Do I need an emission sticker to drive in Germany?
Many German cities have set up a low emission zone, called an Umweltzone in German. Inside these zones, cars, vans, lorries and buses may only be driven or parked if they display an emission sticker on the windscreen. The rule applies to every vehicle on the road, whether it is registered in Munich, Milan or Manchester. A foreign number plate is not an exemption.
The sticker itself goes by several names, which is useful to know when you read road signs or search online:
- Umweltplakette – the official everyday term, literally "environmental sticker" or "environmental badge".
- Feinstaubplakette – "fine dust sticker", an older name you will still see often.
- Schadstoffplakette – "pollutant sticker", used less frequently.
In English you will come across "German emission sticker", "green sticker Germany" or "environmental badge Germany". All of these describe the same thing: a round, coloured sticker showing your vehicle's emission group and your registration number.
The entrance to a low emission zone is marked with a white sign showing the word Umwelt in a red circle above Zone. An additional panel below it shows the colour of sticker that is allowed in. The zone itself usually covers the city centre and sometimes a much wider area, so it is easy to end up inside one without noticing – for example when following a sat nav to a hotel or a car park.
Which emission sticker does my car get?
German law sorts vehicles into emission groups (Schadstoffgruppen). Each group has its own colour:
| Sticker colour | Emission group | Typical vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Green | Group 4 | Most petrol cars with a regulated catalytic converter, diesels from Euro 4, electric cars |
| Yellow | Group 3 | Older diesels, mainly Euro 3 |
| Red | Group 2 | Even older diesels, mainly Euro 2 |
The table shows rules of thumb, not a guarantee. Which colour your vehicle is entitled to depends on its emission data. Some Euro 3 diesels, for example, can qualify for green after an approved retrofit with a particulate filter, provided this is documented in the vehicle papers.
Why only green matters in practice
In the low emission zones that are in force today, red and yellow stickers no longer allow entry. Only the green sticker opens the gates, so to speak. For that reason we only issue the green Umweltplakette. If your vehicle does not qualify for green, a red or yellow sticker would not help you in an existing zone anyway.
You do not need to work out your emission group yourself. We check the documents you upload before anything is printed, and we will contact you if the data does not support a green sticker.
How is the green sticker issued for a foreign-registered car?
German vehicle documents contain an emission code in a fixed field, which makes the classification straightforward. Registration certificates from other countries are laid out differently and often do not contain this code. For foreign vehicles, the decision is therefore usually based on other information in the papers, such as the date of first registration and the vehicle's technical data, including its emission standard where this is shown.
This is why the vehicle document is a mandatory part of every order. Our team looks at the information before the sticker goes to print. If something is unclear or missing, we ask you rather than guess.
We are a recognised issuing centre in Germany, authorised to issue official emission stickers as an approved emissions testing station (AU station). The sticker you receive is the regular German Umweltplakette, printed with your registration number and the seal of our issuing centre. It is the same official sticker that drivers in Germany receive.
How to order the German emission sticker from abroad
You can order the green sticker online before you travel, without visiting Germany first. The process takes a few minutes:
- Enter your registration number exactly as it appears on your number plate, including any letters, spaces or hyphens. The number is printed on the sticker, so it must match your plate.
- Choose a lettering style for the number shown on the sticker. The preview shows you how it will look.
- Upload your vehicle document as a clear photo or scan (see the next section for what is needed).
- Enter your delivery address and pay by PayPal, credit card, Google Pay or Apple Pay.
Once all details and the vehicle document are complete, we usually dispatch your sticker within 24 hours.
Delivery to your home country
Stickers sent abroad always travel as registered post, so the delivery can be tracked. Delivery times depend on the destination and the local postal service:
| Destination | Usual delivery time |
|---|---|
| Other EU countries | usually 3–14 working days |
| Countries outside the EU | usually longer, often 7–28 working days |
The shipping cost for your country is shown in the checkout as soon as you select it. Our advice: order a few weeks before your trip, especially if you live outside the EU or travel during holiday periods.
Which vehicle document do I need to upload?
The sticker may only be issued for the vehicle it belongs to. That is why we need to see your registration document. For foreign vehicles, please upload the national registration certificate of the country where the vehicle is registered.
- Card-format documents (for example in Poland or Austria): upload the front and the back, because the technical data is often on the reverse.
- Single-sheet documents (for example in Switzerland): the front side is normally sufficient.
- Multi-page documents: upload all pages that show the vehicle and emission data.
Please make sure the photo or scan is sharp, complete and well lit. Accepted formats are JPG, PNG and PDF, up to 10 MB per file. The document is stored in encrypted form and used only to check and process your order.
Other documents can only be accepted to a limited extent and may slow down processing. The registration certificate is always the quickest route.
What happens if you drive without a sticker?
Driving into a low emission zone without a valid sticker is an administrative offence. According to the German catalogue of fines (Bußgeldkatalog), the fine is 100 euros (as of October 2026). There are no penalty points in the German driver register for this offence.
A few points that often surprise visitors:
- Parking counts too. A car parked inside the zone without a sticker can be fined, even if it is not being driven.
- Checks are carried out by the police and by the local public order office (Ordnungsamt), typically during normal traffic and parking enforcement.
- Not knowing about the zone is not an excuse. The zones are signposted at every entrance.
- A sticker from another country does not count. Only the German Umweltplakette is recognised in German zones.
Compared with the fine, ordering the sticker in advance is a small step – and it saves you from worrying about where exactly the zone boundary runs.
How to fit the sticker on your windscreen
The green sticker belongs on the inside of the windscreen, where it is clearly visible from outside. The usual position is the bottom right-hand corner as seen from the driver's seat. This is common practice rather than a strict legal requirement, but it is where enforcement officers expect to look.
- Clean the area of glass thoroughly and let it dry completely.
- Peel off the backing and press the sticker on from the centre outwards.
- Smooth out any air bubbles.
When do you need a new sticker?
The sticker is tied to your vehicle and registration number. It cannot be transferred to another car, and once it has been removed it must not be stuck on again. You will need a new one if:
- your vehicle receives a new registration number,
- the windscreen is replaced, or
- the sticker is damaged or has become unreadable.
Otherwise the sticker remains valid with no expiry date.
Are there exemptions from the sticker requirement?
Yes, but they are narrower than many drivers expect:
- Motorcycles and mopeds do not need a sticker.
- Classic cars with a German historic number plate (the "H" plate) are exempt.
- Vehicles with certain special rights, such as emergency vehicles, are exempt.
Motorhomes, vans and lorries are not exempt – they need a sticker just like a passenger car.
For classic cars registered abroad, the situation is less clear-cut. Some exemptions may apply, and individual cities can grant additional exemptions of their own. If you are travelling with a historic vehicle on a foreign registration, check with the city you plan to visit before you set off.
Electric cars and the blue E-sticker
A frequent misunderstanding: electric cars also need the green emission sticker to enter a German low emission zone. A purely electric vehicle without a combustion engine belongs to emission group 4 and is entitled to the green sticker, but it still has to display it, unless a legal or local exemption applies.
What is the blue E-sticker?
Germany's Electric Mobility Act (Elektromobilitätsgesetz) allows electric vehicles to be marked as such. Vehicles registered in Germany can receive an "E" number plate for this purpose. For electric vehicles registered abroad, a blue E-Plakette is provided instead. It is fitted at the rear of the vehicle, usually on the rear window, not on the windscreen.
The blue E-sticker serves a different purpose from the Umweltplakette. It identifies the car as an electric vehicle, for example where local benefits for electric cars exist. It does not replace the green emission sticker. If you drive an electric car with a foreign registration into a low emission zone, the green sticker on the windscreen is what counts.
Germany compared with other European countries
The German Umweltplakette is only valid in Germany. Many neighbouring countries have their own systems, and the German sticker is not recognised there – nor are foreign stickers recognised in Germany. If your route crosses several countries, check each one separately.
- France uses its own air-quality certificate, the Crit'Air sticker, in its low emission zones.
- Austria has environmental zones in some regions with their own rules and markings.
- Italy restricts access in many cities through local traffic and environmental zones.
- Denmark operates environmental zones in its larger cities with its own requirements.
- The Netherlands has environmental zones in a number of cities, enforced under Dutch rules.
For Germany, official background information on air quality and low emission zones is published by the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt).
Frequently asked questions
Do foreign cars need a German emission sticker?
Yes. In German low emission zones the sticker requirement applies to all cars, vans, lorries and buses, regardless of the country of registration. Without a valid green sticker you may not drive or park inside the zone.
Which colour sticker do I need for Germany?
In practice the green sticker. Red and yellow stickers no longer allow entry to the low emission zones currently in force. Whether your vehicle qualifies for green is checked using your vehicle documents before the sticker is printed.
How long is the German emission sticker valid?
It has no expiry date. It stays valid as long as your registration number and windscreen stay the same and the sticker remains undamaged.
Can I buy the Umweltplakette at the border?
Do not count on it. In Germany the sticker is issued by authorised centres such as testing stations, garages or registration offices. The easiest way is to order it online before your trip, so it is already on your windscreen when you arrive.
How do I get a German environmental sticker for a car registered abroad?
Enter your registration number exactly as it appears on the plate, upload your national registration certificate and pay online. We check the documents, print the sticker with your registration number and send it to you by registered post.
What documents do I need to order the Umweltplakette?
Your vehicle's registration certificate. For card-format documents, upload the front and back; for single-sheet documents, the front is normally enough. Accepted formats are JPG, PNG and PDF, up to 10 MB.
How long does delivery take outside Germany?
Once your order is complete, we usually dispatch within 24 hours. Delivery to other EU countries usually takes 3–14 working days; outside the EU it usually takes longer. Please order well before your trip.
What is the fine for driving in a German low emission zone without a sticker?
According to the German catalogue of fines, 100 euros (as of October 2026). No penalty points are added. Parking in the zone without a sticker can also be fined.
Do electric cars need a German emission sticker?
Yes. Electric cars also need the green Umweltplakette to enter low emission zones, unless an exemption applies. The blue E-sticker for foreign-registered electric vehicles does not replace it.
Do motorcycles need an emission sticker in Germany?
No. Motorcycles and mopeds are exempt. Motorhomes, vans and lorries, however, need a sticker just like cars.
Where do I put the Umweltplakette?
On the inside of the windscreen, clearly visible from outside. The bottom right-hand corner is the usual position. Clean and dry the glass first.
Is the German sticker valid in France or Austria?
No. The Umweltplakette is only recognised in Germany. Other countries, such as France with its Crit'Air system, have their own rules and stickers.
Last updated: 26 October 2026