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Environmental sticker · Spanish DGT system

Environmental sticker Spain

Driving into a Spanish city with a low-emission zone, such as Madrid or Barcelona? A clearly visible environmental sticker on your windscreen avoids any discussion during a check. Unlike our vignettes, this isn't a digital link. It's a physical sticker: you apply for it once, and it then stays valid for the life of your vehicle.

Price & delivery time

One fixed price, with no vehicle types or validity periods to choose from. The environmental sticker applies to every vehicle, once, for life.

One-time · valid for life

Environmental sticker Spain

€ 24.95
  • Delivery time: 10–21 business days (we process the application through the same French partner as the Crit'Air sticker, hence the same delivery time)
  • The sticker is sent by post, from France
  • Applying once is enough: you never need to renew or reapply, not even next year
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How ordering works: you enter your licence plate and delivery address and pay securely right away via iDEAL, Bancontact, or PayPal. We then apply for the sticker on your behalf. There's nothing else for you to arrange.
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Physical sticker, no digital link: unlike our toll vignettes, you'll receive an actual sticker by post here. Stick it yourself to the upper right inside your windscreen, clearly visible for checks from outside.

Why an environmental sticker in Spain?

More and more Spanish cities are expanding their low-emission zones (Zonas de Bajas Emisiones). A recognisable environmental sticker on the windscreen makes inspection straightforward and avoids unnecessary discussion or a fine, even if your car actually meets the requirements: without a sticker, that simply isn't visible to the inspector.

How long does the sticker stay valid?

The sticker is linked to your vehicle and stays valid for life, for as long as you own the same car. So you never need to renew it annually. If you sell the car, the new owner applies for their own new sticker.

Which DGT category will your vehicle get?

The Spanish traffic authority, the DGT, has 4 environmental labels: 0 emisiones, ECO, C, and B. Spain's ZBEs (Zonas de Bajas Emisiones) are increasingly excluding vehicles without a label altogether, and the strictest zones also restrict label B. Which label your car receives is determined automatically by the DGT based on fuel type, Euro standard, and registration date; we apply for the sticker on your behalf regardless of the outcome.

How to recognise a low-emission zone

Street sign at the entrance to the ZBE (Zona de Bajas Emisiones) in central Madrid

A Zona de Bajas Emisiones begins at a sign reading "Zona de Bajas Emisiones" or "ZBE", often supplemented with the permitted environmental labels. Cities with an active ZBE include Madrid (Madrid Central/ZBE Distrito Centro), Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, Córdoba, A Coruña, Pontevedra, Badalona, Rivas-Vaciamadrid and Sant Cugat del Vallès. Since 1 January 2026, every Spanish municipality with more than 50,000 residents has been legally required to have set up a ZBE, so this number keeps growing. Málaga has been using camera enforcement for its own ZBE since 30 November 2025.

Enforcement is increasingly handled in more and more cities through automatic number plate recognition (cameras) at the access roads: Madrid has 257 of these checkpoints, Barcelona 147. Without a valid environmental sticker on the windscreen, an inspector or camera system can't establish your label, even if your car actually meets the requirements.

Fines and enforcement

Drive into a Spanish ZBE without a valid environmental label, and you risk a fine of up to € 200, reduced to € 100 with prompt payment. This applies equally to Spanish and foreign licence plates: without the sticker on the windscreen, enforcement simply can't recognise your vehicle as exempt.

Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Spanish environmental sticker

Do I need to apply for the sticker even if I'm only driving through a Spanish city once?+

Yes. Even a one-off visit or drive-through of a city with an active ZBE requires a valid environmental label. Checks are often carried out via fixed cameras, which don't distinguish between residents and visitors.

What does a fine cost if I drive into a ZBE without a valid label?+

Up to € 200, typically reduced to € 100 with prompt payment. This applies regardless of whether your vehicle has a Spanish or foreign licence plate.

Does the environmental sticker apply across the whole of Spain?+

No, only within the boundaries of the ZBEs of specific cities, such as Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Valencia. Since 1 January 2026, every municipality with more than 50,000 residents is required to have its own ZBE, so the number of cities with mandatory signage keeps growing.

How is it checked whether I have a valid label?+

In most major cities through automatic number plate recognition at the access roads (Madrid: 257 cameras, Barcelona: 147), supplemented by physical checks.

Is the environmental label also mandatory for motorcycles?+

Motorcycles fall outside the access restrictions in most Spanish ZBEs and generally don't need a label. Check this locally if you're visiting a specific ZBE with a motorcycle.

What happens to the sticker if I sell my car?+

The label is linked to your vehicle's licence plate. When you sell the car, the new owner applies for their own new label.

What if my vehicle doesn't receive a DGT label at all?+

Vehicles that don't meet the requirements for label B (typically petrol from before 2001 or diesel from before 2006) don't receive a label. This isn't a matter of applying for a different sticker, but a structural access restriction under Spanish regulations itself.

How long does delivery take?+

10–21 business days. So apply for the label well before departure; we can't speed up this timeframe, since it's set by the issuing authority.

Is the label also needed for rental cars or foreign licence plates?+

Yes, every vehicle entering a ZBE needs a valid label, regardless of the country of registration.

Are emergency vehicles, vehicles for people with disabilities, or historic vehicles exempt from the ZBE restrictions?+

Yes. Emergency vehicles, vehicles with a disabled parking permit, and historic vehicles are generally exempt, even without a label.

I've lost my label or it's damaged — can I apply for a replacement?+

Yes, you can apply for a new label for the same licence plate; the old, damaged or lost label then becomes invalid.

Is the environmental label the same as a toll vignette? Do I also need to pay toll in Spain?+

No, these are two different things. The DGT environmental label is only needed for access to ZBEs in specific cities; toll on Spanish motorways (autopistas) is charged separately, per trip, independent of this label.

Do I need the label even if I only have to pass briefly and unavoidably through a ZBE?+

Yes, even a brief, unavoidable pass-through requires a valid label. There's no exception based on how long you stay in the zone.

Is the label also mandatory for a camper van or a car with a trailer?+

Yes, camper vans fall under the same rules as cars. A trailer itself doesn't need its own label; only the towing vehicle needs a valid label.

Can I use the same label if I switch cars?+

No, the label is linked to the specific licence plate it was applied for. For a different car, you apply for a new label.

Is there a transition period for new ZBEs during which no fines are handed out yet?+

Yes, many municipalities start a new ZBE with a period of warnings only, before actually issuing fines. This period varies by municipality and can change, so always assume a valid label is needed.

Is the label also checked when parking in a regulated zone?+

Yes, in some cities the label is also checked for regulated parking within the ZBE, in addition to the check when entering.

Why apply through EuropeVignettes.eu instead of directly with the DGT?+

We handle the full application for you in English, without you having to fill in Spanish forms yourself, and you simply pay via iDEAL, Bancontact, or PayPal.