The capital of Mexico and the state of Mexico have a program of environmental restrictions of the Hoy No Circula movement. The program has been in existence since 1989 and aims to reduce air pollution by limiting the number of cars on the roads. The essence of this program is that cars are not able to drive on certain days of the week from 5:00 to 22:00 depending on:
- last digit of the number,
- sticker colors («calcomanía»),
- environmental category (hologram with markings 0, 00, 1, 2).
Additionally, with «contingencia ambiental» (environmental alarm) increased restrictions are introduced for everyone.
To control the Hoy No Circula program, special hologram stickers are used, which the driver receives after passing verification (emissions test). They are divided into several types and determine when the car is able to go on the road.
Main categories of holograms:
- 00 («doble cero») — issued to new vehicles or those that have undergone extensive testing and have shown minimal emissions. Valid for up to 2-4 years. Cars with this hologram are completely exempt from the restrictions of the Hoy No Circula program.
- 0 («cero») — assigned to low-emission vehicles, but not new ones. Free from most restrictions, the car is able to drive on weekdays and Saturdays without restrictions, except during periods of environmental alarm.
- 1 («uno») — higher emission vehicles. They are prohibited from moving one day a week and two Saturdays a month.
- 2 («dos») — the oldest and most polluting cars. They do not have the opportunity to travel one day a week and every Saturday.
The Hoy No Circula program applies not only to local vehicles, but also to vehicles registered in other states of Mexico or abroad. Nevertheless, for «strangers» cars are subject to stricter regulations if they do not have local emissions testing.
Vehicles with license plates from other states with a valid hologram 0 or 00 issued in Mexico City or the State of Mexico are treated as local vehicles and are subject to the usual rules (exemption from prohibitions for holograms 0 and 00, except in cases of environmental alarm).
Cars from other states without the verification hologram «Verificación Vehicular» Mexico City or State of Mexico:
- automatically equated to category «2» (least environmentally friendly),
- are not able to travel on Tuesdays from 5:00 to 22:00 (fixed day of restriction),
- additionally fall under the restrictions «Hoy No Circula Sabatino» (on Saturdays, depending on the last digit of the number).
Vehicles from other states but tested in another jurisdiction (e.g. Jalisco, Morelos, Puebla, etc.):
- if this state is included in the «Convenio de homologación» (mutual recognition agreement), then the hologram is recognized. These states are now Hidalgo, Morelos, Puebla, Queretaro and Tlaxcala,
- if not, then the car is considered without verification and is subject to restrictions as category 2.
Foreign cars (USA, Canada, etc.) are considered «sin verificación» (category 2), that is, you cannot travel one day a week (Tuesdays) and certain Saturdays, plus there are prohibitions in case of high air pollution.
A national visitor or resident entering Mexico City in a car with out-of-state license plates without local verification will face automatic restrictions. To travel freely, you need to go through local verification (purchase a hologram 0 or 00) or apply for a special guest government pass «Pase Turístico» — temporary permit for free movement. A travel pass is issued without payment, but only a maximum of 2 times a year and for a maximum of 14 days in total. The pass only applies to the specific vehicle and number specified in the application. While the pass is valid, the car is exempt from Hoy No Circula restrictions and has the right to drive on weekdays and Saturdays.
To obtain Pase Turístico for travel within Mexico City and the State of Mexico, you must complete the online procedure on the official website of the CDMX government. It's free and takes a few minutes.
1. Go to thiswebsiteand register using your email address.
2. Fill out the electronic form, indicating:
- place of registration of the vehicle (Mexico state or foreign country). In case of foreign cars, temporary import permit must be indicated,
- license plates,
- VIN (serial number),
- car make and model,
- year of manufacture,
- fuel type.
You can register up to three cars per account.
3. Select the period of validity of the pass depending on the rules for the current year.
The pass can be purchased for 3, 7 or 14 days. Maximum — 14 calendar days in each semester (6 months). So, per year it is possible to purchase up to 28 days of exemption from the restrictions of the Hoy No Circula program (14 days in the first half of the year and 14 in the second). The limit cannot be exceeded.
4. The system will generate a PDF document with a QR code and car details.
5. Print it out and place it on the dashboard so that it can be seen through the windshield.
The car must belong to an individual. Passes are not issued for vehicles over 15 years old.
Driving in Mexico City on restricted days without a travel pass may incur a fine of approximately 2,262 to 3,394 pesos (2025).