Umweltplakette: the green sticker every driver into Germany needs

Almost every major German city center is now covered by an Umweltzone — a low-emission zone where only cars carrying a green Umweltplakette sticker (category 4) are allowed. The zones cover Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Cologne, Frankfurt and dozens of smaller cities.

What the sticker does

Umweltplakette is a small round windscreen sticker that certifies your car's emission class. The green one (number 4) covers Euro 4 petrol cars and newer, plus most modern diesels. Older diesels are usually banned entirely, regardless of sticker.

Fines and enforcement

Entering an Umweltzone without a valid sticker costs 100 EUR. German police and license-plate cameras enforce it consistently — foreign-registered cars from the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria and the Netherlands get fined regularly, often because drivers assume a quick visit doesn't count. It does.

Getting the sticker

The sticker is a one-time purchase that stays valid for the lifetime of the vehicle. In Germany itself you can buy it at TÜV or DEKRA testing stations — that means an in-person visit, a queue and a fee in euros.

Easier route from abroad: nemeckaplaketa.cz issues the sticker online. Upload a photo of your vehicle registration, pay by card, and the sticker arrives by post within a few days — in time for your trip. It's the simplest option for a weekend in Berlin, a Bavarian holiday or a business trip to Frankfurt.

If you drive to Germany more than once a year, the green sticker is a small tax you only forget once. That 100 EUR fine is an expensive lesson.