Pickles Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 For those of us who may need to travel through Germany, you may have heard about the proliferation of Low Emissions Zones, which have sprouted up all over the country. In some cases, they cover the main transit road through the area. ALL vehicles in these zones - whether German registered or not - have to display an emissions sticker showing the emissions class of the vehicle. Failure to do so results in an on-the-spot fine. To get one, you can either go to a TuV station, which will issue one on the basis of the emissions data from the carte grise/CofC for around about 10-12 € OR you can get one online via the following website:https://www.berlin.de/labo/kfz/dienstleistungen/feinstaubplakette.shop.en.phpIt costs 6€ via this route. The sticker lasts for the life of the car, so does not have to be renewed unless you have to replace your windscreen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday Driver Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 Just don't do what I did........Last autumn, we decided on a last minute camping trip to the Vosges with the idea of visiting Freiburg in the Black Forest as it's one of our favourite German towns in that area.I looked up the process for getting a sticker and found I could get one from DEKRA France by sending off a copy of my carte grise and a cheque for 17€. As we only had a few days before the off, I was a bit uncertain of whether the sticker would arrive in the post in time, so I checked out the Freiburg city website in case we needed to get one locally.Stickers available from City Hall or any TuV station for between 4-8€........[:(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Posted May 1, 2012 Author Share Posted May 1, 2012 [quote user="Sunday Driver"]Just don't do what I did........I looked up the process for getting a sticker and found I could get one from DEKRA France by sending off a copy of my carte grise and a cheque for 17€. As we only had a few days before the off, I was a bit uncertain of whether the sticker would arrive in the post in time, so I checked out the Freiburg city website in case we needed to get one locally.Stickers available from City Hall or any TuV station for between 4-8€........[:(][/quote]They are available online from TuV Nord for 12.50€, but the Berlin city office online link above will deliver them by post within Europe included in the 6€ fee for the sticker! The application is sent electronically: you need to scan in your V5C/CoC or Carte Grise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday Driver Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 Here's mine.....[8-|][img]http://www.freiburg.de/servlet/PB/show/1216120/Feinstaubplakette_Gruen_300px.jpg[/img]Just a cheapo sticker with my registration number written in the white box with a felt pen..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Posted May 1, 2012 Author Share Posted May 1, 2012 Mine is identical to yours, with again a handwritten reg no in the white box. It does look distinctly amateurish and easily forged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday Driver Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 Just to add a bit more information about these low emission zones (Umweltzonen) so you can check if your vehicle is going to be OK or not....Passenger cars are classifed according to their Euro emissions rating. As a general guide:Euro 1 - vehicles manufactured prior to 1996 Euro 2 - vehicles manufactured between 1996 and 2000 Euro 3 - vehicles manufactured between 2000 and 2005 Euro 4 - vehicles manufactured 2005 onwardsEuro 1 vehicles are currently banned from all zones. Euro 2 and 3 vehicles are now banned in most zones and will be banned from all zones as from January 2013 unless they are retrofitted to meet the newer Euro 4 standard.Euro 4 vehicles are OK and the green sticker is valid for the life of the vehicle.No doubt the low emissions zones planned for French cities will be based on the same criteria...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Posted May 1, 2012 Author Share Posted May 1, 2012 SD's table is primarily for diesels: any catalytic-converter-equipped petrol car is treated as Euro 4 compliant and would get a green sticker.Historic vehicles - over 30 years old - can be exempt but it is not entirely clear as to how foreign-registered historic vehicles get the exemption. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 And for old timers - cars that is not drivers !"Vintage cars are vehicles that are at least 30 years old andhave an "H" historic registration number or a red vintage carregistration number plate. Due to a nation-wide exemption for such vehiclesadded as an amendment to the Marking Ordinance. Such vintage cars canfreely move within the environment zone"http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/umwelt/luftqualitaet/de/luftreinhalteplan/download/Umweltzone_Broschuere_en.pdfObviously foreign 'vintage' cars will not have neither an 'H' nor a red plate however on the basis that subtleties of carte grise normal -v- garte grise collection are likely to be lost on the Germans the mere fact of being 30 years old should exempt my MGB [;-)]Good job too as we are planning a trip to Munich in the Autumn in it taking the scenic route across to Italy and up over the old San Berndino pass. Might even include a reprise of the Stelvio whilst we are in the area [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday Driver Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Munich's Umweltzone comprises the whole of the city centre within the inner ring road. There is an extensive park and ride system in place around the zone which might be a useful option for you. Secure parking with video surveillance for between 0,50€ and 1,50€ per day.http://www.muenchen.de/verkehr/auto/parken/park-ride.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Posted May 2, 2012 Author Share Posted May 2, 2012 [quote user="Sunday Driver"]Munich's Umweltzone comprises the whole of the city centre within the inner ring road. There is an extensive park and ride system in place around the zone which might be a useful option for you. Secure parking with video surveillance for between 0,50€ and 1,50€ per day.http://www.muenchen.de/verkehr/auto/parken/park-ride.html[/quote]You've just saved me a job, SD - we're off to Munich next week. Thank you very much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Thanks for the heads-up chaps. Spa in July and we often find ourselves over the border without even really knowing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyh4 Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Itr is only selected city centres where the Umweltzonen are to be found, so just being over the border is not a problem; However just being over the border and in the middle of Aarchen could be a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Thanks for the info but parking in Munich is never a problem for me.We have friends who live only 3km or so out of the city center with private parking and also virtually next to an U-bhan station so once there, apart from a trip to the beer shop for a couple of cases of beer there is rarely any need to use the car at all [;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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