Third week of October… You know what that means: with us, the restrictions of Today No Circula Saturday. Because in addition to a few days of rest, the weekend is also synonymous with restrictions.
If you still don’t know what we are talking about, it is because you are not aware of the project devised by the CDMX Environment Secretariat (SEDEMA) with which it tries to breathe the quality of the air we breathe. As? The fact that? Let’s explain it.
SEDEMA seeks a clear purpose: improve air quality in the metropolis. The strategy is simple, at least on paper, forcing more vehicles to remain parked. The consequence is direct: fewer cars in circulation equal cleaner air for everyone… particularly in areas where this measure is in force.
It is worth clarifying that Hoy No Circula does not operate throughout the national territory, but is specifically active in the 16 municipalities that make up Mexico City and in these municipalities in the metropolitan area of the State of Mexico:
• 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
• cover of Baz
• Tultitlan
• Chalco Valley
What cars and license plates does Hoy No Circula Saturday affect?
Now that we know the territorial scope of application, what specific limitations should we consider? Basically, on Saturdays there is a driving ban… although only for certain vehicles. The restrictions do not apply uniformly nor do they operate under the same criteria as workdays.
As seen in the table above, during the regular week it is the vehicle’s hologram that determines who circulates and at what time. However, on Saturdays they operate with a particular mechanics, where some cars alternate their days of rest while others can never move.
Under the current scheme, we can identify three different scenarios:
• Vehicles authorized to travel every Saturday
• Vehicles forced to remain off the road every Saturday
• Vehicles that alternate, resting on alternate Saturdays
These limitations, it is worth noting, do not remain active for 24 hours. The application period runs between 05:00 and 22:00. This means that during night hours it is possible to move without considering any limitations.
So, how to correctly interpret Saturday’s Hoy No Circula? Basically, those who are included in the restrictions must refrain from using their vehicle to avoid financial penalties. For this reason, it is essential to verify whether or not it is appropriate to keep the car at home.
To begin with, all vehicles carrying hologram 2 are prohibited from circulating on any Saturday, without exception. On the contrary, those with holograms 0 and 00 enjoy total freedom of mobility since they are considered low-polluting emission units.
The bearers of hologram 1 They require greater attention because they operate through a rotating system. During this day, as it is the first Saturday of the month of May, vehicles with hologram 1 whose license plate ends in an odd number must rest.
Next weekend the situation will be reversed, but this Saturday, October 18, 2025, both those with hologram 2 and those with hologram 1 with an odd number plate termination must remain parked. Next week it will be time for hologram 1 with a plate ending in an even number to rest.
However, there are exempt categories that can circulate without limitation:
• 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
If these provisions are violated, the financial penalty ranges between 20 and 30 times the Measurement and Update Unit (UMA), resulting in amounts between 1,924.40 pesos and 2,886.60 pesos.
Photo | Darwin Watcher
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