2023 is just around the corner, and because of this, there is less than a month left before the obligation to establish low emission zones (ZBE) enters into force in all Spanish municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants. There are 150 municipalities that will have to have a ZBE in force on January 1, and all of them will be different in length, hours, permissiveness or penalty regime. The common denominator is that cars without a label will be excluded from circulationbut luckily, 2023 won’t starve your old car of oxygen yet.
And the reason is none other than the inefficiency and slowness of certain public administrations, among other reasons of another nature. The truth is that on January 1, 2023, only 20 of the 150 zones will be operational of low emissions that should come into operation in our country – as required by the Law on Climate Change and Ecological Transition. In a report prepared by El País – which we collected in this article – after interviewing the 150 Spanish town halls obliged to have ZBE, it is clear that “the bull has caught us”.
In 130 of the 150 municipalities required to have a ZBE, you will be able to continue circulating without a label at the beginning of 2023.
At this time, many city councils – those responsible for the design and implementation of ZBEs – are bidding for reports prior to the design of low emission zones, or are in the process of implementation. Surveillance of the LEZs will be carried out by means of a system of control cameras, and as is logical, it implies a powerful investment – recovered in sanctions, as the Madrid City Council has already demonstrated. In any case, in general, Spain is late, and this means that your car without a label will be able to continue circulating without restrictions in many places.
East oxygen balloon it will help people who cannot afford modern means of mobility, and it will give many drivers extra time to change vehicles or rethink the way they get around. Nevertheless, we enter discount time: Everything points to the fact that most of the LEZs will come into operation throughout the year 2023, although there are several municipalities – for example Guadalara or El Prat de Llobregat – that have confirmed that they will not have their low emission zones active until beginning of the year 2024.
The start of a LEZ has the potential to anger a part of the electorate… and in May there are municipal elections.
There is another factor that is not being talked about too much in the face of future restrictions. But it is a factor that, personally, I think must be taken into account when reporting the widespread entry into operation of LEZs: In May there are municipal elections throughout Spain. And obviously, starting a ZBE is a factor with great potential to cause discontent in the electorate: for many municipalities, it is a really powerful incentive to “postpone” its entry into force, perhaps citing technical or regulatory reasons.
What ZBE are already active?
Right now, there are several LEZs in operation in Spain. The best known are those of Madrid and Barcelona, pioneers in our country. The municipalities of Cornellà de Llobregat, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Pamplona, Pontevedra, Rivas-Vaciamadrid and Sant Cugat del Vallès also have active ZBEs.
Which ZBE will come online at the beginning of 2023?
At the beginning of 2023The Spanish municipalities that will have their ZBE implemented will be Alcobendas, Algeciras, Burgos, Córdoba, Fuenlabrada, Ciudad Real, Coslada, Seville, Talavera de la Reina, Melilla, Parla and San Cristóbal de La Laguna.
What are the cars without an environmental label?
Also known as label A cars or environmental classification Aare the cars gasoline prior to the Euro 3 standard, and diesel cars prior to the Euro 4 standard. It roughly matches pre-2000 gasoline cars and pre-2006 diesel cars, but there are multiple exceptions to this rule. To get out of doubt, it is best to consult the DGT website through this link and enter your license plate. In this fast and free way we will be able to know its environmental classification.
