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Spain’s Low-Emission Zones Roll Out Unevenly as Lleida Fines Drivers and Málaga Grants Broad Local Exemptions

A nationwide mandate is yielding contrasting outcomes, with camera-backed enforcement in Lleida versus a Málaga rule allowing city‑registered cars to keep entering for their lifetime.

Overview

  • Spanish law requires municipalities over 50,000 residents to establish Low-Emission Zones, with the framework in force since January 1, 2023.
  • Lleida began issuing sanctions in July after a six‑month moratorium, with fines set at €200 reducible to €100 for prompt payment and automated plate‑reading via three cameras and four sensors.
  • Lleida’s phased plan restricts vehicles without a DGT sticker on weekdays from 07:00 to 20:00, adds B‑label limits during pollution episodes from January 1, 2026, and bans B vehicles from January 2028 while expanding the zone.
  • Lleida’s ordinance allows limited penalty‑free entries, including 24 annual accesses for non‑residents until 2028 and a delivery van moratorium with up to 52 accesses in 2027 and 24 in 2028.
  • Málaga’s ZBE starts on November 30, 2025 after a grace year, and the city’s mobility chief says vehicles registered in Málaga before November 30, 2024 will be allowed to enter until they are scrapped.