On November 30, the second restrictive phase of Málaga's Low Emission Zone (LEZ) comes into effect. Vehicles with B labels that do not pay the IVTM in the capital will not be able to access the restricted area, affecting over 100,000 drivers.
With two months to go before the second restrictive phase of Málaga's Low Emission Zone (LEZ) is activated, over 100,000 drivers still do not know if they will be able to enter the restricted area of the capital. The measure, which comes into effect on November 30, will affect cars and motorcycles with B labels that do not pay the vehicle circulation tax (IVTM) in Málaga capital, as reported by Diario Sur. This is in addition to vehicles without labels, which have already faced penalties since last year.
The Málaga City Council opted for a formula that did not penalise local residents so that families could exhaust the useful life of their vehicles. The ordinance only imposes penalties on non-residents, which has generated a legal conflict. The Superior Court of Justice of Andalusia (TSJA) annulled the mobility ordinance after a legal battle initiated by Vox, which argues that the regulation discriminates against drivers from outside the city and violates principles such as equality and free market.
The City Council could appeal to the Supreme Court, but has raised a query to the TSJA that halts the timelines. Municipal sources confirm that there is still no judicial response, so the penalties continue to progress. Fines amount to 200 euros, which are reduced to 100 with prompt payment, averaging 6,000 per month.
The implementation of the LEZ has reduced motor traffic in the central perimeter by an average of 25,000 vehicles. A report from the Mobility Area, based on monitoring 67 access points, indicates that on weekdays, the number of vehicles has decreased from about 200,000 in 2023 to around 175,000 in the first quarter of 2026, with decreases of between 10% and 20% depending on the measurement point. 50.4% of the accesses are cars with C labels; 20% are B; 19.6% are ECO; 4.7% are Zero, and 2% have no label.
Those who are certainly exempt in the next two years are vans and commercial vehicles, regardless of their origin, as well as cars and motorcycles with C, Zero, or Eco labels, and emergency and public transport vehicles. The LEZ is based on license plate reading and cross-referencing with the DGT database to verify the label, regardless of the reason for the trip.
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