An ordinary vehicle needs a green emissions sticker to enter a signposted German Umweltzone unless a recognised exemption applies. The sticker must show the current registration number and be affixed to the windscreen. A modern Euro standard alone does not replace it.
When is a sticker required?
The requirement does not start at the German border. It applies inside a signposted Umweltzone. Check the destination and the approach: a hotel, garage or turn into the centre may already be inside.
Foreign plates are subject to the same basic requirement. The issuing organisation assesses the vehicle from its documents and may request additional evidence if the emissions information is missing.
What does the number 4 mean?
The German scheme has four emissions groups: no sticker for group 1, red for group 2, yellow for group 3 and green for group 4. Normal access to current active Umweltzonen uses the green sticker.
The number 4 is not Euro 4. Euro 5 and Euro 6 vehicles use the same sticker. Petrol cars can often qualify from Euro 1 with a regulated catalytic converter; diesels generally qualify from Euro 4, sometimes earlier with an approved filter retrofit. The actual vehicle documents determine eligibility.
Electric vehicles: change from October 2026
From 1 October 2026, the amendment published as BGBl. 2026 I No. 278 added vehicles with electric identification under § 11 FZV to the exemptions in Annex 3 of the 35th BImSchV.
German vehicles generally use the relevant E registration. For foreign vehicles, check the identification recognised under German rules, including any applicable blue E sticker. A label saying “electric” or a hybrid drivetrain alone does not establish an exemption.
Where the zones are
Active areas include Berlin, Munich, Leipzig, Frankfurt am Main, Cologne and Regensburg. Some zones cover several municipalities, so zone counts and city counts differ. Use the official UBA map.
Some former zones have been abolished. Check the dates in an old guide and consult the abolished-zone overview.
A green sticker does not override a diesel ban
Munich separately restricts Euro 4/IV and older diesels unless exempt, and its zone includes Mittlerer Ring. Stuttgart distinguishes a wider restriction from a smaller area also covering Euro 5/V.
A vehicle can therefore have the correct sticker and still fail a local restriction. Check its fuel, precise standard, destination and any exemption in the German zone guide.
Motorcycles, motorhomes and exemptions
Statutory exemptions include two- and three-wheeled motor vehicles and specified special vehicles. Historic vehicles need the appropriate recognised status; age alone is not enough.
An ordinary van or motorhome is not generally exempt just because it is used for a holiday. Disability-related exemptions also have precise conditions and identification requirements.
Documents and where to obtain a sticker
Prepare a legible document identifying the current plate, vehicle and emissions details. Include evidence of an approved filter modification where relevant. German registration authorities, technical organisations and authorised issuing points can provide stickers.
You can order ahead or visit an authorised point in person. Compare the options in where to buy a German emissions sticker.
Affixing the sticker and validity
Check the registration number before affixing it. Clean and dry the inside of the windscreen, choose a visible place that does not obstruct the view and apply the entire sticker as instructed. A loose sticker or phone photograph does not replace affixing it.
There is no annual renewal. Replace the sticker when the registration number changes, the windscreen is replaced or it becomes illegible. A change of owner with the same plate does not itself require annual replacement.
Penalty
The basic penalty for a violation is €100; administrative proceedings can add costs. A vehicle eligible for a green sticker can still violate the rule if the sticker is missing, illegible or has the wrong registration number. Enforcement can also concern a parked vehicle.
Check the sticker, current boundary map and any separate diesel restriction before travelling. For other destinations, use the European country guides.