The short answer
- • Inside the windscreen, clearly visible from outside — this is the core requirement
- • The consistent rule: lower right corner of the windscreen as seen from outside the vehicle — this applies regardless of steering position
- • UK right-hand drive cars: lower right (as seen from outside) = passenger side — lower left of the windscreen as you sit in the car
- • Left-hand drive UK vehicles (grey imports, some motorhomes): lower right as seen from outside = driver's side — do not use the passenger side, which is the left from outside
- • Motorcycles: front forks, front mudguard, or right-hand side of front fairing
- • Do not place it on the dashboard or the exterior of the glass
The Crit'Air sticker must be displayed on the inside of your windscreen, clearly visible from outside the vehicle. The exact corner varies depending on which side your steering wheel is on.
The French regulation specifies the lower right corner as seen from outside the vehicle. For a UK right-hand drive car, this is the passenger side — the lower left corner as you sit in the driver's seat. For a left-hand drive vehicle (grey imports, some motorhomes with continental cabs), the passenger seat is on the right, but the sticker still goes in the lower right as seen from outside — which is the driver's side on those vehicles.
Step-by-step placement
Clean the glass
Wipe the chosen corner of your windscreen with a clean, dry cloth. The adhesive needs a dust-free surface to bond properly — any grime will cause it to peel.
Remove the backing
Peel the sticker carefully from its backing sheet. The adhesive is permanent — there is no repositioning once applied, so get the position right before pressing.
Apply from inside the vehicle
Press the sticker firmly against the inside of the glass with the coloured face pointing outward, so it is visible from outside the vehicle.
Press and hold
Hold the sticker firmly in place for 30 seconds. Press from the centre outward to avoid air bubbles.
Common mistakes
Placing it on the outside of the windscreen
Rain and car washes will destroy it quickly. It must go on the inside.
Putting it on the dashboard
Not valid. It must be affixed to the windscreen glass, visible from outside.
Placing it behind a tinted sun strip
Must be clearly visible from outside. A dark top strip can make the sticker illegible.
Obscuring the driver's view
Place it in the lower section of the windscreen, within the wiper's swept area, not in the direct eyeline of the driver.
What about the digital certificate?
If your physical sticker hasn't arrived yet, your digital certificate is legally valid at French roadside checks in the meantime — keep it on your phone or as a printout. You are covered and compliant from the moment your application is successfully submitted.
Once the physical sticker arrives, display it on your windscreen as described above. The French government requires the physical sticker to be shown once it is in your possession — the digital version covers the interim period only. See our guide on how long Crit'Air takes to arrive in the UK for expected delivery times.
Placement checklist
- Inside the windscreen (not exterior)
- Lower right corner as seen from outside — passenger side on RHD cars, driver's side on LHD vehicles
- Coloured face visible from outside
- Glass surface clean and dry before application
- Not obscured by sun strip, stickers, or tax disc holders
Don't have your sticker yet?
Order through Euro Permits and get your digital certificate in 24–48 hours — valid immediately in all French ZFEs.
Order Now — £19.95 →Last Updated: July 2026