Motorists in the capital can breathe a sigh of relief: from November 1st there will be no feared traffic block for Euro 4 and Euro 5 diesel cars in Rome's Green Zone Limited Traffic Zone. In fact, the new ban which should have come into force in less than fifteen days will not come into force because the Lazio Region has approved a resolution which allows the continuation of the current system of limitations, avoiding the stop to circulation which had been hypothesized in the previous air quality plans.
The decision
The decision, announced on October 22, aims to reconcile the mobility needs of citizens and businesses with the objectives of reducing air pollution. Confirmation of the existing rules would thus allow thousands of motorists to continue using their cars without having to face, at least in the immediate future, new restrictions linked to the environmental class. However, an important administrative step remains: for the continuation of the measures from 1 November, the relevant act from the Municipality of Rome will be necessary, called upon to regulate traffic in the new season.
Ztl Fascia Verde, which cars can circulate
The Region's decision allows us to avoid the general extension of the bans to Euro 4 and Euro 5 diesel cars. The current framework instead provides for permanent limitations for the most polluting vehicle categories. Based on the provisions published by Roma Servizi per la Mobilità, the ordinary prohibitions in the Green Belt concern, from Monday to Saturday, for the whole day and excluding midweek holidays: Diesel cars - vehicles prior to the Euro 1, Euro 1, Euro 2 and Euro 3 class; petrol, LPG and methane cars - pre-Euro 1, Euro 1 and Euro 2 vehicles, according to the categories indicated in the ordinance and finally mopeds and motorcycles - Euro 1 and previous petrol vehicles and diesel vehicles up to Euro 2, according to the applicable provisions. Euro 4 and Euro 5 diesel cars therefore remain excluded from the ordinary permanent bans described for passenger cars. This does not mean, however, that they are always free from any limitations: in the event of particularly critical episodes of air pollution, more restrictive temporary measures may be adopted.
Because the ban on Euro 4 and Euro 5 diesels was avoided
The basis of the decision is the revision of the Regional Air Quality Plan, which allows Municipalities to adopt alternative measures to traffic blocks, provided they are supported by technical and scientific data and guarantee equivalent environmental results. The Lazio Region recalled the trend of air quality indicators, highlighting that the regulatory limits were respected in 2025. This result contributed to the decision not to introduce further generalized restrictions for Euro 4 and Euro 5 diesel cars. The objective is to intervene on the various sources of emissions without entrusting the reduction of smog exclusively to the blocking of cars. Alternative measures include interventions on building heating, energy efficiency, the renewal of the most polluting vehicles and support for more sustainable forms of mobility. The Region has also announced resources of 25 million euros intended for interventions to reduce emissions in Lazio.
Beware of emergency blocks
The possibility of continuing to circulate with a Euro 4 or Euro 5 diesel does not equate to an authorization without exceptions. The Green Belt regulation in fact contemplates temporary measures to be activated in the presence of critical levels of pollutants. In particular, the emergency measures may also involve normally permitted vehicles: with the orange alert level there are limitations for Euro 4 diesel cars; with the red level, Euro 5 and Euro 6 diesel engines may also be affected, in the time slots established by the applicable provisions. Motorists will therefore have to continue to check official updates, especially during periods of the year when weather conditions can favor the accumulation of pollutants.
