Which cars can drive in Madrid in 2025?

Madrid, like many major European cities, has implemented strict regulations to improve air quality and reduce pollutant emissions. This is definitely something to consider if you’re planning a visit, as not all vehicles are allowed to freely drive through the capital.

Today, we’re here to give you all the details you need to know whether your vehicle can drive in Madrid: restrictions, required environmental labels, Low Emission Zones (LEZ) or Zonas de Bajas Emisiones (ZBE) in Spanish, and much more.

Why must cars display a label?

By displaying the environmental label—the sticker placed on your car’s windscreen—you’re clearly indicating how eco-friendly your vehicle is.

This label makes it easy to identify your car’s energy efficiency and compliance with municipal policies. It helps manage traffic during high pollution episodes and encourages the use of new technologies like hybrid vehicles.

Getting and placing the label is voluntary; it should be placed in the lower right-hand corner of the front windscreen. Once you’ve confirmed you’re entitled to it (more on that later), you can purchase it at Correos (post offices), the Spanish Confederation of Workshops (CETRAA) network, and other authorised retailers like tobacconists.

Which cars can enter Madrid based on their environmental label?

Understanding whether your car can drive in Madrid starts with knowing the environmental label system of the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT), the Spanish public body for Traffic Management. Here’s a quick summary:

Eco Label

Half blue, half green. This label applies to non-plug-in hybrids, natural gas (CNG or LNG) vehicles, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cars. Vehicles with this label can access most areas, with restrictions only during high pollution periods.

Zero Emissions Label

Blue with a prominent zero. This is for electric vehicles and certain plug-in hybrids. It grants unrestricted access to all areas of Madrid, including LEZs (or ZBEs in Spanish), and free parking in most regulated zones.

C Label

The most common label. It’s for petrol cars registered from 2006 onwards and diesel cars from 2014 onwards. Vehicles with a C label can drive through the city except in restricted areas and can park in authorised zones.

B Label

Assigned to petrol vehicles registered between 2000 and 2006, and diesel vehicles between 2006 and 2014. These cars face stricter restrictions, especially within LEZs.

No Label

About 50% of the most polluting vehicles have no label, as they don’t meet the “clean vehicle” standards. This includes petrol cars registered before 2000 and diesel cars before 2006. These vehicles cannot drive through most central areas of Madrid or park in regulated zones.

Cars that cannot drive in Madrid

By now, you probably have a good idea of which cars can enter Madrid. But just to be crystal clear, we’re also going to go over which cars cannot enter the capital.

Madrid has progressively tightened access restrictions for high-polluting vehicles, especially in the city centre and during high pollution alerts.

In LEZs, vehicles without a label are not allowed to circulate unless the driver is a resident or under exceptional circumstances. Cars with a B label, although permitted in certain areas, face many limitations. Is it worth the risk?

Older diesel cars and commercial vehicles such as vans and lorries without an environmental label are also restricted, especially within the M-30 ring road.

Restrictions and rules to keep in mind in Madrid

Madrid’s main strategy is defining zones to regulate traffic while promoting sustainable mobility.

The Low Emission Zone (LEZ), also known as “Madrid Central,” covers the entire city centre. Only vehicles with Zero or Eco labels can access it freely. Vehicles with C or B labels are allowed to enter only if they park in an authorised car park.

So, what cars can enter Madrid’s central district? Here, restrictions are even stricter. You can only enter if your vehicle has a Zero, Eco, or C label under specific conditions.

During high pollution episodes, in addition to existing restrictions, vehicles with B and C labels are prohibited from accessing certain areas, and speed limits on main roads are reduced to minimise emissions.

In regulated parking zones (SER), vehicles without a label cannot park under any circumstances. On the other hand, Eco and Zero-labelled cars benefit from reduced or even free parking fees in some locations.

Vehicles with foreign plates

Wondering if your foreign-registered car can enter Madrid’s restricted zones? If your car has foreign plates, you simply need to check the equivalence between your country’s classification system and Spain’s. You can do so here. This will show you the corresponding Spanish environmental label and help you understand which traffic restrictions apply.

However, if your vehicle has foreign plates, you cannot obtain a Spanish environmental label.

Visit Madrid and drive hassle-free with your environmental label

Have you figured out if your car can enter Madrid? If so, brilliant! You can explore the city with ease. If not, don’t worry. Madrid offers plenty of alternatives. There are numerous companies offering bike and electric scooter rentals, as well as car-sharing services for short-term use. Of course, the city’s public transport network gets you anywhere you need to go by metro, commuter trains, buses… the choice is yours!

Now that you’ve sorted out how to get around, how about finding somewhere to stay? What are you waiting for? Search for a flat, apartment, or studio in the heart of Madrid! At WaouRentals, we have lots of options to suit all budgets.