Crit'Air : travel in France

[mike9009]

Hi

I should have researched this more a long time ago, but...…

I am taking my 1982 air cooled VW camper over to France for a two week holiday in the Vendee. We leave this Friday.

I thought the Crit'Air only applied to cities but apparently since Oct 2017 it also applies to the whole of the Vendee region.

My understanding is, I won't get a 'vignette' for my camper because it has no EURO classification and was registered prior to 1997. Is this correct?

If there is a pollution warning in the Vendee during my stay I won't be able to drive the vehicle. Is this correct? What happens if it is on our day of departure?

How often have there been pollution warnings in the Vendee? I cannot find any data pointing to the likelihood/ frequency.

Any help or pointers will be greatly received. It seems unlikely I would get caught, but just in case.


Thanks in advance.


Mike

[TooMany2cvs]

mike9009 said:

I thought the Crit'Air only applied to cities but apparently since Oct 2017 it also applies to the whole of the Vendee region.

But only on days when air quality is declared as officially ste.

mike9009 said:

My understanding is, I won't get a 'vignette' for my camper because it has no EURO classification and was registered prior to 1997. Is this correct?

Correct. If it was old enough to be on "historic" free VED, you'd be good. Otherwise, no.

mike9009 said:

If there is a pollution warning in the Vendee during my stay I won't be able to drive the vehicle. Is this correct? What happens if it is on our day of departure?

You're staying put, or breaking the law and risking a fine coming through the post.

Edited by TooMany2cvs on Tuesday 24th July 20:55

[mike9009]

TooMany2cvs said:

mike9009 said:

I thought the Crit'Air only applied to cities but apparently since Oct 2017 it also applies to the whole of the Vendee region.

But only on days when air quality is declared as officially ste.

[quote-mike9009]My understanding is, I won't get a 'vignette' for my camper because it has no EURO classification and was registered prior to 1997. Is this correct?

Correct. If it was old enough to be on "historic" free VED, you'd be good. Otherwise, no.

mike9009 said:

If there is a pollution warning in the Vendee during my stay I won't be able to drive the vehicle. Is this correct? What happens if it is on our day of departure?

You're staying put, or breaking the law and risking a fine coming through the post.

Thanks - so my understanding is correct.

It would be useful to know how often the pollution levels are deemed too ste for me to drive? Knowing my luck...….

Also, if I don't/ cannot apply for a vignette, will they pursue through DVLA to 'catch me'??


Mike

[TooMany2cvs]

mike9009 said:

Also, if I don't/ cannot apply for a vignette, will they pursue through DVLA to 'catch me'??

They certainly can do, just the same as TfL can pursue French-reg vehicles for Congestion Charge or ULEZ breaches.

[ClassicMercs]

I hadn't seen this thread - I started a new post under France.

All of what the OP was asking and I already know most of the answers. In my case its a 94 Merc - but we could take a Crit 2 Volvo - but don't want to.

How is this all policed - are there overhead gantries / cameras , or does it rely on someone on the ground picking them up - or is it a mix of both depending on the zone ?

As yet I haven't decided on a location but it seems clear that wherever you are heading you are likely to either end up in a zone or pass through one (eg - on the A10) although the majority seem to be ''temporary'' zones at present. Back to what the OP was asking though - what's the likelyhood of it being active at any time of the year - is to to early to get a history or is it very much dependent on the weather at the time - and certain key times of the day / week.

And is TomTom up to date with the zones, or what's the best way of keeping on top of the zones - before you get to one ?

[Slushbox]

There's an app for that. Green Zones in the Play store. There's an iPhone version.

It covers Green Zones in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France and Germany. Not London.

Select the zone you wish to travel in and scroll to the bottom for the current status.

https://www.crit-air.fr/en/information-about-the-c...

[threespires]

Interesting, thanks for info

[ClassicMercs]

Its on Android as well - thanks.

Cant help thinking though - its like peeing in the wind - the number of older vehicles is small compared to the overall total - look at where we have arrived - manufacturers being encouraged to build better vehicles - customers given incentives to buy them - and all the while the real world figures are as bad as the vehicles they are replacing.
I smell a politician in there somewhere.