German Emission Stickers

Anyone travelling to Germany should be aware that since last year all cars are classified according to their age, and the associated permitted level of exhaust emission,  a petrol car without a catalytic converter  meriting a red sticker, for the worst level of emissions!   At the moment any petrol-engined car with a converter (Euro 1) will be given a green sticker, as will any diesel-engined car from January 2006 onwards.  The vehicle registration number is printed on the sticker.

Foreign-registered cars are required to display a sticker, which can be purchased on line, at authorised garages, and other places.  Classic cars within the definition set by the Federal Government are permitted to drive without a sticker.  The current fine for not displaying the correct sticker is currentl set at 40 Euros per offence.

  Green sticker for post-2006 diesel cars and cat-equipped petrol cars

The classification is shown by a coloured windscreen sticker, the colour of which must match that shown on signs for the road you are travelling on.  Use of these colour codes is particularly prevalent in built-up areas and nature parks etc. as may be decided by the local council.  The Environmental Zone so established may be permanent or operate only during certain hours, and may grant access to any or all levels of approval, as denoted by the sign. 

   Sign showing a road approved for all emission classes

For details and information on applying for a sticker see:

www.tuev-sued.de/auto_fahrzeuge/feinstaub-plakette/feinstaubplakette_ausland/england

Diesel-engined cars manufactured before 1 January 1997, and Petrol-engined cars of before 1 January 1993 are not eligible for stickers, as these clases of vehicle maybe subject to possible bans on their use.

Exemptions are granted to two-and three-wheeled vehicles, vintage cars, commercial and agricultural vehicles etc. even though many of them emit far more pollutants than most cars.

I could be cynical, but this legislation - and particularly the exemptions - have the ring of having been introduced to satisfy Germany's  powerful Green, Road Transport, and Farming pressure groups.  However - we are stuck with it if we want to visit their beautiful country.





Edited by Mike Fishwick - 08 May 2015 at 11:35am

Green stickers are not given to all cars - you only get a green sticker if your diesel car is post-2006, or your cat-equipped petrol-engined car is post January 1993, Norman!  I have heard of people who have had to enter an environmental zone with no sticker, only to find that the dealer does not sell them, and then trying to convince a politzei not to book them!


Edited by Mike Fishwick - 07 May 2015 at 9:59am

Brian, that sounds like an excellent idea and for 5 euros has to be worth doing.

Mike, Brian might be better to answer that. I am taking my Alpina which was registered Jan 2006 through France to Venlo. Then later in June we are going to St Avold and then on to Munich and then to Buchloe. I consulted with a German Alpina friend and he said the only place in Munich that required the green sticker was in the very heart and where our hotel is was ok. He also said that there was minimal chance in his view of UK car getting a fine. However if for 5 euros I can reduce the risk of any problem I will.

Thanks for that Mike I will check it out we are at the Hotel Karl Theodor, Paschstrase 46 80637 Munchen

Yikes, that might be an issue for some.

ok so a C2 2.7 1986/7 is exempt?

I am trying to carry out a pretty unscientific risk assessment here, we have one car pre 93, so good and three 2006 or newer. Then three in between, I guess it will be down to individual choice. But really do not want to change hotel at this late stage, I think acting English might be their only option?

I think our plan is thus, go to Venlo, drive to BMW dealer over border with V5 doc, get sticker and bye bye.

Thanks excellent, I contacted them and we can collect on a Saturday, just need to produce V5C and it is 5 euros per sticker.

Edited by Norrie - 11 May 2015 at 10:48am

Mike Fishwick wrote: Anyone travelling to Germany should be aware that since last year all cars are classified according to their age, and the associated permitted level of exhaust emission,  a petrol car without a catalytic converter  meriting a red sticker, for the worst level of emissions!   At the moment any petrol-engined car with a converter (Euro 1) will be given a green sticker, as will any diesel-engined car from January 2006 onwards.  The vehicle registration number is printed on the sticker. Foreign-registered cars are required to display a sticker, which can be purchased on line, at authorised garages, and other places.  Classic cars within the definition set by the Federal Government are permitted to drive without a sticker.  The current fine for not displaying the correct sticker is currentl set at 40 Euros per offence.   Green sticker for post-2006 diesel cars and cat-equipped petrol cars The classification is shown by a coloured windscreen sticker, the colour of which must match that shown on signs for the road you are travelling on.  Use of these colour codes is particularly prevalent in built-up areas and nature parks etc. as may be decided by the local council.  The Environmental Zone so established may be permanent or operate only during certain hours, and may grant access to any or all levels of approval, as denoted by the sign.     Sign showing a road approved for all emission classes For details and information on applying for a sticker see: www.tuev-sued.de/auto_fahrzeuge/feinstaub-plakette/feinstaubplakette_ausland/england Diesel-engined cars manufactured before 1 January 1997, and Petrol-engined cars of before 1 January 1993 are not eligible for stickers, as these clases of vehicle maybe subject to possible bans on their use. Exemptions are granted to two-and three-wheeled vehicles, vintage cars, commercial and agricultural vehicles etc. even though many of them emit far more pollutants than most cars. I could be cynical, but this legislation - and particularly the exemptions - have the ring of having been introduced to satisfy Germany's  powerful Green, Road Transport, and Farming pressure groups.  However - we are stuck with it if we want to visit their beautiful country.

I ordered mine from TUV Auto Services online on Tuesday evening, paid 15 Euro by card and it arrived this morning (Friday) to Perthshire Scotland, I didnt mind a little bit more as a detour would disrupt my schedule too severely.

Norrie wrote: The sticker is for as long as it is fixed to the vehicle, but you cannot transfer the sticker from vehicle to vehicle. It relates to the vehicle and not the owner. 5 euros from German BMW dealer with your V5C doc

Hi,

We indeed did go to see the very helpful Autohaus Timmermanns at Nettal and saw the branch manager Ingo Grosse-Sextro. We all got the green 4 sticker. The cost was 5 euros. However a very older car without cat converter was a different issue. Ingo made a number of telephone calls to the German authorities. It appears that for example for Munich that any owner would need to apply to the local city authority and can receive an exemption certificate for 3,6, 9 or 12 months. However, this is really based on someone who needed to be there for some significant time. Not really for a visit over a few day. There are some difficult forms to be completed which are all in German and even the dealer struggled to understand some of the requirements.

The rule of probability was determined as this, an attempt had been made to obtain a sticker. This was not possible, it was felt that the German Police would understand this and also being a UK car that they would not take action by more likely to admire the vehicle. The advice was not to worry.

Edited by Norrie - 09 Jun 2015 at 11:45am