This Saturday the Hoy No Circula Saturday scheme is activated again, the program with which the Mexico City Environment Secretariat seeks to limit the number of cars on the streets and, thereby, reduce pollution in the Valley of Mexico. Once again, many motorists will have to carefully check the finish of their license plate and the verification hologram before leaving home.
The measure does not remain only in the capital. In addition to the 16 mayoralties of CDMX, Hoy No Circula Saturday is applied in several metropolitan municipalities of the State of Mexico. This is the case of:
- 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
What cars and license plates does Hoy No Circula Saturday affect?
The heart of the program is simple: it is about leaving a portion of the cars in the garage to alleviate traffic and emissions. However, Saturdays have their own rules that overlap with the Monday to Friday scheme. Not all motorists rest on the same weekendand that’s where the hologram, the finish of the plate and whether Saturday falls on an even or odd week of the month come into play.
It is also important to be clear that the Saturday Hoy No Circula does not operate 24 hours a day. The restrictions are limited to the period between 05:00 and 22:00. Outside this range, that is, at night and early morning, vehicles can circulate without the program stopping them, as long as there are no other environmental contingencies or extraordinary provisions.
For this February 14, 2026, the key is in the calendar: it is the second Saturday of the month, which is why it is considered an “even week.” In this scenario, cars with hologram 1 and plate ending in even number They are the ones that must remain out of circulation during program hours.
If your vehicle fits that combination, you will have to leave it parked until after 10:00 p.m. On the other hand, cars with hologram 0 and 00 maintain their usual permission to circulate without restrictions within the Today No Circula Saturday scheme.
Another important block is the exceptions. Some vehicles are left out of the play and can move freely even when others have to rest. This is the case of:
- Electric, natural gas or hybrid technology vehicles
- Units registered with plates for people with disabilities
- All those intended for urban public transport services (including funeral services)
- Those dedicated to school or passenger transportation
- Those assigned to public security and/or civil protection
Whoever decides to ignore the rules of the program is exposed to a no small financial penalty. The fine associated with non-compliance with Hoy No Circula is calculated between 20 and 30 times the Measurement and Update Unit (UMA), which translates to approximately 1,924.40 pesos at the lower end and up to 2,886.60 pesos at the upper end.
In summary, if you plan to use your car this Saturday in CDMX or in the suburban municipalities of the State of Mexico, check first what hologram your car has, what the ending of your license plate is and if the calendar shows an even or odd week. Today No Circula Saturday is designed to take the most polluting vehicles out of the equation, but also to force us to better plan our trips and consider mobility alternatives when it’s time to rest.
Foto | Ryotando
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