Brits on holiday in Europe could be hit with fines of up to £1,500 from ULEZ-style zones

Britons on holiday in Europe could be hit with ULEZ-like fines of up to £1,500 across the continent this summer.

Cities and towns in countries like France, Spain and Italy are imposing restrictions on diesel and petrol cars that are likely to result in large fines for holidaymakers, according to a warning by the AA and Alliance of British Drivers.

Due to foreign signage and varifying systems, drivers could have a hard time interpreting where boundaries for the low-emission zones start and finish, according to the Telegraph.

In case the fines can’t be paid on the spot, families might even be escorted to the closest cash machine by local police. 

Among those going ahead with the ULEZ-style zones are major cities Paris, Madrid, Barcelona and Milan.

Edmund King, president of the AA, said it was crucial for British holidaymakers to do some research before driving abroad to avoid hefty fines. 

He told the Telegraph: ‘In previous days drivers would have to be aware about the yellow vest and a warning triangle and, at some periods in France, a little self test beathalyser but that’s since fallen by the wayside.’

In Paris, for example, cars have to display a Crit’Air sticker which shows you have paid to enter one of the city’s low-emission zone. 

The fines currently range from £58 to £119 but will likely rise to as much as £750 under the new rules banning cars running on fossil fuels built before 2006.

While the measures were supposed to come into force in 2022 already, they were pushed back to July 1 this year and are likely to be pushed back yet again after the vote on it was postponed to July 14 due to last week’s riots. 

Madrid’s low-emission zones were already expanded in January. To enter, holidaymakers will need to be registered and display a sticker, which can be bought for 3€ for petrol-powered cars and 6€ for diesel-powered cars.

Overall, there are 11 cities in France and nine in Spain with low-emission zones.

More than two in five British drivers looking to drive abroad are unaware of the new low-emission restrictions in European cities, according to the Telegraph.

Research suggests European cities enforcing their zones could also result in added points to the driver’s licence of British holidaymakers when breaking these laws, instead of avoiding penalties by returning to the UK.