Can I get a low-emissions sticker for my automobile if I’m visiting Spain?

Most cities in Spain now have Low Emission Zones or Zona de Bajas Emisiones (ZBEs) in Spanish. By January 1st 2026 even all cities with greater than 50,000 inhabitants should have carried out them.

It signifies that solely automobiles with sure environmental labels can enter and circulated round many city centres in Spain, in a bid to cut back air pollution ranges from older automobiles.

But what occurs in case you’re driving your personal automobile from overseas over to Spain for a vacation, do you want an emission sticker and can you have the ability to drive throughout the ZBEs?

Spain’s General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) has confirmed that it’s not doable to challenge environmental stickers to automobiles with international licence plates in Spain.

This means there isn’t any option to get a sticker on your automobile in case you’re bringing it from overseas.

Importantly although, it doesn’t essentially imply that you would be able to’t drive within the ZBEs with out one.

If your car is registered in Germany, Austria, Denmark, or France, it could possibly flow into freely in low emission zones Spain, as there are equal environmental stickers in these nations.  

You can test the equal stickers in these nations on these tables on the DGT web site right here. Even when you have the corresponding labels although, it’s necessary you familiarise your self with the  municipal ordinances of every space the place you plan to drive your foreign-registered automobile as some areas could also be much more restrictive and require a unique sticker, such because the B sticker for instance.  

READ ALSO: The cities in Spain with new low-emission zones in 2026

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Does this imply that I can’t drive in Spain if my automobile just isn’t from one of many above nations?  

Not essentially. Although you could not have an equal emissions sticker, you should still have the ability to drive your foreign-registered car right here.  

This once more will rely upon the place the place you plan to drive.

Barcelona

For instance, in Barcelona, all international automobiles should be included in a particular Register earlier than they’ll drive within the metropolis’s ZBE. The verification course of can take as much as 15 days, so it’s good to be organised forward of time. You can apply to be added to the Barcelona register through the next hyperlink.

Madrid

If you wish to entry the ZBE in Madrid, you should present the car’s technical knowledge sheet and registration certificates, in addition to proof of possession of the automobile to the e-mail handle zbedistritocentro@madrid.es as far upfront of your journey as doable.  

Benidorm

Benidorm additionally requires guests to register their automobiles beforehand. In order to register you should go to zbe.benidorm.org and register along with your ID and car particulars after which selected the customer allow.

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Palma de Mallorca

In Palma de Mallorca, foreign-registered automobiles should not allowed in its ZBE in any respect below any circumstances.  

Valencia

In Valencia, international automobiles should show they’re not among the many “most polluting” automobiles and should additionally register beforehand through the following hyperlink. Unfortunately, the hyperlink just isn’t at the moment working, so we recommend contacting the authorities through the following web page.

San Sebastián

San Sebastián additionally requires international automobiles to register upfront earlier than coming into its ZBE. You can see which automobiles it permits and request authorisation through the following hyperlink.

Bilbao

Bilbao additionally requires registration forward of time through a particular app. You can comply with the directions right here.  

As you’ll be able to see, ZBE rules fluctuate by metropolis, so it’s necessary to seek out out in regards to the precise ones within the locations you propose on driving in and call every metropolis authority upfront of your journey.

If your car doesn’t have the equal sticker to the Spanish one and also you enter a Low Emission Zone (LEZ), with out prior registration or contacting the authorities first, you might be fined €200.