The grace period and extensions have ended. As of May 1, 2022, the city of Madrid gets rid of vehicles without an environmental label -with some exceptions- throughout the interior perimeter of the M-30.
In theory, from January 1, 2022 The capital of Spain does not allow the circulation of category A vehicles (without an environmental label) in the entire area enclosed within the M-30 ring road, and obviously neither does it allow parking on the street. But until today a period of grace has lasted.
During this period, which has been extended for reasons of legal certainty, it has only been an information period so that drivers have time to learn about the rule and change their habits. Starting tomorrow things get serious and the fines begin to reach the owners of the vehicles.
Madrid is obliged to enforce the applicable regulationswhich is the Law 34/2007of November 15, on air quality and protection of the atmosphere and the Royal Decree 102/2011, of January 28, regarding the improvement of air quality. So even changing the mayor is not something the city council can choose not to do.
The important thing is that the vehicle has the right to the environmental label in the DGT Vehicle Registry, although it must also be worn visible in the area indicated in the illustration (mandatory since 2019)
The notice period was extended from 0:00 on March 1 to 0:00 on May 1, 2022
However, as always, exceptions have been determined, and vehicles without an environmental label can circulate within the M-30 if they meet any of the following:
- Be registered in Traffic in the municipality of Madrid and be up to date with the municipal IVTM
- Be considered a historic vehicle (see RD 1247/1995) for the purposes of the circulation permit, after 30 years have elapsed since its first registration or manufacture
- Vehicles driven by or used to transport persons holding parking card for people with reduced mobility
- Being a truck, van, motorcycle or moped, no cars!
All the vehicles on the list can circulate inside the M-30 until December 31, 2024. After that period, even residents of Madrid will have to make their historic vehicles, or have them gather dust in a garage, sell them or send them to a scrap yard.
As of January 1, 2025, the list is reduced to historical vehicles (since 1995), those used to transport PMR, and Fire and Armed Forces emergency vehicles. The latter allows, among other things, the annual army parade through the city to take place.
Official map of Madrid with information on the Low Emissions Zone (ZBE)
What happens if I enter with a car without an environmental label inside the M-30?
As of tomorrow, May 1, there are two ways to be sanctioned. The first is when a camera intercepts the vehicle’s license plate, crosses data with the vehicle registry, and determines that it is not authorized to circulate. The second reason is that a Mobility agent gives the stop and proceeds to sanction at the time.
Those who have done this before May 1, 2022 can receive a postal notification that it is not a fine, just a notice that has no legal or economic consequences, with the simple purpose of making the rule known to all those who do not know how to read the illuminated signs and signs that have been posted for months.
According to Modification of the Law on Traffic, Circulation of Motor Vehicles and Road Safetyaccess to a low emission zone without authorization is a serious misconductwith an amount of 200 euros which are reduced to 100 euros by prompt payment. It does not mean a loss of points on the card.
Vehicles cataloged as historic can keep their original number plate or carry a type H 0123 BCD. Photo: Counting Stars (Flickr) CC BY-SA
As of 2023, the M-30 will also be closed to vehicles without a badge
From January 1, 2023, its access and circulation on urban public roads inside the M-30 and on the M-30 itself is prohibited, because the ring road can be traveled during 2022 with and without an environmental labelunless there is a pollution episode with a specific and temporary ban.
Already on January 1, 2024, the general prohibition is transferred to the entire municipality of Madrid, to understand us, the interior of the M-40 at least, and except for the exceptions that are determined. Gasoline passenger cars that comply with Euro 3 and diesel cars that comply with Euro 4 are entitled to an environmental label, which is sometimes requires scratching your pocket for registration prior to the mandatory date.
As for the possibility of making a historic vehicle, in short, they must be vehicles that are 30 years old or more -or be extremely rare and collectible- series or with reasonable modifications of their time, it is a process that takes a few months and that of 600 euros it is very difficult to go down for domestic cars. You can directly import a foreign vehicle and make it historic, yes. For more information, check the regulations carefully.