Planning a Barcelona day trip from Tossa de Mar? Driving south is straightforward, but you need to understand the Zona de Baixes Emissions (ZBE) — Barcelona's Low Emission Zone. The ZBE is a regulated area managed by the AMB (Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona) to cut air pollution. Area covered: 95 km², including Barcelona city and parts of surrounding municipalities such as L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Cornellà de Llobregat , Esplugues de Llobregat, and Sant Adrià de Besòs. Operating hours: Weekdays (Monday to Friday) from 7:00 to 20:00 . The zone is inactive on weekends and public holidays. Smart cameras at every entry point automatically read number plates. The standard ZBE fine is €200 . This can rise to €260 during declared pollution episodes or increase by 30% for repeat offenders. Tossa de Mar and the rest of the Costa Brava in any ZBE. The rules only apply if you physically drive across the ZBE perimeter into Barcelona during operating hours. If you never enter the zone, the risk is zero. The vast majority of rental cars from Costa Brava agencies (Ganxó Rent a Car, Olimpia Rent a Car, Viatges Tramuntana) or major suppliers at GRO ( -Costa Brava) such as Sixt, Europcar, or Avis are modern, Spanish-registered vehicles. These cars must display a DGT environmental sticker on the windscreen. Stickers that allow entry: Etiqueta 0 (green), or Check before you drive. When you pick up the car, look at the bottom-right corner of the windscreen for one of these stickers. If the sticker is present, you can enter the Barcelona ZBE freely. If you want certainty up front, rent a car with Spanish plates and DGT sticker included. If your rental car has non-Spanish plates — for example, you rented in France or Andorra and drove across the border — it is not automatically authorised to enter the ZBE, even if it is a new, low-emission vehicle. register the vehicle with the Barcelona authorities. There are two options: Long-Term Registration (impractical for tourists): Register at the official portal (zberegistre.ambmobilitat.cat). Approval can take up to 15 business days, making it unsuitable for a short holiday. Sporadic Access Day Pass (the tourist solution): Purchase up to 24 one-day passes per year. €2 per day How it works: Register the vehicle and buy a pass for the specific date you plan to visit. Crucial deadline: Activate the pass before 23:59 on the day after your visit . For peace of mind, do it on the morning of your trip. If your rental car has a yellow B sticker, you are currently permitted to enter the ZBE. Be aware of two upcoming changes: Pollution episodes (current): During officially declared high-pollution episodes, B-sticker vehicles may be temporarily banned. Check news alerts from the Generalitat de Catalunya before your trip. Total ban (future): B-sticker vehicles are scheduled to be completely banned from the ZBE starting 1 January 2028 The easiest option is to avoid the zone altogether. Use the ring roads (Rondas): The main ring roads — the B-20 (Ronda de Dalt) and the B-10 (Ronda Litoral) — are from ZBE rules. You can use them to drive through or around Barcelona (for example, to reach BCN (Barcelona-El Prat / Josep Tarradellas) ) without ever officially entering the zone. Park outside and take public transport: Leave the car at a car park just outside the ZBE perimeter and take Metro Barcelona trains into the city centre. Good locations include: Cornellà Centre (next to the large shopping centre). Car parks in Sant Just Desvern Sant Cugat Warning: These shopping centres are inside the ZBE. Do not assume you can park at a major mall. The following are popular but sit the low emission zone: Maremagnum (Port Vell) La Maquinista Diagonal Mar Hundreds of cameras scan number plates at all entry and exit points of the ZBE. The system is fully automated. If an unauthorised vehicle enters, a fine is issued to the registered owner — the rental company. The company will pay the fine and then charge the amount to your credit card, along with a significant administrative fee (often €30–€50) for handling the infraction. If you rent an electric or modern hybrid car, it will carry an Etiqueta 0 or ECO sticker. These vehicles have unrestricted access to the ZBE and often enjoy perks such as free or reduced parking. You have nothing to worry about.