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German Environmental Zones

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Benny53

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Jun 27, 2010
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Hi All. As some of you will know that in a number of German towns and cities have an Environmental Zone. A vehicle to enter any of these zones has to have a sticker/badge certifies that a vehicle meets the highest environmental standards. Most towns and cities the vehicle has to meet the standard, which is the highest, green badge (4). Most petrol cars meet the criteria for a green, however, diesel cars can have lower badges (red & yellow), which in time will no longer be valid. I am somewhat confused as to the information I have seen as to the correct criteria for a green badge.
My question is does anyone know if my car meet the criteria to get the green sticker/badge. As my car is a diesel I don't want to go through the hassle and expense of sending my documents etc., and not getting the badge.

I have a 2005 CLK 220, I understand that emissions standard is Euro 4 for my car.

Many thanks
Benny
 
That's interesting.

Do diesel engines kick out PM2.5 or PM10?

And what about petrol engines?

And which is most dangerous to breathe in?
 
PM, I believe, means 'particulate matter'... small particles that can be inhaled. Depending on the size, e.g. 2.5 or 10 microns in diameter, these have varying levels of damage to human health. I think the smaller ones are most dangerous as they can pass into the blood, iirc. (Or cross the blood/brain barrier iirc)
 
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The reason I asked is because I believed that diesel fumes (PM) were more dangerous than petrol fumes, but in some recent thread I saw here, someone was saying that petrol fumes had smaller particles (PM2.5) and so were more dangerous than diesel fumes, which surprised me.

So, I'm not sure now, but will have to do some reading.

If someone here knows the answers, let us know.
 
Once stuck on they can't be removed (without destroying them in the process), which is a pain if you need to have a windscreen replaced!
 
Satch said:
You get them here:

Order form (ENGLISH) - ENGLISH Low Emission Zone | TÜV NORD

Eur. 12.50 for non German registered cars
Click to expand...

Many thanks, but I still would like to know which sticker / badge I would get before going through the hassle of applying. If I can only get a yellow one or even worse a red then there is no point in applying. As these would not allow me to drive in the LEZ zones. I know that there are a few Yellow -green zones but these will become green only in the near future. :dk:
 
Benny53 said:
Many thanks, I have seen this (and other info sites) before I started this thread and ended up confused. I am hope that someone will either have the same car as me or is in the know.
Click to expand...


Yes, I had a similar issue before and got it sorted with help of a local ADAC office. Have a look here. I can't recall the in's & out's but it was sorted very easily at the time.

http://www.adac.de/_mmm/pdf/27048_169219.pdf
 
John Jones Jr said:
Yes, I had a similar issue before and got it sorted with help of a local ADAC office. Have a look here. I can't recall the in's & out's but it was sorted very easily at the time.

http://www.adac.de/_mmm/pdf/27048_169219.pdf
Click to expand...

Very useful., many thanks.
As Mercedes (via "My Mercedes") list that my car has CoC document EU4 without Reg. Cert. Part II and Emission control EU4 technology Coc, this would suggest that my 2005 CLK 220 conforms to Euro 4, or am I wrong? :dk:
 
FWIW the German police don't enforce on vehicles from UK as the offence carries a €40 fine and one point on the German traffic register which cant be legally collected as long as you don't have a German address.

detection of the offence is by ANPR and not displaying the sticker when parked and observed by the police.

So if you are an infrequent visitor to Germany you have to ask is it worth it:dk:
 
Has any uk car been fined or had any hassle regarding this? If not, probably ok to ignore.

I spoke to some English people who lived in France this summer, and I asked them about this new law dictating that all cars travelling through France, including foreign cars, must have 2 breathalyzers on board.

They laughed and told me the law was unenforceable so everyone ignored the silly law. I haven't checked on the truth of what they said though.
 
I drive in Germany with my car 6 - 10 times per year mainly in the low emission zones of Frankfurt and Mannheim I have never had a sticker since the scheme started and it was a German traffic cop who told me they dont bother with UK cars incidentally rental cars in these locations don't have stickers either.

As for the French one breathalyzers are unenforceable on UK motorists however if you get stopped in France you will have to be fluent in French to make the point or you will be arrested and taken to the local nick if you protest the on the spot fine in English or poor French so its just easier to carry one
 
Good to know about them ignoring UK cars for the stickers. Do they also ignore UK cars regarding their legal requirement of having winter tyres fitted in winter?

I don't understand why the breathalyzer is unenforceable on UK drivers in France though...any ideas? I bought a pan-European kit so I can drive anywhere without hassle, just for peace of mind.
 
No they are very strict on tyres winter must be fitted must be same brand and same tread pattern with tread depth no more than 10% differential accross the axle they will impound your car if seen not complying and the fines are heavy to get it released.

the French one is something to do with it not applying to all motorists so contravenes some EC law if you are a UK resident, will ask SWMBO when she gets in as she knows the ins and outs
 
Thanks for the German tyre info. Will avoid Germany in winter then...no kerrching for them then! :D

Although, I do understand why they have the winter tyre law, as they can have incredibly snowy and icy roads in winter, which would leave rear wheel drive cars like ours floundering and spinning all over the place.

Thanks for the French info, and would be interested what Mrs f has to say about it.
 
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