Emission stickers for Germany and Holland

The stickers are only required for driving in the centre of towns and cities, but as it is possible to inadvertently stray into a low emission zone, it would probably be prudent to get one for Germany.  Holland currently only has 2 towns where passenger cars could be affected.

A search on my friend Google has produced this information for Holland: the environmental zones apply mainly to lorries, in 13 towns and cities.  They also apply to Utrecht and Rotterdam for delivery vans and passenger cars with different categories according to age and whether petrol or diesel.  In Utrecht it applies to vehicles running on diesel and registered before 1.1.2001; in Rotterdam it's the same, and also for vehicles running on petrol registered before 1.7.1992.  The Rotterdam details are in English here: http://gezonderelucht.nl/healthier-air-rotterdam.  The details for Utrecht are only in Dutch, here: https://www.utrecht.nl/wonen-en-leven/milieu/luchtkwaliteit/milieuzone-utrecht/ (I'm Dutch so no problem for me , it is what I've written here)  But, there is no information in any of it relating to foreign-registered vehicles.

For Germany there is information on this website: https://www.tolltickets.com/country/germany/emissionsticker.aspx?lang=en-GB  Note that there are several websites selling these at various prices.

There are cheaper ways to obtain the German sticker than using mail order websites - by taking your V5c to the first car dealer that you come across in Germany. He will give you one for 5 Euros.

The subject has been covered numerous times in this forum, the latest thread being the following:

https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/club-together/discussions/sites-touring/overseas-sites-touring/aachen-low-emission-zone-green-sticker/

This link shows you where they are needed. http://www.environmental-badge.co.uk/en/environmental-badge.html  Have a look at the map and if you don't intend to go into any of the towns and cities listed you don't really need an Umwelt Plakette but just in case you have an emergency its not a bad idea to get one. If you have enough time before you go and would prefer to buy one in time for your trip you can use this link https://www.berlin.de/labo/mobilitaet/kfz-zulassung/feinstaubplakette/shop.86595.en.php It costs €6 and you just have to attached a scan of your V5. They are pretty quick at sending out. If you are happy to buy one on arrival in Germany follow Lutz's advice. I would also agree with Lutz about avoiding some websites that charge a fortune to supply one, that was the reason for posting the link to the Berlin office as they won't rip you off. Ina is the expert on Holland. 

David

As David's link for Berlin it is only €6 and takes about 3 days, We have only been into a city once with ours and that is because we got there by accident.

DianneT    

Thanks for all your replies they will be very helpful. As our first stop will be near aachen then we hope to visit frankfurt we have decided to purchase a permit as we may not be able to find public transport into these areas without first entering the zones eg. Park and rides.

i had one for the first time I drove into germany about 7 years ago, haven't bothered since and has never been a problem even when driving into Aachen in 2015 and other cities. However given there is a sticky about French pollution stickers we need a stickied thread for all EU locations, given this issue will spread? After all Club members clearly drive beyond France - however strange that my appear. 

Flatcoat

I am thinking about starting an Important Information thread locked/stickied but haven't quite found the time but I will. In the mean time I will sticky this.

David

We plan to go to Germany in June and have purchase a green sticker (8.9 euros) from Tolltickets, and a Swiss vignette.

One thing that no-one has mentioned is that it is a one-off purchase, not annual. so its not a great cost.

We may not take the motorhome into any town centres but its better to safe !

For Germany, several years back, we did as Lutz suggested and visited a car dealer next to the Lidl store we were shopping in.

All done for 5 euros, they even stuck it on the windscreen.

Need to get one for the new car now!

We have driven into several cities, parking is quite easy, and reasonably priced or even free, in many  cities in Germany......Berlin, Munich, Heidelberg, Trier, Cologne, Karlsrhue etc.