Saturday, August 2 , specifically. A moment to rest … especially if you are a car that is part of the restrictions of today’s “ Hoy No Circula ” program. Indeed, on this day, some vehicles must remain at home.
The “Hoy No Circula” program, designed by the CDMX Ministry of Environment ([Sedema](https://sedema.cdmx.gob.mx/programas/programa/hoy-no-circula)), mandates that certain vehicles stay off the roads to improve the air quality . This initiative aims to reduce polluting emissions , promoting a cleaner, healthier environment for all residents.
The system is straightforward: the most polluting vehicles must stay off the streets. Not every vehicle faces restrictions on Saturdays, leading to specific guidelines that vary week by week.
Where are these regulations enforced?
Primarily in the 16 boroughs of Mexico City and the following municipalities in the State of Mexico :
- Atizapán de Zaragoza
- Coacalco de Berriozábal
- Cuautitlán
- Cuautitlán Izcalli
- Chalco
- Chicoloapan
- Chimalhuacán
- Ecatepec de Morelos
- Huixquilucan
- Ixtapaluca
- La Paz
- Naucalpan de Juárez
- Nezahualcóyotl
- Nicolás Romero
- Tecámac
- Tlalnepantla de Baz
- Tultitlán
- Chalco Valley
Which Vehicles Are Affected by the Saturday Restrictions?
With all this in mind, who is affected today? The rules can be a bit complex. While some cars face restrictions every Saturday, others may have more flexibility. For clarity, here are the different categories:
- Cars that can circulate every Saturday
- Cars that must stay home every Saturday
- Cars with alternating restrictions every other Saturday
These restrictions, however, are time-bound, only effective between 5:00 AM and 10:00 PM. This means that drivers can move freely at night, devoid of any concern for fines.
It is essential to note that these regulations do not operate uniformly every Saturday. Careful examination of the calendar is necessary, as the impact varies week by week based on specific details including hologram categories and plate numbers.
For instance, vehicles with Hologram 2 cannot circulate on Saturdays, while those with Hologram 0 and 00 enjoy unrestricted mobility every week. As for Hologram 1 holders, restrictions vary—on August 2, 2025 , those with odd-numbered plates must stay home.
Today marks the first Saturday of August; thus, the odd-numbered registered vehicles face a ban. The next Saturday, the regulations will shift to affect cars with plates ending in even numbers. Notably, several exceptions allow specific vehicles to operate freely:
- Electric, natural gas, or hybrid vehicles
- Vehicles with disabled plates
- All urban transport services (including funeral services)
- School or passenger transport vehicles
- Vehicles dedicated to public safety or civil protection
Vehicles violating these restrictions face fines ranging from 20 to 30 times the Unidad de Medida y Actualización (UMA) , which translates to approximately 1,924.40 pesos to 2,886.60 pesos .
Through such measures, the city aims to improve not only air quality but also the overall living conditions for its residents. Compliance with these regulations is necessary for achieving these environmental goals.
Increased awareness and adherence to the “Hoy No Circula” regulations will pave the way for cleaner air in Mexico City, helping to create a healthier environment for everyone.