The year had some important innovations regarding mobility in Spain. Although some Spanish cities such as Madrid or Barcelona already have their own Low Emission Zones, now in 2023 all cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants are required to have an anti-pollution plan, a project that arrives hand in hand with the new Climate change law and in which the DGT stickers or labels for cars will be essential.
The DGT environmental badge is key in establishing the restrictions each person faces. In Madrid, cars without a label have been expelled from the historic center of the capital, and in Barcelona they face important restrictions for moving. But even those vehicles that have B and C stickers have to take into account some limitations.
Classification by DGT labels
To establish an environmental classification, the DGT has resorted to the European anti-pollution regulations that manufacturers have had to face in recent years or to the technologies that drive vehicles. In summary, the DGT classification is as follows:
No label: All gasoline vehicles before 2001 or not compliant with Euro III. All diesel vehicles before 2006 or not compliant with Euro IV.
Label B: All gasoline vehicles registered after January 1, 2001 or compliant with Euro III. All diesel vehicles registered after January 1, 2006 or compliant with Euro IV and Euro V.
Label C: All gasoline vehicles registered after January 1, 2006 or compliant with Euro IV, Euro V, or Euro VI. All diesel vehicles registered after September 1, 2015 or compliant with Euro VI.
Label ECO: All hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicles with an electric range of less than 40 km. All vehicles powered by natural gas, compressed natural gas (CNG), or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and that also meet the requirements of Label C.
Label Zero Emissions: All electrified vehicles with an electric range of more than 40 km, whether pure electric, plug-in hybrid, or extended range electric. All vehicles powered by hydrogen or fuel cell.
The Spanish Government has given municipalities the power to establish Low Emission Zones to reduce emissions. Currently, in Madrid, vehicles without a label cannot circulate inside the M-30 unless they are residents. Gradually, all vehicles without an environmental label will be banned from the city, even if they are owned by residents, starting in 2025. Vehicles with labels C or B that want to enter the Central District (formerly Madrid Central) must park in a parking lot. Vehicles ECO and Zero emissions can move freely within this space, but can only park on the street for more than two hours for those classified as Zero emissions. Additionally, both ECO and Zero emission vehicles have economic advantages when parking in a regulated parking lot. Fines for not complying with these regulations are 90 euros for each time of unauthorized entry into the delimited area.
You can verify if your vehicle is eligible for an environmental badge by visiting the DGT webpage and entering your vehicle’s registration number under the “Introduce matrícula a consultar:” field. Once you press the blue “Consultar” button, you’ll know within a few moments which badge your vehicle can display, if it qualifies.
Where can you purchase the DGT sticker?
Post Office (Correos)
Once you have confirmed that your car has one of the DGT badges, whether it is B, C, ECO or ZERO, you can purchase the sticker at a post office. They cost five euros and to take it, you must show the vehicle’s registration and the owner’s ID.
You can also purchase it online through this link, although in this case the shipping costs are 2.99 euros.
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