Emission sticker in Germany
In Germany, a emission sticker is necessary for vehicles in certain zones. It indicates compliance with emissions standards, helping to enhance urban air quality. Vehicles receive a colored sticker based on their emission class. At Tollvignettes, we help you prepare for a sustainable visit to Germany. Get your emission sticker easily and avoid fines while contributing to a cleaner environment.
Purchase online
Getting your Germany emission sticker is easy. You can order your emission sticker for cars directly online via our website. Our process is quick, easy and ensures that you are fully prepared for your trip to or through Germany.
In Germany, an emission sticker of a specific color is mandatory in and around various cities. This sticker indicates that the vehicle meets emission standards and contributes to improved air quality in urban areas. The emission sticker is required in several environmental zones located in and around major cities.
These zones are marked with a sign featuring a red circle with the word "Umwelt" (environment) and the text "ZONE" below it. Beneath this sign, there is an additional sign displaying the symbols of the permitted stickers and the word "frei" (free) for vehicles with the sticker that are allowed to drive in the area. The end of the environmental zone is also clearly marked with a sign, indicating where the zone ends.
The environmental zones are primarily located in and around German cities and are continuously expanding.
All vehicles with four wheels are required to have an emission sticker to drive in low-emission zones. Vehicles with two or three wheels are exempt from this requirement.
Vehicles that require a sticker:
Cars
Campers
Busses
Lorries
Vehicles that are exempt:
Trailers & caravans
Motorcycles
Mopeds & scooters
Validity
The German environmental sticker does not expire. However, it is linked to the license plate, so if you purchase a new vehicle, your old sticker will no longer be valid.
Price
The price of the German environmental sticker is the same for all vehicles: €12.50, including shipping costs.
The emission stickers are available in three colors: green, yellow, and red, depending on the vehicle's environmental performance. The cleaner and more fuel-efficient the vehicle, the higher the chance of receiving a green sticker.
| Diesel | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sticker color | Vehicle | Euro Emission Standard |
| Green | Car/truck | Euro 4 |
| Yellow | Car/truck | Euro 3 |
| Red | Car/truck | Euro 2 |
| Petrol | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sticker color | Vehicle | Euro Emission Standard |
| Green | Car/truck | Euro 1 |
Driving in an environmental zone without a valid emission sticker can lead to hefty fines. Order yours before your trip to stay compliant and avoid unexpected costs.
Nordrhein-Westfalen: Aachen, Bochum, Bonn, Bottrop, Castrop-Rauxel, Dinslaken, Dortmund, Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Eschweiler, Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Glad, Hagen, Herne, Herten, Köln, Krefeld, Mönchengladbach, Münster, Neuss, Oberhausen & Mühlheim, Overath, Recklinghausen, Remscheid, Siegen, Wuppertal
Baden-Württemberg:
Asperg, Bietigheim-Bissingen, Freiberg am Neckar, Freiburg, Heidelberg, Heiden, Heilbronn, Herrenberg, Ilsfeld, Ingersheim, Karlsruhe, Kornwestheim & Remseck, Leonberg, Ludwigsburg & Umgebung, Mannheim, Markgröningen, Möglingen, Mühlacker, Pfinztal, Pforzheim, Pleidelsheim, Reutlingen, Schramberg, Schwäbisch-Gmünd, Stuttgart, Tamm, Tübingen, Urbach, Wendlingen
Bayern:
Augsburg, München, Neu-Ulm, Regensburg
Berlin:
Berlin
Bremen:
Bremen
Hessen:
Darmstadt, Frankfurt, Langen, Limburg, Marburg, Offenbach, Wiesbaden
Sachsen:
Leipzig
Sachsen-Anhalt:
Halle (Saale), Magdeburg
Niedersachsen:
Hannover, Osnabrück
Rheinland-Pfalz:
Mainz
Das Ruhrgebiet:
Das Ruhrgebiet
No, you cannot choose the color of your emission sticker. The color is automatically determined based on official emission standards and your vehicle registration data.
An environmental zone is an area where only vehicles with the correct emission sticker are allowed. These zones, clearly marked with traffic signs, help improve air quality by reducing harmful emissions like fine dust and nitrogen oxides.
Yes, vehicles with an electric drivetrain are also required to have an emission sticker. These vehicles always qualify for a green emission sticker.
A sticker is considered invalid if:
The sticker is missing or not properly affixed.
The sticker is damaged or not clearly visible on the windshield.
The license plate on the sticker does not match the vehicle's license plate.
Ensure that your emission sticker is correctly placed and remains clearly readable.
No, unfortunately, the emission sticker cannot be returned or modified, as it is specifically linked to the registered data and corresponding license plate.
Additionally, the emission sticker is not transferable to another vehicle with a different license plate. If you use the sticker for a vehicle other than the one it was issued for, you risk receiving a fine.
Vehicles belonging to certain organizations may be exempt from the requirement to have an emission sticker. The following vehicles fall under this exemption:
Mobile machinery and equipment.
Ambulances and doctor’s cars in use – with the corresponding marking "Arzt Notfalleinsatz".
Vehicles driven by or used to transport individuals who are mobility impaired, in need of assistance, or blind, and can prove this with their disability pass (marked with) "aG", "H", or "Bl".
Classic cars with an H or 07 license plate, as well as foreign vehicles that meet the required conditions.
Civilian vehicles in service of the military, used for unavoidable journeys necessary for carrying out official Bundeswehr duties.
Vehicles with special rights – police, customs, fire department, etc.
Work machines.
Agricultural and forestry tractors.
Two- and three-wheeled motor vehicles.
Vehicles of non-German troops stationed in Germany for military cooperation (only for journeys undertaken for urgent military reasons).
Diplomatic vehicles.
The delivery of the emission sticker takes an average of 2 to 5 working days to reach your chosen address. The exact delivery time may vary depending on the destination country, local postal services, and any potential shipping delays.
We therefore recommend ordering your emission sticker well in advance to avoid any delays.
The emission sticker must be placed on the inside of the windshield, at the bottom right corner. Ensure that the windshield has a minimum temperature of 10°C and clean the surface beforehand.
During winter, it is recommended to apply the sticker after driving, as the windshield will be warmed up by the vehicle’s heating system.
Once applied, the sticker cannot be removed without being damaged. This means that incorrectly placed stickers cannot be reused. When removed, the emission sticker must be destroyed, as required by law.
