How to deal with LEZs when you have a 2000-model motorhome in Northern Europe?

Hi, How do you prepare for a trip in Northern European countries when you own a 2000-model motorhome?

Hi there, We’re in the same boat and live in Lyon Croix Rousse, right in the middle of an LEZ. There are exemptions for motorhomes. If your registration certificate says "VASP" in France, you’re not affected by LEZ regulations. Check the articles online on motorhome club or magazine websites for more details. In Lyon, you can register on the TooDego site as a "low-mileage driver" and you’ll get the "royal right" to 52 days per year in the Lyon LEZ. In France, LEZs are losing momentum. Stay tuned 😊 Abroad, especially in Belgium, you need to apply for the LEZ exemption online. You’ll find the steps for each city on the internet—there are special sites for this. Unfortunately, all this means we have to plan our trips in advance to handle the paperwork. Bummer!!!

Hello,

When it comes to LEZs (Low Emission Zones), people are now worried because they’ve been led to believe it’s the norm all over Europe—to make them accept the situation in France... But the situation in France is highly abusive, even unacceptable. A city like Rennes, for example, is trying to enforce it with such scale and zeal that it raises serious ethical concerns. You need to look at things country by country—I’m not sure what you mean by "the north." There aren’t any LEZs that would pose a real problem for visiting based on outright bans like that. In Sweden, there are a few zones in about half a dozen cities, but they’re for heavy goods vehicles. In Denmark, it’s similar, and you might need to register. In the Netherlands, only Amsterdam has one, I think—within its ring road—and two or three other very localized zones. As long as you’re heading to and traveling around the north, Germany isn’t an issue—the affected zones are really just city centers. If your motorhome is a genuine heavy goods vehicle, then yes, you’ll need to prepare carefully. But there’s no reason to be intimidated. You’ll find good information here: https://www.europe-consommateurs.eu/tourisme-transports/vehicule/eco-zones-en-europe.html

Michel

Hi, I have a 2001 motorhome that’s classified as Crit’Air 4/Euro 3. I traveled to Northern Europe in 2020/2021/2022 (+ the Balkans & Eastern Europe) and in 2023/2024, and to England this year without any major issues. I used the "Green-Zones" app, which lets you see the exact urban areas classified as LEZs (and avoid them if needed!). That said, driving a motorhome in city centers isn’t really practical anyway—the best approach is to park on the outskirts and use public transport, bikes, or a rental car. As mentioned earlier, there are exemptions (or you can pay a fee to enter, like in the UK), so it’s best to plan your routes ahead. With smartphones and apps or websites, it’s pretty easy these days. Personally, we’re not big fans of urban areas or city centers, so we haven’t worried too much about LEZs—we just go around them.

Hello,

When it comes to LEZs, people are now worried because they’ve been led to believe it’s the norm all over Europe, just to make them accept the situation in France...

I don’t think the situation in France is that different or much more restrictive than elsewhere in Europe, judging by this map (from the site you linked to...): You can see that Spain, Italy, and Belgium seem to be even more affected.

And how you see the glass—half empty or half full:

In Sweden, there are a few zones in about half a dozen cities,

Actually, there are 8, which is more than the number of cities with over 100,000 inhabitants.

and a little in Denmark too,

5 cities might not sound like much. But Denmark only has 4 cities with over 100,000 inhabitants. In France, unless I’m mistaken, there are 22 cities with over 100,000 inhabitants and 15 LEZs...

A city like Rennes, for example, is trying to enforce it with a scale and zeal that raises serious ethical concerns.

What makes Rennes’ approach so unusually large-scale or overzealous? (I do agree there’s an ethical issue with LEZs—though I’d call it more of a social justice problem.) I regularly drive around Rennes in a 2015 car without a Crit’Air sticker, and so far, no issues. Am I just slipping through the cracks of the city’s zealous enforcement?

Hi Kougarok,

The map is misleading, and your question is about Northern Europe. I won’t say anything about Spain or Italy—I never go there.

In Scandinavian countries, it’s a completely different mindset. The restrictions don’t focus on peri-urban areas like in Rennes, and they’re not absolute bans that can’t be bypassed occasionally with a process, registration, or toll... In Germany, there are large zones in the Ruhr, but in the north, the Umweltzonen (low-emission zones) are very manageable and not very restrictive for occasional travelers.

Since we’re talking about Rennes, few people actually have Crit’Air stickers to drive there, I know—but the signs are there, the communication is there, and the LEZ is extraordinarily large, far from the city center, almost in the countryside. You seem to like comparisons and documentation, so maybe you’d want to look for other cities of similar size and rural environment that have such extensive LEZs. Personally, I don’t know of any.

Michel

The map only gives you something misleading,

Is it wrong or not? In any case, it comes from the site you recommended!

the question is about Northern Europe.

That’s true. But your comment about "the intention to make people believe... everywhere in Europe" didn’t exactly suggest excluding Spain and Italy. Would that be too... consensus-driven?

I’m not saying anything about Spain or Italy—I never go there.

Too bad! But that’s another topic.

In Rennes, since we’re talking about it, few people actually have Crit’Air stickers to drive around, I know; but the signs are there, the communication is there, and...

Well, it seems this regulation isn’t enforced with the zeal you claimed, then?

and the LEZ is extraordinarily large, far from the city center, almost in the countryside.

Within a perimeter slightly smaller than the two ring roads. In Villejean, for example, I don’t exactly feel like I’m in the countryside! Nor in Beaulieu (ah, those days are long gone when I could hear the nightjar singing from my dorm room in May...)

You seem to like comparisons and documentation,

I just checked out the site you were kind enough to share. Was I not supposed to?

then maybe you’d like to look for cities of similar size, in similarly rural settings, that have such extensive LEZs.

No need to look—especially in Northern Europe ("just as modest," if not *much* more so!): (reminder: Rennes: 227,000 inhabitants) In Denmark: - Odense: 205,000 - Frederiksberg: 102,000 In Sweden: - Uppsala: 168,000 - Helsingborg: 108,000 - Umeå: 91,000 - Lund: 83,000 So sure, these last ones aren’t *as* extensive—because this time, you’d *really* be in the middle of nowhere!

Re....

One thing I love about you is that we always end up having these long exchanges 😏. It’s great—we might just bring VF back to life...

The question is about Northern Europe, and if you don’t mind, let’s stick to that. I could go on about what I don’t like in Spain and Italy, but that’s off-topic and I’ve already ranted enough. To keep it short, I lean liberal, and Roman law makes me uneasy.

What I meant by the phrase you mentioned was to counter a common argument: "LEZs are forced on us by Europe." That’s not true. Nothing forces countries to adopt exclusionary or banning measures. Every EU member state can set its own rules.

So it seems this regulation isn’t being enforced with the zeal you claimed?

Zeal in terms of approach and scope. When it comes to fines, I think cities like Rennes and others have realized that LEZs, as currently defined, are on their way out, so the battle is lost.

I’m more or less familiar with most of the cities you mentioned. They’re embedded in very different human geographies than Rennes—they don’t have to act as administrative capitals for large rural regions. They’re "cities," clearly defined urban centers. What I criticize about Rennes is its attempt to mimic Paris or Amsterdam—seeing itself as surrounded by a ring road that separates it from a world it distrusts, pretending to be something it’s not, all for ideological reasons. Rennes was just an example. The core of my answer to the original question was that, unless you’re driving a real heavyweight vehicle, you won’t have any issues traveling.

Michel

The good thing about you is that we always end up in long exchanges

I don’t know if the "good" is sincere or ironic...

It’s great, we’re going to bring VF back to life...

I didn’t know it was dead... which can’t happen since Tatra is here. 🙂

The question is about Northern Europe, and if you don’t mind, let’s stick to that. I can expand on what I don’t like about Spain and Italy,

Sorry, but Spain and Italy are part of Europe. Oh no, wait—sorry, Tatra never goes there, so they don’t count.

I meant, with the sentence you mentioned, to counter a common argument: "LEZs are forced on us by Europe". That’s false.

Yeah, of course. But it’s weird—I’ve never heard that (at least not about LEZs). Though I guess I don’t listen to the same media.

What I criticize about Rennes is that it acts like Paris or Amsterdam—seeing itself with a ring road that separates it from a world it distrusts, pretending to be something it’s not, for ideological reasons.

Interesting... but I think it’s much simpler and more down-to-earth than that. For example, the 70 km/h speed limit on the ring road was abandoned. Did pragmatism win over ideology?

PS:

to put it briefly, I’m liberal, and Roman law makes me uncomfortable.

So, what about the US?

Hello dear fellow traveler....

Yes, of course. But it's strange, I've never heard of that (at least when it comes to LEZs). I guess I don't listen to the same media.

For example... https://www.franceinfo.fr/environnement/centres-villes-sans-voitures-une-ardoise-a-3-milliards-d_7180338.html

The question has been answered, and the acrimony you're bringing up—I don’t feed into it, as it’s not helpful.

Michel

Colleague??? No, I don’t think so.

the acrimony you’re bringing up, I’m not feeding into it,

in "acrimony" you can see the letters of "irony"....

I didn’t want to fuel your acrimony toward the city of Rennes either—maybe it’s "fueled" by ideology?

You’re right, let’s leave it at that. Safe travels on VF.

Hi there, We own a 2000 model motorhome and regularly run into this issue. The most restrictive country is Italy—not for ecological reasons, but to make easy money. Behind every LEZ, ZTL, or "Zona Blu," they’ve installed cameras that automatically fine vehicles. The authorities then send the bill straight to your home.

For the rest of Europe, just search "ZTL" and the city name online to find the affected zones and plan your trip accordingly.