DGT stickers or "environmental badges" are already very popular. But in addition to being popular, they will soon be mandatory in some cities. When and where? For what? And above all, how to get it to avoid fines and to be able to circulate? Let's see it.
Which vehicles have a sticker
At the time, the DGT decided to divide the fleet (vehicles on the street) into two groups. 50 percent would be "dirty" (older) and the other 50 percent, "clean" (approved with more demanding standards). If you have a pre-2003 motorcycle, a pre-2000 gasoline car, or a pre-2006 diesel car , don't worry about the sticker.
Or you do have to worry that your vehicle is out of the 50 percent considered "clean." And, without a DGT sticker, you will soon suffer traffic limitations ... To be absolutely sure, it is best to consult it on the DGT page itself. Just enter the license plate and it will tell us if we have a badge awarded, and what type it is. It can also be done by phone by calling (toll free) 060.
Types of stickers
There are four, depending on the emissions of the car or motorcycle. The cleanest are those that receive the Zero label , in blue. They are the pure electric ones but also those that use fuel cells. And for now, some hybrids are also "Zero" if they can travel more than 40 km in electric mode. The latter may change in the future, as some quite polluting cars have "crept in". It offers many advantages , especially freedom of movement at any time and freedom of parking (without paying).
Next is the Eco label (blue and green). It is the one with low-polluting cars: hybrids or those that burn gas (natural gas or LPG). A gasoline car from 2006 can be adapted to consume gas and receives this label. The advantages are not as many as the Zero, but they can circulate in more areas (such as Central Madrid) and parking on the street costs 50 percent.
The next two stickers already correspond to cars not particularly "clean". But the C label (green) is for more modern cars that meet more demanding regulations. They are petrol since 2006 and diesel as of 2014. The sticker B for its part is for those prior to that, but petrol since 2000 and diesel since 2006. If they are older ... without label or "stinky".
How to get the sticker
Once we have confirmed which sticker corresponds to us (see above) we will have to buy it . The DGT once sent stickers to some 4 million owners, as a "campaign" to make it known. But there are about 14 million vehicles, which are entitled to a sticker, but whose owners will have to buy it.
The post offices are the first place you can get. You have to go with the vehicle's driving license and ID, and pay 5 euros for it. It is good to call ahead to make sure they have the one we need because there is a lot of demand. There are beginning to be web pages that are dedicated to providing us (upon payment) the sticker, like this one. Some agencies or automobile clubs can also get it. Be careful because in some cases it also has supply problems and it may take time to send it, as well as it may cost something more.
Mandatory? Controversy..
The new Municipal Ordinance of Madrid says that as of April 24 it will be mandatory to wear the DGT sticker . Failure to do so will expose us to a fine, apart from not being able to enjoy the advantages that our sticker would give us (if it gives us any). However the stickers themselves, and ordinances like that (which other cities may follow), are controversial. Some organizations, such as AEA (Mario Arnaldo) have appealed these norms, with various arguments.
One, that when the DGT “classified” the vehicles according to its criteria (based on the technology they use and their emissions), it did not allow anyone to claim or resort to that rule (defenselessness). Another, that the 4 million stickers sent create discrimination against the 14 million pending . Furthermore, there is no law regulating stickers and their purchase. The 5 euros from Correos, is it a fee or tax? Who receives them? It is not clear, and they add up to 70 million euros… We will see how these resources end.
The other controversial point is the one related to motorcycles, whose stickers were approved much later than those of cars. The DGT has made a somewhat smaller format, but it is still too large to discreetly put on any motorcycle . It has been asked to change it but so far without success: the motorcycle ITV stickers, for example, are more discreet and practical. In addition, the "motorcycle" label is adhesive "exterior" (the car labels are all for glass) and its material withstands bad weather (sun, water, washing). We have seen stickers with less than a year already damaged ... and it is not a matter of spending 5 euros each time. So if you need a motorcycle sticker, thinkif you are going to order it in that format or the "car" if your motorcycle has a windshield or transparent plastic. A glass sticker may be better and stick it inside.
Pollution in Madrid