GB: Emissions stickers

Emissions stickers from TÜV SÜD!

Clearance for environmental zones in city centres – also for cars registered abroad

Motorists with cars registered abroad who wish to operate their vehicles everywhere in Germany, also in city centres where environmental zones have been established, will need low-emission cars and emissions stickers in the future.

The rationale behind emissions stickers

Road traffic accounts for roughly one-third of particulate pollution. In cities, conurbations and near busy roads, particulate emissions often account for clearly over 50 % of air pollution. In an effort to protect human health, the EU has passed a European Directive which allows municipalities to establish environmental zones in city centres and conurbations. Whether such zones are established and when they will become effective depends on the local conditions.

In Germany, environmental zones are identified by the following rectangular road sign. In these zones, no vehicular traffic is allowed.

Exceptions from a general ban on vehicular traffic are indicated by an additional sign.

Clearance for environmental zones in city centres with emissions sticker

In specially designated environmental zones, vehicles may be operated if they have the emissions sticker which is shown on the additional sign and required to enter the zone.

The sign may show

1. one sticker (green),
2. two stickers (green and yellow), or
3. all three stickers

and exempts cars with these windscreen stickers from the general ban on vehicular traffic.

Which sticker for which motor vehicle?

Affected by possible bans on vehicular traffic are passenger cars, trucks and buses. Excluded are two- and three-wheel motor vehicles, industrial trucks, agricultural and forestry tractors, mobile machinery and equipment, vintage cars, cars of disabled people and motor vehicles operated with special permits.

There are four emission classes: The lower the particulate emission, the higher the emission class.

Motor vehicles in Class 1 are not eligible for emissions stickers. This class includes passenger cars without catalytic converter, pre-EURO-I and EURO-I diesel cars and trucks. All other motor vehicles are eligible for emissions stickers.

Vehicles registered abroad are classified on the basis of the European emissions standard according to which they have been registered, provided this standard is identified in their vehicle registration documentation or can otherwise be proved. If this is not the case, a simplified approach based on the first year of registration is used to issue emissions stickers to foreign cars:

Where can you obtain an emissions sticker?

You can obtain the emissions stickers either at one of our 300-plus TÜV SÜD Service Centers or on the Internet. TÜV SÜD Service Centers are conveniently located and offer parking and customer-friendly opening hours – often also on Saturdays.

www.tuev-sued.de/Service-Centre

To obtain your emissions sticker, you will need part I of your vehicle registration certificate (and/or your vehicle registration document). You need not bring the vehicle itself. Emissions stickers cost € 5.— including VAT if you collect the sticker at one of our Service Centers.

Alternatively, you can also simply order your emissions sticker here on the Internet (see below).
To do so, you need part I of your vehicle registration certificate (and/or your vehicle registration document) in electronic form (e.g. as a pdf or jpg file).

For € 15 including VAT and postage, you will receive your emissions sticker in the post without delay.*
*If your car does not qualify for an emissions sticker, we will inform you free of charge and reimburse your payment in full.

Credit Card Ordering


Your contact at TÜV SÜD:

TÜV SÜD Auto Service GmbH
Ridlerstr. 57
D-80339 München

E-mail: anm-muc@tuev-sued.de

Where to place the emissions sticker

The emissions sticker is placed inside the windscreen of your vehicle. Vision is least impaired if the sticker is placed at the top or bottom-right of your windscreen.