Confirmed the first massive restrictions on cars with label B
Have you ever seen how a car you think is "normal" suddenly becomes an intruder in your city? Well, that's exactly what will happen with cars with the DGT label B. With nearly 9.5 million vehicles in Spain, these cars are preparing to face restrictions that will shake the automotive fleet.
But it won’t just be a local issue: after seeing how cities like Madrid, Bilbao, or Palma de Mallorca already imposed limits, now 37 more municipalities join the party. And this is no mistake, but a decision that affects nearly a third of Spain’s total fleet.
Restrictions in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona: an advantage for mobility?
The Barcelona Metropolitan Area Council (AMB) has approved the 2025-2030 Urban Mobility Plan, which includes a generalized ban on cars with label B in all 37 municipalities from 2028. This measure comes within the framework of the 2027 Air Quality Horizon Plan of the Generalitat of Catalonia.
The consequence? 17% of the cars and motorcycles currently circulating around the AMB will have to stay home. And no, it’s not a whim: the goal is to progressively eliminate combustion engines before 2030.
🌍 Affected municipalities: 37 in the AMB
📉 Affected vehicles: 17% of the current fleet
🎯 Final goal: eliminate combustion engines by 2030
Political and social impact of the restrictions
The Council’s vote saw abstention from the Popular Party and a single vote against from Vox, while the rest of the groups supported the measure. But don’t be fooled, with municipal elections scheduled for May 2027, many councils will prefer not to confirm the limitations for now. You know, unpopular measures always wait for the right moment.
Goals beyond the ban
The plan doesn’t just seek to expel cars. It also aims to reduce accident rates by half, reduce private vehicle use by 10%, improve air quality and noise levels, and encourage travel by public transport, bike, and on foot.
Label B cars: who are they and what do they lose?
Which vehicles carry label B?
The DGT yellow label B affects gasoline cars registered since January 2001 and diesel cars from 2006 to 2013. That is, a good number of vehicles that still circulate daily thinking they are "normal".
The new restrictions and their impact
Besides these 37 municipalities in the AMB, other cities like Madrid, Bilbao, or Palma already have limitations or are about to apply them. The future? It seems clear that more areas will join the list.
Judicial uncertainty and controversy over Low Emission Zones
Rulings that complicate implementation
Ironically, the news arrives when Low Emission Zones (LEZ) are more questioned than ever. In France, they have already voted to eliminate them due to social inequalities, and in Spain, the Supreme Court has temporarily annulled Madrid’s LEZ due to formal defects.
Recent case in Guadalajara and chain of rulings
The Superior Court of Justice of Castilla-La Mancha has declared null the Regulatory Ordinance of Guadalajara’s LEZ, adding to a growing list of rulings that put these zones at risk throughout the country.
| Municipality / Zone | Restriction on label B | Entry date |
|---|---|---|
| Barcelona Metropolitan Area (37 municipalities) | Total ban | 2028 |
| Madrid, Bilbao, Palma de Mallorca | Partial or imminent restrictions | current/near future |
The reality is that cars with label B face a future full of obstacles, not only because of regulations and restrictions but also due to judicial uncertainties and social unpopularity. This makes mobility in large cities change radically in less than a decade.
