Germany Low Emission Zones 2026: Umweltzone city list

What is a German Umweltzone

A Umweltzone (literally environmental zone) is a designated urban area where only vehicles with a valid emissions sticker (Umweltplakette) may enter. The system was introduced in 2008 in Berlin, Cologne and Hannover and has since expanded to around 35 cities (UBA 2026). It is governed by §§ 40 and 47 BImSchG (Bundes-Immissionsschutzgesetz) + the federal 35th BImSchV ordinance. All Umweltzonen apply 24/7, 365 days a year, with no time-of-day exception.

The goal is to reduce NO2 and particulate (PM10, PM2.5) concentrations to meet EU air quality standards. Cities exceeding EU limits are legally required to implement air quality plans (Luftreinhalteplane) and many include an Umweltzone as the centrepiece.

The colour system: how stickers work

Cars were originally classified into four emission classes:

Today only the green sticker (class 4) is valid. Yellow and red stickers were phased out at the latest in 2014. If you see a yellow or red sticker in someone’s windscreen, it is decorative; it does not authorise entry.

The sticker shows the car’s licence plate handwritten on it, the issuing organisation logo, and a coloured circle with the class number.

Where to buy a sticker

Online (international shipping): TUV Rheinland, DEKRA, KuS, ADAC, GTU all sell stickers via post. About €6-10 plus €4-12 postage to a UK or EU address. Order at least 10 days before travel.

In Germany: any TUV, DEKRA, KuS, GTU station; many petrol stations; Werkstatten (garages); some city environmental offices (Umweltamt). €5-12 cash, immediate issue if you bring registration documents.

You will need:

• Registration document V5C (UK), Carte Grise (France), Carta di Circolazione (Italy), V5 (NL), Tarjeta de Inspeccion Tecnica (ES), etc.
• For UK cars: the V5C original, not a digital copy
• Vehicle identification number and licence plate

The sticker is glued inside the windscreen, top right corner, well visible from outside. It stays with the licence plate, not the car: if you change plates you must get a new sticker.

Which cities have an Umweltzone

The list is regularly updated. As of 2026 the most relevant cities for visitors:

Many smaller cities in Baden-Wurttemberg and Nordrhein-Westfalen have introduced LEZ zones since 2018. The ADAC and Umweltbundesamt maintain comprehensive maps. Always check before you drive.

Diesel-specific driving bans

Beyond the green sticker, some cities have additional diesel driving bans (Diesel-Fahrverbote) for older diesels on specific roads. Federal court rulings (Bundesverwaltungsgericht 2018) confirmed cities could impose these where air quality plans showed no other path to compliance.

Stuttgart

• Wide-area ban for Euro 4 diesel and below since 2019
• Euro 5 diesel ban in the kleine Umweltzone (Talkessel + Bad Cannstatt + Feuerbach + Zuffenhausen) since 2022, still active as of 2026 (Baden-Wurttemberg authority reviewing a possible relaxation from autumn 2026)
• Foreign-plated cars are included

Hamburg

Munich, Berlin, Cologne

• No general diesel ban as of 2026, though Munich considers one
• Some Umweltzonen are tightened to Euro 5+ diesel only via local ordinance

How to know if a route hits an Umweltzone

The challenge for visitors: Umweltzonen are not visible on standard GPS or paper maps. Three reliable ways to check:

• ADAC interactive Umweltzonen map: free, shows boundaries, restrictions and which sticker class is allowed. Plan your route before you leave.
• Umweltbundesamt portal: official federal source with city-by-city detail and updates.
• Smart navigation: TomTom GO, Google Maps and Apple Maps now show Umweltzonen boundaries and can route around them. Set car emission class in app settings.

Most visitors driving into Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart, Hamburg or Cologne will enter an Umweltzone simply by reaching the city centre. Buying a green sticker is far cheaper than fines.

Exceptions and grace periods

A small list of vehicles bypass the rules:

• Historic vehicles (H-Kennzeichen): cars older than 30 years registered as Oldtimer can enter all Umweltzonen regardless of sticker. UK and other foreign historic plates can apply for German recognition.
• Disabled driver permits: orange disabled badge holders (G or aG entry in the disability card) can request a free exemption (Ausnahmegenehmigung) at the local Umweltamt.
• Visitor cars in transit: no general “tourist exception” exists. Foreign cars without a sticker pay the fine like everyone else.
• Electric and hydrogen vehicles: green E-Kennzeichen plates can enter all Umweltzonen and many city-centre permit zones. EVs do not need a Plakette but get a green E-plate at registration.

How to fix a missing sticker on the road

If you discover you need a Plakette while already in Germany without one:

• TUV, DEKRA, KuS, GTU testing stations: walk in with V5C and registration. Sticker issued in 10 minutes for €5-12 cash.
• Many car workshops (Werkstatt): especially Bosch, ATU, Stop+Go, Pit-Stop, Euromaster. Same procedure.
• Some city environmental offices (Umweltamt): Berlin, Munich, Hamburg have walk-in counters during business hours.
• Online Express order: TUV will mail to your hotel within 1-2 days if you arrive without one. Not useful if you need to drive that day.

In every case bring the V5C / Carte Grise / Tarjeta original (photocopies refused) and the licence plate.

Penalties

Driving in an Umweltzone without a valid green sticker:

• €100 fine
• No Flensburg points (it is a Verwarnung not a Bussgeldbescheid in most cases)
• Foreign drivers are pursued via the EU Cross-Border Enforcement Directive

Driving in a diesel ban zone with a non-compliant car: €100 (no Flensburg points, BKatV Nr. 153). Repeat offences inside one year (BKatV Nr. 153a.1) escalate to €200. Primary bussgeldkatalog.de: “No Flensburg points or driving ban apply for this offence under the current Bußgeldkatalog”.

ANPR cameras at Umweltzone entries detect non-stickered cars in Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart, Hamburg and Cologne. Police spot checks occur randomly in all ~35 cities with an active Umweltzone.

Exemptions

A small list of vehicles are exempt:

• Emergency vehicles (police, fire, ambulance)
• Vehicles older than 30 years with H-Kennzeichen (historic licence plate)
• Mobility-impaired (G or aG entry in disability card) can apply for a free exemption
• Special hardship cases via local Umweltamt application

Foreign-registered historic cars with their own country’s vintage status (UK Historic Vehicle taxation, French Carte Grise Collection) can apply for a German exemption permit (Ausnahmegenehmigung) at the relevant city office. About €40-100 application fee.

Future direction: 2026 and beyond

The EU is tightening NO2 limits from 2025 onwards under the revised Ambient Air Quality Directive. Several German cities are studying tighter Umweltzonen (Euro 6 only) for 2027-2030. Berlin and Munich are likely first.

The Cannabisgesetz diesel discussion (replacing diesel cars with EVs in inner cities) is a federal proposal but no national law has passed by 2026. Local ULEZ-style schemes remain the cities’ tool.

For drivers planning to switch to electric, see our Germany EV charging guide. For the broader fine catalogue, see traffic fines.