Malaga's Low Emissions Zone: check whether you can drive your vehicle into the city
The regulated space, which was established a year ago, has had a 'grace' period that will end in a month's time, when fines will begin
On 30 November, things will get serious in Malaga's Low Emission Zone. Although it started operating on the same date in 2024, the new traffic system has had a 'year of grace' in which no unauthorised vehicles have been fined. But that will end at the end of the month, when fines will start to be issued. Here's what you need to know to avoid them.
The map of the area
La The Low Emissions Zone' is a 404-hectare area in the centre of Malaga where traffic is limited, according to the regulations, to improve the air quality and noise levels in the city. It is important to note that, even though a vehicle is authorised in the LEZ, it might not be able to Drive through the Zone of Protected Interest or the Zones of Special Protectionof Carretería and Álamos and Soho, which have their own rules. On the following map, you can search street by street to see whether or not it is located within these regulated areas.
The identification system
Once the regulated zone is known, it is important to know how the vehicles driving in it will be registered and, therefore, how fines will be processed.
The vehicle drives into the Low emissions Zone identified by the official sign.
The cameras located at the entrance and exit of the zobne wil record the registration and put it in the system.
While it won't be common practice, any local police officer can consult the validity of a registration.
The registration will be automatically searched for in the register of authorised vehicles.
If the registration is not found, a fine will be processed.
The city hall will issue a fine to the registered owner of the vehicle.
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Authorised vehicles
The key question: how do you know if a vehicle is allowed to enter the LEZ (low-emission zone) and until when? The answer will depend on three factors:
-
Type: car/motorbike or van
-
Registration location: within or outside the municipality of Malaga
-
Environmental label: zero-emission, eco, C, B or no label
With regard to the vehicle's environmental label, it is not necessary to have the identification sticker in a visible area of the vehicle, as this is directly associated with the number plate, which will serve as identification in this system.
In the following search engine, which links to the data of the Dirección General de Tráfico (Directorate-General for Traffic), you can check which environmental sticker any number plate has:
Selector
Can my vehicle drive through the LEZ?
Select an answer to each of the questions or scroll through the story
1
What type of car do you have?
Coche o moto
Van
Coche o moto
Van
Car or motorbike
Van
2
Is it registered in Malaga?
En Málaga
Outside Malaga
In Malaga
Outside Malaga
In Malaga
Outside Malaga
In Malaga
Outside Malaga
In Malaga
Outside Malaga
In Malaga
Outside Malaga
3
What environmental sticker does it have?
Zero emissions
ECO
C
B
No label
Zero emissions
ECO
C
B
No label
Zero emissions
ECO
C
B
No label
Zero emissions
ECO
C
B
No label
Zero emissions
ECO
C
B
No label
Zero emissions
ECO
C
B
No label
Car or motorbike resgitered in the city of Malaga
From
30
November
From
30 November
2025
2026
and from then on
For all labels and even vehicles with no label
Zero emissions
ECO
C
B
No label
Car or motorbike registered in Malaga city
From
30
November
From
30 November
2025
2026
and from then on
For all labels and even vehicles with no label
Zero emissions
ECO
C
B
No label
Car or motorbike registered in Malaga city
From 30 November
From 30 November
2025
2026
and from then on
For all stickers and even vehicles with no sticker
Zero emissions
ECO
C
B
No label
In the case of cars and motorbikes that are domiciled within the municipality of Malaga, they will always have access to the Low Emission Zone, regardless of the environmental sticker they have, even if they do not have one.
Car or motorbike registered outside
the municipality of Malaga and with
zero emissions, eco or C
From
30
November
From
30 November
2025
2026
and from then on
Car or motorbike registered outside
the municipality of Malaga and
zero emissions, eco or C sticker
From
30
November
From
30 November
2025
2026
and from then on
Car or motorbike registered outside the municipality of Málaga
and with Zero emissions, eco or C sticker
From 30 November
From 30 November
2025
2026
and from then on
And, even if the car or motorbike is based outside Malaga, there will never be any limitations on entry as long as it has the zero emissions, eco or C environmental label.
Car or motorbike registered
outside the municipality of Malaga
and with B label
From
30
November
From
30 November
2025
2026
and from then on
Car or motorbike registered
outside Malaga city
and with B label
From
from 30
November
From
30 November
2025
2026
and from then on
Car or motorbike registered outside Malaga municipality with B sticker
From 30 November
From 30 November
2025
2026
and then on
But what happens if a car or motorbike domiciled outside the municipality has a B sticker? It will be able to circulate freely in the ZBE, but only until 30 November 2026. After that date, it will no longer be allowed.
Car or motorbike registered
outside Malaga city
y No label
From
30
November
From
30 November
2025
2026
and from then on
Car or motorbike registered
outside Malaga city
without a label
From
30
November
30 November
2025
2026
and from then on
Car or motorbike registered outside Malaga city with no sticker
From 30 November
From 30 November
2025
2026
and from then on
And, in the case of not having an environmental sticker, the car or motorbike that is not registered in the municipality will no longer be able to circulate in the area as of 30 November.
For vans, its the same principle as with cars and motorbikes. The difference is that the 'grace' periods are extended by two years.
Van registered in
Malaga city
From
30
November
From
30
November
2025
2026
From
30
November
From
30 November
2027
2028
and from then on
For all labels and even vehicles with no label
Zero emissions
ECO
C
B
No label
Van registered in
the municipality of Malaga
From
30
November
From
30
November
2025
2026
From
30
November
From
30 November
2027
2028
and from then on
For all vehicles and even those with no label
Zero emissions
ECO
C
B
No label
Van registered in the municipality of Malaga
From 30 November
From 30 November
From 30 November
From 30 November
2025
2026
2027
2028
and from then on
For all labels and even vehicles with no label
Zero emissions
ECO
C
B
No label
In the case of vans domiciled within the city of Malaga, there will never be any restriction.
Van registered outside
the municipality of Málaga and with
zero emissions, eco or C label
From
30
November
From
30
November
2025
2026
From
30
November
From
30 November
2027
2028
and from then on
Van registered outside
the municipality of Malaga and with
zero emissions, eco or C label
From
30
November
From
30
November
2025
2026
From
30
November
From
30 November
2027
2028
and from then on
Van registered outside the municipality of Malaga
and with zero emissions, eco or C label
From 30 November
From 30 November
From 30 November
From 30 November
2025
2026
2027
2028
and from then on
Neither will vans from outside the municipality, as long as they have a zero-emission, eco or C environmental label.
Van registered outside
the municipality of Malaga y
with B sticker
From
30
November
From
30
November
2025
2026
From
30
November
From
30 November
2027
2028
and from then on
Van registered outside
the municipality of Malaga y
with B sticker
From
30
November
From
30
November
2025
2026
From
30
November
From
30 November
2027
2028
and from then on
Van registered outside the municipality of Malaga and with B label
From 30 November
From 30 November
From 30 November
From 30 November
2025
2026
2027
2028
and from then on
In the case that the van from outside Malaga has the environmental label B, it will be able to freely access the ZBE (low-emission zone) until November 2028.
Van registered outside
the municipality of Malaga y
No label
From
30
November
From
30
November
2025
2026
From
30
November
From
30 November
2027
2028
and from then on
Van registered outside
the municipality of Malaga y
No label
From
30
November
From
30
November
2025
2026
From
30
November
From
30 November
2027
2028
and from then on
Van registered outside the municipality of Malaga and no label
From 30 November
From 30 November
From 30 November
From 30 November
2025
2026
2027
2028
and from then on
And if the van registered outside the municipality does not have a label, it will only be allowed to drive in the ZBE until 30 November 2027.
Special authorisations
Finally, some vehicles other than cars, motorbikes and vans will be able to access the ZBE, regardless of their domicile and the environmental label they have.
Free access
Transporte colectivo regular
para viajeros
Taxi/VTC
Vintage vehicles
Lorries
From
30
November
From
From 30 November
2025
2026
and from then on
For all labels and,
even those registered
outside the municipality
Free access, but with
prior communication
Asistencia sanitaria
Security forces
Municipal services
Private special
needs services
From
30
November
From
30 November
2025
2026
and from then on
For all labels and,
even those registered
outside the municipality
Free access
Transporte colectivo regular
para viajeros
Taxi/VTC
Vintage vehicles
Lorries
From
30
November
From
30 November
2025
2026
and from then on
For all labels and,
even those registered
outside the municipality
Free access, but with
prior communication
Asistencia sanitaria
Security forces
Municipal services
Private special
needs services
From
30
November
From
30 November
2025
2026
and from then on
For all labels and,
even those registered
outside the municipality
Free access
Regular collective passenger transport
Taxi/VTC
Vintage vehicles
Lorries
From 30 November
From 30 November
2025
2026
and from then on
For all labels, even those registered outside the municipality
Free access, but with prior communication
Security
forces
Municipal services
Private special
needs services
Health
service
From 30 November
From 30 November
2025
2026
and from then on
For all labels and even those registered outside the municipality
According to Malaga City Council's Mobility Department, the aim is to remove more than 26,000 vehicles outside of* the Low Emission Zone and estimates that, in 15 years, 20% of the vehicle fleet in this area (40,000) will be eliminated.
Credits
-
Source Malaga city hall mobility department
-
Additional reporting from Chus Heredia
