City Centre Pollution Check

[bluest2]

Hi,

I will be travelling north to south through Germany during August/September and I am starting to make plans on where to visit. I have read about a new system being introduced into some German cities, maybe spreading to more as time goes on (I think Cologne was mentioned). The article I read said that cars wanting to drive in these cities would require a sticker confirming that the car had passed a special exhaust emissions check. This check would be carried out at a German MOT-style garage. The rules would apply to foreign and domestic vehicles equally. There woud be fines for people not displaying the sticker.

Firstly, is it true and how can I find out which areas are operating this scheme? Are there specific road signs so I don't accidentally stray into one of these zones.

Finally, As I'll probably only be in the country for a few days, I'm assuming it's not worth having the emissions check carried out. Would you agree?

[bluest2]

Thank you Benni, the link was very useful. There is quite a lot of stuff in English but it leaves me with a couple of questions.

I am planning to visit Stuttgart so it looks like I will need an Umwelt-Plakette. The good thing is that because I have a newer car I should be able to order one on-line before I go.

On the map it looks like the green zones are very large, is this correct? I thought it was just for the city centres.

Do you know how long the Umwelt-Plakette is valid for?

From your post, it sounds like all the fun is being sucked out of owning a classic car.

[bluest2]

If the sticker last for the life of the car, and there is no test required for my car, what is the point? Surely the authorities will know from the make/model of vehicle that it is ok.

I think it says that Stuttgart gets the green-zone from March so I will definitely need one. All I need now is for the new Porsche Museum to be finished and I'll be happy.

[bluest2]

I was just going to have a look on the link posted by Benni again to see if there is any more info but the site appears to have been taken down. Maybe they've abandoned the whole thing as utterly rediculous, maybe.

[bluest2]

JMGS4 said:

Have read through the Stuttgart site and there is only one way to get this, that is to go to the Stuttgart TüV with ALL your Original GB paperwork! , pay up to €160 (if they consider it a "difficult" case, €53 if it's simple), then you can drive into Stuttgart...non-germans cannot apply online..

In other words give Stuttgart a miss..theres little to see in the boring swabian capital anyway.......
BTW Motorways and the expressways through the town (B10) are excused.

The original link, that doesn't work now, had instructions for buying on-line. Surely they wouldn't stop this, it makes it very difficult for a short term visitor, especially as it's a modern car so they will know it's quite clean anyway.

The reason we were stopping at Stuttgart was to see the new Porsche Museum, if it's finished. I've not done my research yet but maybe there is somewhere nice to stay, not too far away and get the train into the City.

[bluest2]

JMGS4 said:

bluest2 said:

JMGS4 said:

Have read through the Stuttgart site and there is only one way to get this, that is to go to the Stuttgart TüV with ALL your Original GB paperwork! , pay up to €160 (if they consider it a "difficult" case, €53 if it's simple), then you can drive into Stuttgart...non-germans cannot apply online..

In other words give Stuttgart a miss..theres little to see in the boring swabian capital anyway.......
BTW Motorways and the expressways through the town (B10) are excused.

The original link, that doesn't work now, had instructions for buying on-line. Surely they wouldn't stop this, it makes it very difficult for a short term visitor, especially as it's a modern car so they will know it's quite clean anyway.

The reason we were stopping at Stuttgart was to see the new Porsche Museum, if it's finished. I've not done my research yet but maybe there is somewhere nice to stay, not too far away and get the train into the City.

BlueSt2. The Stuttgart site states categorically that foreigners (i.e. non-german registrations) cannot reserve/buy on-line. This is because they cannot accept foreign paperwork or check it without physically seeing the originals in their offices!!! You can also reckon with the fact that you'll have to get an official legally binding translation into german of all paperwork (which can cost derly!)... I know how obstructive german Beamten can be!!! (they are not allowed to understand another language unless they are an official court-recognised translator)

One way around the stickers is to use the Park and Drive parking places on the dge of the town and use public transport to get in (public transport here is not smelly, dirty, expensive and unpunctual like the UK!)

From the the link Benni has kindly provided it is clearly possible for foreigners to purchase the badge. There is a section in the on-line shop where you can can upload scanned images of the registration documents etc. It would seem that, as long as the vehicle in question is fairly new, they can determine whether it will pass or not from the emissions information published by the manufacturer.

JMGS4 - As you have found some information saying it is definately not possible for a foreigner to buy the badge on-line, I am a little cautious of uploading documents such as this, and making payments, is there anyway I can check the authenticity of the site found by Benni?

[bluest2]

Benni said:

By the way, I do not work for them.....

The thought never crossed my mind Benni, you've been most herlpful Just wondered about the website. So they effectively act as an agent on my behalf. When I first saw the web site I thought it was the official government one, which is why I was suspicious. I may contact them with some questions nearer the time. Be interesting to know what % of applications are successful.... At €15 every time they don't have to worry too much about the applications being successful.

It may well be more convenient all round (badge, parking, navigation etc.) to stay out of the City and get train/bus as required.

What is the country around Stuttgart like? My friend has borrowed my Lonely Planet book so I feel a bit lost! We like beautiful villages, small hotels and of course, good driving roads.

[bluest2]

Benni - Your have been most helpful and I will let you know how I get on with the badge (hopefully green!). Thank you for the time you have put into finding this stuff out.

However I have to pick you up on one area where you are clearly incorrect. As any right-thinking person knows, we Brits drive on the correct side of the road. It is you who has have adopted a perverse New World tradition that came about in the 1700s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_on_the_left_o...