Warning to British holidaymakers driving without a sticker on their windscreens – ignoring risks an instant £153 fine

BRITISH holidaymakers risk being slapped with a hefty fine if they are missing a specific windscreen sticker. Those ditching a UK summer for a roadtrip to Europe this year are being warned of a rule that could catch them out. Travellers heading to France with a car must have a specific windscreen sticker Credit: Getty A Crit’Air sticker is a must if you’re heading across the channel with a vehicle Credit: PA:Press Association Heading off to France in the car means you’ll need one windscreen sticker in particular – and you need to be aware of the country’s low emission zones. Cars driving in France must hold one of the nation’s clean air stickers, known as Crit’Air vignettes. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! They are used to show the level of pollution emissions a car gives off and can mean driving is restricted in some highly polluted areas. The stickers are affordable and cost around €3.85 per vehicle, including postage, however they can take up to six weeks to arrive. However, not having a Crit’Air puts drivers at risk of being hit with an on-the-spot fine of up to €180, which is around £153. Explaining the Crit’Air system, the RAC‘s advice reads: “The least polluting vehicles are generally allowed to circulate (be driven) more freely than those that emit more pollutants. “A sticker covers the vehicle for its entire lifetime, and is based on the vehicle’s Euro emission standard.” The RAC adds: “There are six categories in the Crit’Air vignette system. These range from green for the cleanest through to dark grey for the dirtiest. Most read in Motors “The Crit’Air sticker should be affixed to the right-hand side of the vehicle’s windscreen and should be clearly visible at all times.” Many towns and cities in France require one of the clean air stickers to be visible, inclusing Paris, Nice, Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Marseille and Toulouse. To apply for a Crit’Air sticker for your vehicle, visit the official French government website. Comment now