Has anyone travelled across Europe without a Crit'Air Sticker?

[Trinity765]

I'm traveling from Calais to Romania and back, leaving mid August with no planned route as yet. I really don't want a Crit'Air sticker.
1. I don't want my bike registered on any European databases if I can help it
2. I don't want an ugly sticker on my bike
3. I don't like the French anyway and I'm happy to skip France the best I can.

Has anyone travelled around Europe without one and were there any compromises?

[Pirahna]

Crit air is only for France and only needed in designated zone, bigger towns and cities. You'll be fine without one.

I have no idea what other countries on your route use.

[weeksy]

Crit air is only for France and only needed in designated zone, bigger towns and cities. You'll be fine without one.

I have no idea what other countries on your route use.

That really yeah. We're off in a few weeks but won't need one as not hitting a city of any description.

I'm curious about not wanting the bike on a database though... tell me more on that ?

[Trinity765]

Crit air is only for France and only needed in designated zone, bigger towns and cities. You'll be fine without one.

I have no idea what other countries on your route use.

That really yeah. We're off in a few weeks but won't need one as not hitting a city of any description.

I'm curious about not wanting the bike on a database though... tell me more on that ?

It's based on anecdotal evidence and not fact but if I set off a speed camera in France there is a certain amount of paperwork that would have to be done to send a letter back to me in the UK whereas if I have registered for Crit'Air they will have all my details on file and know exactly where to send my Christmas card. How true that is - I don't know.

[Pirahna]

If you set of a speed camera in France you'll get a ticket. It doesn't matter what database you're on or not, the DVLA will give the French authorities your details. Wifey has first hand experience of this.

[ChrisW]

We went through France on the way to Belgium he 16th of last month & absent mindedly went into the centre of Lille without stickers. I panicked mildly and we left by the most direct route - didn't see anyone being checked for them anywhere in the city.

That aside if you don't enter the cities you definitely do not need one.

[KungFooBob]

If you set of a speed camera in France you'll get a ticket. It doesn't matter what database you're on or not, the DVLA will give the French authorities your details. Wifey has first hand experience of this.

I thought one of the benefits of Brexit was that we stopped sharing that info with the Fronch, I've set of loads of speed cameras and never heard a thing.

[Trinity765]

If you set of a speed camera in France you'll get a ticket. It doesn't matter what database you're on or not, the DVLA will give the French authorities your details. Wifey has first hand experience of this.

I thought one of the benefits of Brexit was that we stopped sharing that info with the Fronch, I've set of loads of speed cameras and never heard a thing.

Me too. Didn't want to jinx it by getting a crit air

[MrLongbeard]

Has anyone travelled across Europe without a Crit'Air Sticker?

Yep, but I was ten and on a bus, so....

[ChrisW]

Come to think of it I went through Aix too - also no sign of any checks.

[Ditchfinder]

There was a vote for them to be abandoned recently so I wouldn't worry too much. I've only ever skirted the zones on the Peripherique and going on the main road through Rouen.

I always drop to the limit going through towns and villages and wind it back a bit if I see a warning sign for cameras.

The Gendarmes will mainly be arsey with you if you're taking the piss not slowing down coming into town or doing 90+ on the motorway.

[Pirahna]

If you set of a speed camera in France you'll get a ticket. It doesn't matter what database you're on or not, the DVLA will give the French authorities your details. Wifey has first hand experience of this.

I thought one of the benefits of Brexit was that we stopped sharing that info with the Fronch, I've set of loads of speed cameras and never heard a thing.

It was originally one of the Brexit benefits but it really only benefited criminals. It was always on the agenda to share data as per pre-brexit. Speaking from a Spanish point of view it took ages to get sorted out here because the Spanish wanted more access than they had when Britain was in the EU. One of the downsides was that anyone moving here couldn't exchange their UK license for a Spanish one so either stopped driving or took a Spanish test.

[mangocrazy]

It 's very likely that the Crit'Air sticker plan will be abandoned soon, but no firm dates are available yet. That said, I've had a CA sticker on my dirty old diesel van and never had any interaction with French plod on the subject. I've been stopped on 2 occasions for roadside checks since I had the sticker and all French plod were interested in were seeing my registration and insurance documents.

I travel pretty much the length of France at least four times a year in the van, use the Caen peripherique, a lot of D roads between Caen and Orleans and the autoroutes for the rest of the journey and have had no issues. To be honest I doubt you'd have any issues on a bike, they seem to be ignored for stuff like that. Just avoid Paris like the plague and you'll be reet.

[Noggin]

Crit air is only for France and only needed in designated zone, bigger towns and cities. You'll be fine without one.

I have no idea what other countries on your route use.

That really yeah. We're off in a few weeks but won't need one as not hitting a city of any description.

I'm curious about not wanting the bike on a database though... tell me more on that ?

It's based on anecdotal evidence and not fact but if I set off a speed camera in France there is a certain amount of paperwork that would have to be done to send a letter back to me in the UK whereas if I have registered for Crit'Air they will have all my details on file and know exactly where to send my Christmas card. How true that is - I don't know.

If you're worried, use my name and address and I'll post you the sticker when it arrives !! Pretty sure you only need the sticker, not sure they'll check ownership, but you could google that ??

As someone else said, don't think it makes any difference to speeding fines etc, AND, you actually don't have to put the sticker on, it makes it easier for people on the ground/cameras of course, but you only really need to have the confirmation that you have applied for the sticker (or the letter that comes with the sticker) and the reg can be checked for that too if you are not around. If you also carry the sticker, someone "might" make you put it on, but you can take it off and just keep the confirmation !!

FWIW, I had a moment a while ago as drove into Grenoble for an unplanned visit and suddenly panicked that I didn't have a crit air. So I pulled over and applied online so that I had the email confirmation that I'd applied on the day I was there and continued. No idea if they do have camera to check but I didn't hear anything back

[Trinity765]

That really yeah. We're off in a few weeks but won't need one as not hitting a city of any description.

I'm curious about not wanting the bike on a database though... tell me more on that ?

It's based on anecdotal evidence and not fact but if I set off a speed camera in France there is a certain amount of paperwork that would have to be done to send a letter back to me in the UK whereas if I have registered for Crit'Air they will have all my details on file and know exactly where to send my Christmas card. How true that is - I don't know.

If you're worried, use my name and address and I'll post you the sticker when it arrives !! Pretty sure you only need the sticker, not sure they'll check ownership, but you could google that ??

As someone else said, don't think it makes any difference to speeding fines etc, AND, you actually don't have to put the sticker on, it makes it easier for people on the ground/cameras of course, but you only really need to have the confirmation that you have applied for the sticker (or the letter that comes with the sticker) and the reg can be checked for that too if you are not around. If you also carry the sticker, someone "might" make you put it on, but you can take it off and just keep the confirmation !!

FWIW, I had a moment a while ago as drove into Grenoble for an unplanned visit and suddenly panicked that I didn't have a crit air. So I pulled over and applied online so that I had the email confirmation that I'd applied on the day I was there and continued. No idea if they do have camera to check but I didn't hear anything back

Hey! Thanks. Good shout with applying online. I'm going Germany way on the way out but maybe some France on the way home, especially if I'm in a hurry. If at any point I am concerned, I will apply for one on-line.

I will DM you on here if I need some local help/advise X

[Bustaspoke]

Hey! Thanks. Good shout with applying online.

Last year I applied online,I think it cost approx £5 & arrived after a couple of weeks https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/
I bought a 'Tax disc' holder & stuck it in that.Unfortunatley I got Covid the day before I was due to go so it's unused but should get used in a few weeks

[Noggin]

It's based on anecdotal evidence and not fact but if I set off a speed camera in France there is a certain amount of paperwork that would have to be done to send a letter back to me in the UK whereas if I have registered for Crit'Air they will have all my details on file and know exactly where to send my Christmas card. How true that is - I don't know.

If you're worried, use my name and address and I'll post you the sticker when it arrives !! Pretty sure you only need the sticker, not sure they'll check ownership, but you could google that ??

As someone else said, don't think it makes any difference to speeding fines etc, AND, you actually don't have to put the sticker on, it makes it easier for people on the ground/cameras of course, but you only really need to have the confirmation that you have applied for the sticker (or the letter that comes with the sticker) and the reg can be checked for that too if you are not around. If you also carry the sticker, someone "might" make you put it on, but you can take it off and just keep the confirmation !!

FWIW, I had a moment a while ago as drove into Grenoble for an unplanned visit and suddenly panicked that I didn't have a crit air. So I pulled over and applied online so that I had the email confirmation that I'd applied on the day I was there and continued. No idea if they do have camera to check but I didn't hear anything back

Hey! Thanks. Good shout with applying online. I'm going Germany way on the way out but maybe some France on the way home, especially if I'm in a hurry. If at any point I am concerned, I will apply for one on-line.

I will DM you on here if I need some local help/advise X

No worries at all. Happy to help if you need but also my knowledge of France is VERY local plus a bit of Corrèze !!!

But also reasonably fluent if you are in need of language help - if I can't do it, I have a local French friend who speaks English as well as I speak French so she would be able to help with anything I can't deal with on the language side (and obviously knows French systems better than me !! )

Have loads of fun on the trip x