Madrid City Council has decided to grant a year's respite to owners of vehicles without an environmental label, allowing them to continue driving through 2025 without being fined. This announcement provides temporary relief for thousands of affected drivers, especially those registered in the capital who depend on their cars for their daily activities. During this transition year, cars that cannot enter the Madrid ZBE will have a respite that will not result in financial penalties.
The aim of this measure, as explained by Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida, is to give citizens time to adapt to the restrictions of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) while maintaining the commitment to improving air quality. The delegate for Urban Planning, Environment and Mobility, Borja Carabante, also highlighted that the warning period will allow users to be informed and encourage more sustainable habits in the use of transport.
Moratorium for residents and key exceptions
The City Council has decided that Vehicles without a sticker registered in Madrid will be able to circulate freely during 2025 without receiving fines. This includes those registered for the Tax on Mechanical Traction Vehicles (IVTM). The cameras already installed throughout the city will identify the violations, but the notifications sent will be exclusively informative.
In addition, a series of exceptions have been announced that will allow certain vehicles without a sticker to also circulate in Madrid under specific circumstances. These exceptions include:
- Self-employed people over 59 years of age. Those whose fleet consists of at least 50% unlabeled vehicles weighing more than 3,5 tonnes will continue to be able to access the site.
- Medical transfers. Unlabeled vehicles used to transport people to hospitals will be able to obtain temporary permits.
- Delays in delivery of new vehicles. People who have purchased a low-emission car but have not received it due to manufacturing problems will be able to use their old car in the meantime.
These exceptions must be processed through a specific procedure which will be detailed by the City Council in the near future.
One year to adapt to the new regulations
The grace period granted by the City Council not only seeks to alleviate the concerns of owners of vehicles without a label, but also to encourage the transition towards more sustainable mobility. During this time, Madrid will continue to promote initiatives such as the Cambia 360 Aid programme, which facilitates the acquisition of less polluting vehicles with subsidies of up to 2.000 euros for electric, plug-in hybrid or conventional hybrid cars.
This initiative is added to the recent Plan Mueve Madrid, aimed at offering cleaner transportation alternativesAmong the options, citizens can choose to exchange their polluting cars for bicycles, mopeds or even mobility vouchers.
Perspectives towards sustainability
Although the City Council has decided to give this respite in 2025, Restrictions will become stricter from 2026, when fines will be applied definitively. Fines for violating the ZBE regulations amount to 200 euros, which can be reduced by half if paid promptly. According to municipal data, the total elimination of vehicles without a sticker in the capital is expected to make it possible to meet the European air quality standards set for 2030.
For the moment, the High Court of Justice of Madrid has questioned the legality of Madrid ZBE due to the lack of an assessment of the economic impact on vulnerable people. However, the City Council is working on a new sustainable mobility ordinance that guarantees the continuity of these policies. In the meantime, cars that cannot enter the Madrid ZBE will be able to continue circulating without being financially penalized.
During 2025, Madrid will tackle a delicate balance between the transition towards environmental sustainability and the adaptation of citizens to regulations which will affect their mobility habits. This period will serve not only to inform those affected, but also to evaluate the impact of current policies and explore new implementation strategies for the future.
Source - Madrid City Council