This Saturday the Hoy No Circula Saturday scheme comes into force again, the program with which the Secretariat of the Environment of Mexico City (SEDEMA) restricts the circulation of certain vehicles to contain pollution in the Valley of Mexico. Once again, those planning to use the car should carefully check the finish of its license plate and the verification hologram before hitting the road.
The restrictions are not limited to the 16 municipalities of CDMX, but also extend to several suburban municipalities in the State of Mexico. The program also operates in:
- Atizapan of Zaragoza
- Coacalco de Berriozábal
- Cuautitlan
- Cuautitlán Izcalli
- Chalco
- Chicoloapan
- Chimalhuacan
- Ecatepec de Morelos
- Huixquilucan
- Ixtapaluca
- Peace
- Naucalpan de Juárez
- Nezahualcoyotl
- Nicolas Romero
- Tecámac
- World of Baz
- Tultitlan
- Chalco Valley
Also, remember that if your journey includes passing through any of these locations, the Saturday No Circulation Day also applies.
What cars and license plates does Hoy No Circula Saturday affect?
The logic of the program is to take a portion of the cars off the road to reduce emissions, but specific rules apply on Saturdays that are added to the scheme from Monday to Friday. Not all vehicle owners rest on the same weekend: the hologram, the finish of the license plate and whether Saturday corresponds to an even or odd week are the elements that determine who must leave the car parked and who can drive.
It is also key to keep in mind that the Not on Saturday Circulation Today It does not operate 24 hours a day. The hours of operation are from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., so that outside of that period—during the night and early morning—the program does not limit vehicle traffic, unless an environmental contingency or other extraordinary measure is declared that imposes additional restrictions.
In the case of March 21, 2026, the calendar indicates that it is the third Saturday of the month, which is why it is considered an “odd week.” Under this configuration, vehicles with hologram 1 and plates whose ending is an odd number are those that must remain out of circulation during program hours.
If your car meets that combination, you will have to keep it stored until after 10:00 p.m. On the contrary, cars with hologram 0 and 00 retain permission to circulate without restrictions within the framework of Today No Circula Saturday, while those with hologram 2 cannot circulate under any circumstances on Saturdays.
In addition to the previous cases, remember that there is a group of exempt vehicles that can move without being affected by these limitations. These are:
- Electric cars, powered by natural gas or with hybrid technology
- Units placed in the name of people with disabilities
- All those intended for urban public transport services (including funeral services)
- Those used for school or passenger transportation
- Those assigned to public security and/or civil protection tasks
Those who choose to ignore the provisions of Hoy No Circula risk a considerable financial penalty: the fine for violating the program ranges from 20 to 30 times the Measurement and Update Unit (UMA), which is equivalent to approximately 1,924.40 pesos at the minimum and up to 2,886.60 pesos at the maximum. Added to the financial burden is the possible immobilization of the vehicle and the time that will have to be spent resolving the problem before the authorities. Which cars and license plates are affected by Hoy No Circula Saturday?
In conclusion, if you are going to travel by car this Saturday through CDMX or through the suburban municipalities of the State of Mexico included in the program, it is advisable to verify before starting what hologram your vehicle has, what the ending of your license plate is and if the calendar indicates an even or odd week. Today No Circula Saturday is designed to remove the most polluting cars from the streets, but at the same time it requires better organization of trips and consideration of mobility alternatives when the vehicle has to rest.
Photo | Chandler Cruttenden
In WorldOfSoftware | The countries that pollute the most in the world, gathered in a detailed graph
