If you plan to drive a car in Madrid, you must display an environmental sticker on your windshield. This sticker is called the distintivo ambiental (environmental badge). It shows how much pollution your vehicle produces.
Sticker categories
The DGT (Directorate-General for Traffic) divides vehicles into five categories based on their engine type and manufacturing year.
- No badge (Category A): Petrol vehicles registered before 2001 and diesel vehicles registered before 2006. These cars cannot get a badge and face the strictest driving bans.
- Yellow badge (Category B): Petrol cars registered between 2001 and 2005, and diesel cars registered between 2006 and 2013.
- Green badge (Category C): Petrol cars registered from 2006 onward, and diesel cars registered from 2014 onward.
- Blue and Green badge (Eco): Hybrid vehicles and gas-powered vehicles.
- Blue badge (Zero emissions): Battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) with a range over 40 kilometers.
Where to buy the environmental badge
You must buy the badge after registering your car in Spain. It costs €5. You can purchase it at several locations:
- The Post Office: You can buy it at any local Correos (post office) branch. This is the most common option.
- Authorized car workshops: Many local mechanical workshops affiliated with CETRAA sell the badges.
- Administrative managers: You can request the badge through a gestor (administrative manager) for an extra fee.
- Online: You can order it from the Correos website, but you must upload your vehicle documents and pay a shipping fee.
How to find a gestor in Madrid
Requirements and purchase steps
You must bring specific documents to verify your ownership and vehicle registration details.
Document checklist
- Your physical identity document (Passport, DNI, or NIE card)
- The vehicle registration document (Permiso de Circulación)
- €5 in cash or card payment
Steps to buy at the post office
- Go to the nearest Correos branch. You might need to take a number from the ticket machine.
- Present your identity document and your vehicle permiso de circulación (registration permit) to the clerk.
- The clerk will look up your license plate number in the database to confirm your vehicle category.
- Pay the €5 fee.
- The clerk will print and hand you the sticker. Stick it in the bottom-right corner of your front windshield.
Rules for foreign vehicles
You cannot buy a Spanish environmental badge for a vehicle registered in another country. However, Spain recognizes badges from other European Union countries.
If your car is registered in Germany, France, Austria, or Denmark, you can use your home country’s environmental badge.
If your home country does not have a compatible system, you must register your vehicle details with the local Madrid Ayuntamiento before driving in the restricted zones.
Questions and answers
Can I drive in Madrid without a sticker?
No. Displaying the physical badge is mandatory for all cars driving within the municipality of Madrid, even if your car is eligible for a green or yellow sticker. The fine for not displaying it is €90.
What should I do if my plate is not in the system?
Contact the DGT. If the post office clerk cannot find your license plate in the system, your car details might be incorrect. You must book an appointment at the DGT office to update your technical details.
Does the badge expire?
No. The badge does not have an expiration date. You only need to replace it if it gets damaged or if you replace your windshield.
