Traffic: Emissions badges
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What is an emissions badge?
An emissions badge is a way of classifying vehicles based on their energy efficiency and their impact on the environment.
There are two main goals of emissions categories for vehicles. The first is to allow positive discrimination in favour of vehicles that have the smallest impact on the environment. The second is to create an efficient way for municipal policies to reduce traffic in periods of high pollution, or to promote new technologies using financial incentives or incentives relating to mobility and the environment.
You should be aware that, while the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) awards badges based on the type of vehicle, individual municipalities set rules on traffic and use of motor vehicles within their area. It is the municipalities, therefore, that set restrictions on driving based on the emissions badge. Check the websites of the municipalities 
you plan to drive within in order to see if there are any traffic restrictions in place.
How can you check a vehicle’s emissions badge?
- You can use the DGT’s website to check by entering the vehicle’s registration. There is no need to log in to do this. On the DGT’s statistics portal , you can also access a file containing all registered vehicles and their badges.
- If you need to check the badges for your own vehicles, you can use the miDGT mobile and tablet app produced by the DGT for Android and iOS. Learn more and download the app .
- You can call 060 and speak one-to-one with a specialist representative.
- You can also come to any Traffic Office or Traffic Authority in person. If you plan to do this, you need to arrange an appointment via the internet or by calling 060 .
What do the badges mean?
There are four badges, which are assigned to vehicles based on their environmental impact.
These are the badges, listed from most efficient to least efficient:
Zero-emissions badge, Blue : This badge is awarded to the most efficient vehicles. These include battery electric vehicles (BEVs), range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) with a range of at least 40 km, and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).
Eco badge : This is the second most efficient group, and primarily comprises hybrid vehicles and natural gas vehicles. Vehicles that are awarded this badge include plug-in hybrid electric vehicles with ranges below 40 km, standard hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and vehicles powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). They also need to meet the criteria for the C badge.
C badge, Green : Internal combustion vehicles that meet the latest Euro emissions standards. Vehicles that are awarded this badge include passenger cars and small vans that use petrol and were registered in or after January 2006, as well as those that use diesel and were registered in or after September 2015. Vehicles with more than 8 seats registered in or after 2014 also qualify, regardless of whether they use petrol or diesel.
B Badge, Yellow : Internal combustion engines that do not meet the latest Euro emissions standards, but do meet older standards. Vehicles that are awarded this badge include passenger cars and small vans that use petrol and were registered on or after 1 January 2001, as well as those that use diesel and were registered in or after 2006. Vehicles with more than 8 seats registered in or after 2006 also qualify, regardless of whether they use petrol or diesel.
Comparing emissions badges across the EU
A number of EU countries have created their own classifications for vehicles based on emissions levels.
In Spain, emissions badges aren't awarded to vehicles registered abroad, because they aren’t needed. If you have a vehicle from another country with an emissions badges scheme (such as Austria, Denmark, France or Germany), you will be considered to have the equivalent Spanish badge.
This link contains information on how categories from different countries correspond to each other. You can use this to determine which Spanish badge is equivalent to yours and work out which traffic restrictions might apply to you, allowing you to drive on Spanish roads with an emissions badge awarded in your country.
NB: This system of equivalent badges only applies to driving in Spain. Other countries will have their own rules. As a result, if you plan to drive your vehicle in Austria, Denmark, France, Germany or any other country with an emissions category system, you should find out in advance whether you need to get a badge for the country where you are travelling and how to do so, as well as the conditions for driving there.
