This Saturday the Hoy No Circula Saturday scheme is once again applied, the program with which the Secretariat of the Environment of Mexico City (SEDEMA) limits the circulation of certain vehicles to contain pollution in the Valley of Mexico. Again, those planning to use the car will have to carefully check the finish of its license plate and the verification hologram before hitting the road.
Las restrictions They do not only remain in the 16 municipalities of CDMX, but also reach several metropolitan municipalities of 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 route passes through any of these locations, the Saturday No Circulation Day also applies.
What cars and license plates does Hoy No Circula Saturday affect?
The principle of the program is to reduce the number of cars in circulation to lower emissions, but Saturdays are governed by specific guidelines 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 odd or even week define who stays parked and who can leave.
It is important to take into account that the Saturday Today Not Circulating is not in effect throughout the day. The application schedule goes from 05:00 to 22:00so that outside of that interval—at night and early morning—the program does not restrict vehicle traffic, as long as no environmental contingency or other additional provision is decreed that imposes extraordinary limits.
In the case of February 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 leave it stored until after 10:00 p.m. On the contrary, cars with hologram 0 and 00 maintain permission to circulate without restrictions within the framework of Today No Circula Saturday. Those with hologram 2 cannot circulate under any circumstances on Saturdays.
In addition to the previous cases, remember that there are a series of exempt vehicles that can circulate without being affected by these limitations. These are:
- 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
Those who decide not to comply with the provisions of Hoy No Circula are exposed to a significant 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 economic impact is the possible immobilization of the vehicle and the time spent resolving the situation 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 check before starting what hologram your vehicle has, what the ending of your license plate is and if the calendar shows an even or odd week. Hoy No Circula Saturday focuses on removing the most polluting cars from circulation, but at the same time it forces people to better plan trips and evaluate mobility alternatives when the vehicle must rest.
Photo | Gilbert Ng
In WorldOfSoftware | The countries that pollute the most in the world, gathered in a detailed graph
