The trick used by residents of Granada's neighboring towns to enter the capital's LEZ with an unmarked car

By the end of 2025, all Spanish cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants must have an active Low Emission Zone (LEZ) that restricts traffic to the most polluting vehicles . However, each local council decides which vehicles can enter their respective LEZ based on the DGT environmental labels, as well as the zone's perimeter and opening hours .

In Granada, the newly introduced LEZ (ZBE), which came into effect on May 9 , prohibits the entry of vehicles without a DGT sticker and without their registered address in Granada . Therefore, the most affected have been residents of municipalities neighboring the capital, such as Armilla, Maracena, Atarfe, and Albolote.

The Cádiz Low Emission Zone: When will it come into effect?

What practices are the inhabitants of the towns surrounding Granada practicing?

According to Granada Hoy , many vehicle owners who are not entitled to a DGT sticker from neighboring municipalities are registering their cars in the city of Granada so they can continue to circulate legally on its streets.

That is, from now on, they will begin paying vehicle tax in the capital. With this change of vehicle tax residence, it will be entitled to circulate in Granada's Low Emissions Zone , even if it doesn't have a DGT environmental sticker, thus avoiding future fines.

Where is the Granada LEZ located?

The Low Emission Zone is characterized by covering practically the entire surface of the city , hence the inhabitants of the neighboring towns are the most affected by the measure and are carrying out the trick described above.

Specifically, the LEZ includes all urban areas within the GR-30 motorway and the Ronda Sur, excluding both roads, totaling 23.55 square kilometers . Furthermore, the Alhambra monument, the cemetery, the Sacromonte Abbey, and the Hospital Clínico de la Salud are not included.

What vehicles are called label-less?

These cars, also known as category A cars, are those that are not entitled to carry a DGT environmental sticker due to their emissions. These are gasoline vehicles registered before 2001 and diesel vehicles registered before 2006.