This Saturday the Saturday No Circula Today scheme comes into force again, the mechanism with which the Mexico City Environment Secretariat (SEDEMA) limits the circulation of certain cars to help control pollution in the Valley of Mexico. Once again, those who plan to use their vehicle should carefully review the finish of the license plate and the verification hologram before putting a wheel on the street.
The restrictions do not only apply to the 16 municipalities of CDMX, but also extend to various metropolitan municipalities of the State of Mexico. The program is also valid 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, keep in mind that, even if you only cross one of these demarcations during your journey, the Today No Circula Saturday scheme also applies to you.
What cars and license plates does Hoy No Circula Saturday affect?
The central objective of the program is to reduce the number of vehicles in circulation to reduce emissions, but on Saturdays it is governed by particular criteria that complement what is established from Monday to Friday. Not all drivers rest on the same weekend: the type of hologram, the last digit of the license plate and whether Saturday corresponds to an even or odd week are the factors that determine who can go out and who must leave the car parked.
It is also key to consider that Hoy No Circula Saturday does not operate 24 hours a day. The application schedule goes from 05:00 to 22:00so outside of that period —that is, during the night and early morning— the program does not limit the circulation of vehicles, unless an environmental contingency or another extraordinary measure is activated that imposes additional restrictions.
For May 9, 2026, the calendar indicates that it is the third Saturday of the month, so it is classified as an “odd week.” In this scenario, cars with hologram 1 whose plates end in an odd number are the ones that must remain off the road while the program is in effect that day.
If your car falls into that category, you must keep it stored until after 10:00 p.m. On the other hand, vehicles that carry hologram 0 and 00 retain the possibility of circulating without restrictions within the Today No Saturday Circula scheme, while those with hologram 2 are prohibited from circulating on any Saturday.
In addition to the previous cases, it is important to remember that there is a set of exempt vehicles that can travel without being affected by these rules. Among them are:
- Electric, natural gas or hybrid technology vehicles
- Units with plates registered in the name of people with disabilities
- All those intended for urban public transport services (including funeral services)
- Vehicles used for school or passenger transportation
- Those assigned to public security and/or civil protection duties
Those who decide to ignore the provisions of Hoy No Circula risk receiving a considerable financial penalty. The fine for failing to comply with the program ranges from 20 to 30 times the Measurement and Update Unit (UMA), which represents a minimum of close to 1,924.40 pesos and a maximum of approximately 2,886.60 pesos, in addition to the possible immobilization of the vehicle and the time that will have to be invested to resolve the offense before the competent authorities. These penalties are directly linked to compliance with the rules of Hoy No Circula Saturday.
In conclusion, if you are going to travel by car this Saturday through the CDMX or through the suburban municipalities of the State of Mexico contemplated in the program, the most prudent thing is to verify before starting the engine what hologram your vehicle has, what is the ending of your license plate and if the calendar indicates an even or odd week. Hoy No Circula Saturday focuses on removing the most polluting vehicles from the streets, but it also forces us to better organize trips and evaluate mobility alternatives when the car has to stay at home.
Photo Osmany M Leyva Aldana
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