Driving to Germany? You’ll Have To Pay Extra In Cities

If you’re planning to drive in any of a growing number of German cities and large towns, you will now have to purchase an “environmental badge” for your motorhome or car. This is thanks to the growing popularity of Low Emission Zones – LEZs – rather like our own LEZ in London.

Known as “Umwelt Plakette”, the exact cost of these depends on your vehicle but if purchased in advance, they seem to cost around €30-€40. It’s worth noting that they appear to be a lot cheaper if bought locally in Germany, but finding a suitable outlet may not always be easy.

Full details of all of the German green zones can be found on the official Umwelt Plakette website and badges can also be purchased online in advance here, too. All vehicles (including foreign-registered vehicles) must display a badge and there is apparently a €40 fine for non-compliance.

There is a more general overview of all European LEZs here.