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Environmental Zones
Last substantive update: 16 september 2025
Environmental zones in Germany
Nearly all major German cities have established environmental zones — called Umweltzonen. To enter these zones, you are required to have an official environmental sticker (Umweltplakette) displayed on your vehicle’s windshield. This sticker proves that your car meets the emission standards necessary for entry.
Since september 2025 it has been quite simple – only cars with the Green Environmental sticker for Germany are allowed into the cities. Even if you drive an electric car, you are obliged to have the environmental sticker.
Where Is the environmental sticker required?
Since 2008, more and more German cities have established an Umweltzone (environmental zone). These zones vary by city: sometimes only the city centre applies, in other cases the entire city. In the Ruhr area, several cities have merged into Germany's largest contiguous environmental zone
In recent years, several cities have also abolished the eco zone. There are now around 40 environmental zones spread across the country. Anyone who visits a German city center by car will therefore quickly drive into an environmental zone. Access is only permitted with a valid green environmental sticker (Umweltplakette). Without a sticker you risk a fine of € 100.
How Can I Check If My Car Is Allowed?
In cooperation with the RDW and the Umwelt Bundesambt have developed a custom license plate check with which you can see within 10 seconds whether your car is allowed into an environmental zone. Select your destination below and fill in your license plate. Press "check" and you will see it immediately.
Special Rules for Campers
Unfortunately-there are no special rules for motorhomes. A diesel camper from before 2006 with euro standard 3 will therefore not receive a sticker. You will not be the first person to call us and have to be disappointed. So pay very close attention here.
Special Rules for Electric Vehicles
For electric cars there is an optional blue E-sticker. This can offer additional benefits locally, such as free or cheaper parking, but is not a substitute for the green sticker.
Environmental zones in Germany - map of German cities
Below you will find a map with all environmental zones in Germany. The map was updated on september 16, 2025 with the dates of https://www.umweltbundesamt.de.if you click on a specific city you will go to the page of that city.
Abolition of some German environmental zones by 2025
In recent years, more and more German cities have abolished their environmental zones (Umweltzonen). Whereas in the past drivers were only allowed to drive into the city centre with a green environmental sticker, this is now a thing of the past in many cities. Note: in the cities popular with the Dutch, such as Berlin, Aachen and Cologne, a sticker is still mandatory.
March 2023
Karlsruhe, Heidelberg, Schwäbisch Gmünd
May 2023
Wendlingen am Neckar, Urbach, Ilsfeld
January 2024
Hemmingen
June 2024
Tübingen, Reutlingen, Ulm
In 2025
Hannover, Freiburg, Mannheim
Diesel bans in German cities
In 2018, Hamburg became the first German city to start a diesel ban. Since then, other cities have also taken steps to improve air quality. In Stuttgart, Düsseldorf and Berlin, among others, restrictions have now been introduced for older diesel vehicles. These measures often apply in specific streets or districts with high air pollution.
Although more and more environmental zones have been abolished in recent years, the diesel ban remains in force in some cities for the time being. Older diesel cars in particular without the most modern emission standards can therefore still have to deal with restrictions.
On this page we have further elaborated everything about the German diesel ban.
Exemptions from the environmental sticker
Not every vehicle needs an environmental sticker (Umweltplakette). Multiple exemptions apply:
Highways
The German autobahn always falls outside the environmental zones, even when passing through cities. For through traffic to Austria, Slovenia or Switzerland, therefore, no environmental badge is required
Motorcycles, mopeds, scooters
These vehicles are exempt
Classic cars (Oldtimers)
Classic cars may enter the zones, provided they are officially registered as classic cars. For foreign vehicles, you must have a FIVA Identity Card visible in the car
Disabled vehicles
Vehicles with a European disabled parking card are also exempt from the sticker requirement
Frequently asked questions
Written by:
Mattijs Wijnmalen has been writing about the German environmental zones and Umweltstickers since 2018.
He closely follows the latest legislative changes and municipal decisions and translates them into reliable and up-to-date information for motorists traveling to Germany.