Information for vehicle owners

On 1 January 2008 the cities of Berlin, Cologne and Hanover introduced low emission zones to mitigate air pollution caused by fine particles. The city of Augsburg will follow now from the first of July 2009.

Low emission zones are identified by traffic signs and additional signs. The Ordinance on the marking of vehicles (35th BImSchV) stipulates that vehicles have to be marked with stickers (on the windscreen inside the vehicle) and lays down the criteria vehicles have to meet for the different kinds of stickers. Stickers are valid for all low emission zones in any city in Germany.

An overview of low emission zones, both existing and planned, was drawn up by the Federal Environmental Agency (in German).

[www.bmu.de/luftreinhaltung]

The city of Augsburg furthermore provides important information about her low emission zone on her website www.umweltzone.augsburg.de (size, exceptions, service, practical advice; unfortunately only in German).

[www.umweltzone.augsburg.de]





The campgrounds and the motorhome parking lot on Ackermannstrasse are located outside the low emission zone!

Vehicles are divided into emissions groups according to their particulate emissions and they receive a sticker of the colour marking the respective emissions group:

• red for emissions group 2,
• yellow for emissions group 3
• and green for emissions group 4.

Vehicles with stickers for emissions group 2 or above may enter the currently existing low emission zones. Stickers are only mandatory for cars driven within these zones. They are not necessary for crossing the border into Germany.

Article 6 of the Ordinance on the marking of vehicles clearly lays down which vehicles belong to which emissions group. If registration papers do not identify the European emission standard of a vehicle, the date of the vehicle's first registration is used as a basis for classification. Vehicles with diesel engines can generally reach the next higher emissions group if they are retrofitted with an emission control device such as a particulate trap. Proof of the standard achieved through retrofitting (stipulated by the Ordinance on the marking of vehicles) must be provided in form of a certification issued by the garage.

Where to obtain emissions-control windscreen stickers

Stickers can be obtained from the local licensing administration (in Augsburg e.g. the ‘adminstrative office for citizens’ – Bürgeramt, An der Blauen Kappe 18, 86152 Augsburg) or other competent bodies designated under Länder law. Another option are bodies authorised to carry out waste gas examinations (garages, service stations with garages and inspection agencies such as Dekra and TÜV - Technical Inspection Authority - in Germany or even their offices abroad).

Stickers will be issued by any of the above-mentioned bodies upon presentation of vehicle registration papers.

It is also possible to order stickers from one of the above-mentioned bodies before driving into a low emission zone. Registration papers may be submitted (in principle copies do not need to be officially certified) via fax or e-mail (scanned document) or as copy by post. The sticker will then be sent by post. The issuing bodies charge between 5 to 10 euro for one sticker. Costs for shipped stickers, including postage, may be higher.

Exemptions are possible in accordance with Article 1 (2) and Annex 3 to Article 2 (2) of the Ordinance on the marking of vehicles. Any application for exemption concerning the low emission zone of Augsburg can be adressed to the ‘adminstrative office for citizens’ – Bürgeramt, An der Blauen Kappe 18, 86152 Augsburg. It is not permitted to enter a low emission zone without a sticker or special authorisation (fine: 40 euro).

Overview of emissions groups for vehicles:

(exceptions to the rule may occur in individual cases)

Euro 1 or less
Emissions group 1
First registration passenger car (Diesel engines)
before 1 January 1997
First registration truck (Diesel engines)
before 1 October 1996
Sticker: none

Euro 2 or Euro 1 with retrofit
Emissions group 2
First registration passenger car (Diesel engines)
from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2000
First registration truck (Diesel engines)
from 1 October 1996 to 30 September 2001
Sticker: red

Euro 3 or Euro 2 with retrofi
Emissions group 3
First registration passenger car (Diesel engines)
from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2005
First registration truck (Diesel engines)
from 1 October 2001 to 30 September 2006
Sticker: yellow

Euro 4 and higher or Euro 3 with retrofit
Emissions group 4
First registration passenger car (Diesel engines)
from 1 January 2006
First registration truck (Diesel engines)
from 1 October 2006
Sticker: green

Euro 1 or less (vehicles which do not meet group 4 criteria)
Emissions group 1
First registration passenger car (petrol/gas) engines
before 1 January 1993
First registration truck (petrol/gas)
before 1 January 1993
Sticker: none

Euro 1 and higher or Annex XXIII to Road Traffic Registration Regulations (StVZO) or equivalent or 52nd Ordinance on derogations to the StVZO or equivalent
Emissions group 4
First registration passenger car (petrol/gas)
from 1 January 1993
First registration truck (petrol/gas)
from 1 January 1993
Sticker: green

Further information on low emission zone at Augsburg:

[www.umweltzone.augsburg.de]
 
Bürgeramt der Stadt Augsburg
An der Blauen Kappe 8
86152 Augsburg
phone: (0821) 324- 3583
fax: (0821) 324-35 03, 35 07
e-mail: buergeramt@augsburg.de