one?
No. A Crit'Air sticker belongs to the vehicle, not the owner — it is printed with that vehicle's registration number. The sticker stays with the old car, and the new car needs its own.
I've put a private plate on my car. Do I need a new sticker?
Yes. The registration number is printed on the sticker, so once the plate changes the sticker no longer matches the vehicle. Order a new one using the updated V5C.
Does a Crit'Air sticker expire?
No. It is valid for the life of the vehicle. You only need a new one if it becomes unreadable, is lost, or the windscreen or registration number changes.
Order a New Crit'Air Sticker — £19.95
Upload your V5C and we handle the French application
Order Your Crit'Air Sticker → £19.95Last Updated: October 2026