Most cities in Spain now have Low Emission Zones or Zona de Bajas Emisiones (ZBEs) in Spanish. By January 1st 2026 even all towns with more than 50,000 inhabitants must have implemented them.
It means that only vehicles with certain environmental labels can enter and circulated around many urban centres in Spain, in a bid to reduce pollution levels from older vehicles.
But what happens if you’re driving your own car from abroad over to Spain for a holiday, do you need an emission sticker and will you be able to drive within the ZBEs?
Spain’s General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) has confirmed that it’s not possible to issue environmental stickers to vehicles with foreign licence plates in Spain.
This means there is no way to get a sticker for your car if you’re bringing it from abroad.
Importantly though, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t drive in the ZBEs without one.
If your vehicle is registered in Germany, Austria, Denmark, or France, it may be able to circulate freely in low emission zones Spain, as there are equivalent environmental stickers in these countries.
You can check the equivalent stickers in these countries on these tables on the DGT website here. Even if you have the corresponding labels though, it’s important you familiarise yourself with the municipal ordinances of each area where you intend to drive your foreign-registered car as some areas may be even more restrictive and require a different sticker, such as the B sticker for example.
READ ALSO: The cities in Spain with new low-emission zones in 2026
Does this mean that I can’t drive in Spain if my car is not from one of the above countries?
Not necessarily. Although you may not have an equivalent emissions sticker, you may still be able to drive your foreign-registered vehicle here.
This again will depend on the place where you intend to drive.
Barcelona
For example, in Barcelona, all foreign vehicles must be included in a special Register before they can drive in the city’s ZBE. The verification process can take up to 15 days, so you need to be organised ahead of time. You can apply to be added to the Barcelona register via the following link.
Madrid
If you want to access the ZBE in Madrid, you must provide the vehicle's technical data sheet and registration certificate, as well as proof of ownership of the car to the e-mail address zbedistritocentro@madrid.es as far in advance of your trip as possible.
Benidorm
Benidorm also requires visitors to register their vehicles beforehand. In order to register you must visit zbe.benidorm.org and register with your ID and vehicle details and then chose the visitor permit.
Palma de Mallorca
In Palma de Mallorca, foreign-registered vehicles are not allowed in its ZBE at all under any circumstances.
Valencia
In Valencia, foreign vehicles must prove they’re not among the "most polluting" vehicles and must also register beforehand via the following link. Unfortunately, the link is not currently working, so we suggest contacting the authorities via the following page.
San Sebastián
San Sebastián also requires foreign vehicles to register in advance before entering its ZBE. You can see which vehicles it allows and request authorisation via the following link.
Bilbao
Bilbao also requires registration ahead of time via a special app. You can follow the instructions here.
As you can see, ZBE regulations vary by city, so it’s important to find out about the exact ones in the places you plan on driving in and contact each city authority in advance of your trip.
If your vehicle does not have the equivalent sticker to the Spanish one and you enter a Low Emission Zone (LEZ), without prior registration or contacting the authorities first, you could be fined €200.
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