In September 2024, a low-emission zone was introduced in Zaragoza to comply with environmental standards. Since then, city authorities have begun enforcing new rules for vehicles traveling through these areas without special permits.
For now, local police are limiting themselves to issuing informational notices to drivers whose vehicles lack the environmental label required by Spain’s Directorate General of Traffic (DGT). However, a registration system is already in place for vehicles without this label that need access to these areas.
The list of vehicles eligible to obtain entry permits is fairly extensive. Primarily, it includes cars transporting people with reduced mobility, as well as vehicles assigned to garages or commercial properties located within the zone. In addition, permits are available for cars belonging to residents with parking rights in regulated sectors, as well as emergency and utility vehicles—from ambulances and police to street cleaning and infrastructure maintenance equipment.
Entry is also permitted for vehicles with foreign license plates, cars transporting patients, as well as for those using public parking lots or booking accommodations at hotels with access control systems. The list also includes specialized vehicles: driving school cars, armored vehicles, mobile radio stations, laboratories, mobile libraries, mobile shops, tow trucks, concrete mixers, equipment for fairs and road works.
Taxis equipped for transporting passengers with reduced mobility, as well as historic vehicles, are singled out separately. Some categories are eligible for a one-time permit, up to eight times a month. Residents who own municipal parking spaces within the zone can also obtain access.
To obtain a permit, supporting documents are required. For example, vehicles transporting people with disabilities must present the relevant card.
The rules provide for another feature: if a driver accidentally enters the zone without a permit, they have 10 minutes to leave without a fine. This measure applies only in Zaragoza and allows drivers to avoid penalties for accidental violations.
The low-emission zone is divided into two sectors. The first covers the historic center, bounded by Echegaray y Caballero, San Vicente de Paúl, Coso, Plaza de España, Conde Aranda, Mayor, Plaza Santo Domingo, and Ramon Selma Street. The second sector is the central part of the city, encompassing the area between Echegaray y Caballero, Coso, Alonso V, Asalto, Mina Avenue, Constitución, Plaza Paraíso, Pamplona Avenue, María Agustín, Plaza Europa, and again Echegaray y Caballero.
