When they arrived Low Emission Zones (ZBE) it was clear that they would entail some mobility restrictions for some cars. In fact, they work in conjunction with the DGT emissions labelling, which has been with us for some time and classifies vehicles -supposedly- by their pollution index. Those without a label are already banned from some places and the next step is not far away. There is already a date for the ban on cars with B label in some cities.
The regulations say that all cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants must have a ZBE and that should be up and running. Although reality is far from it, there are places that seem to wage a crusade against older cars (not always more polluting). Those without a label, which are those with gasoline before 2000 and diesel from before 2006, have already been excluded. The next step is to limit those with a B label, which are Gasoline from 2001 to 2005 (included) and Diesel from January 2006 to August 2015.
As we can see, in that wide range Cars that are not so old enter and that nothing would make us think that they are classified as “pollutants”. Even so, the labeling is done like this and it seems that it will not change, so the cities will limit their free movement. Catalonia is the most strict community in this regard, as it includes those cities with more than 20,000 inhabitants to add up to more than 70 ZBE nuclei. Although they are not the only ones who have set a date of closing cars with a B label, this is how things will look for the coming years:
- Catalonia: Ban on label B in pollution episodes from 2026 and definitive ban from 2028.
- Palma de Mallorca: Those with label B will not be able to enter their ZBE from 2027 onwards and those with label C from 2030 onwards.
- Bilbao: Circulation of label B vehicles is prohibited from 2025, although for those registered this will be extended until 2029.
- Saint Sebastian: Ban on label B from 2028.
- Malaga: Label B will not be able to enter the ZBE from 2027.
- Madrid: Only in ZBEDEP, labels B and C must park in a designated parking lot.
As we have already seen, the horizon is very closewith places already banning cars with a B label from 2025 and with other significant numbers in the course of 2027/2028. For this to be feasible The sale of new vehicles, preferably plug-in vehicles (ZERO label), should increase significantly, as these are precisely the ones that have not yet taken off. We will see if more cities join the bans in the coming months.
