GREEN ZONES IN FRANCE AND GERMANY
Known as Environmental Zones in France and Low-Emission Zones in Germany
Margaret Williamson
February 2025
A French emissions sticker is mandatory in environmental zones in 12 French cities (plus 13 more in times of smog). A ban awaits for any vehicle in an environmental zone without one. The sticker must be purchased in advance online for a small payment. A similar scheme applies in at least 66 cities with low-emission zones in Germany. The German stickers can be bought at certain official outlets (not garages), or in advance online. We recently purchased both stickers online and the process was straightforward, requiring full details of the vehicle and an attached copy of its V5C registration certificate. In each case, the actual sticker will be posted to our home address and must be displayed in plain view on the windscreen. If applying at the last minute, the prompt confirmatory email of the order is sufficient proof to show to any interested official. Here are the details:
FRANCE – The Certificat qualité de l'air (also known as the Vignette Crit’Air) cost a whole £4.10 including VAT and postage from France, and is also valid in Spain, for as long as we have the vehicle! Our 3.5 ton motorhome, which is 10 years old with a diesel engine, is classed as Euro 5, Category 2, with a Yellow sticker. Apply at https://certificat-air.gouv.fr/
GERMANY – The Feinstaubplakette (also known as the Umweltplakette) cost £14.65, again including postage, and also valid in Spain. (Feinstaub, means ‘Fine Dust’; Umwelt means environment.) Apply at https://www.tuvsud.com/de-de/branchen/mobilitaet-und-automotive/feinstaubplaketten
For a lot more information, including current lists of cities with Green Zones, go to https://www.eurocampings.co.uk/blog/listing/emissions-sticker-france/ and/or https://www.eurocampings.co.uk/blog/listing/german-emissions-stickers/
(Thank you once again, ACSI).
The irony is that we keep away from cities unless we have to, and then we use the ring road or motorway bypass, but at least we’re fully equipped for our forthcoming spring journey to France, Germany and beyond.
Margaret Williamson
February 2025
A French emissions sticker is mandatory in environmental zones in 12 French cities (plus 13 more in times of smog). A ban awaits for any vehicle in an environmental zone without one. The sticker must be purchased in advance online for a small payment. A similar scheme applies in at least 66 cities with low-emission zones in Germany. The German stickers can be bought at certain official outlets (not garages), or in advance online. We recently purchased both stickers online and the process was straightforward, requiring full details of the vehicle and an attached copy of its V5C registration certificate. In each case, the actual sticker will be posted to our home address and must be displayed in plain view on the windscreen. If applying at the last minute, the prompt confirmatory email of the order is sufficient proof to show to any interested official. Here are the details:
FRANCE – The Certificat qualité de l'air (also known as the Vignette Crit’Air) cost a whole £4.10 including VAT and postage from France, and is also valid in Spain, for as long as we have the vehicle! Our 3.5 ton motorhome, which is 10 years old with a diesel engine, is classed as Euro 5, Category 2, with a Yellow sticker. Apply at https://certificat-air.gouv.fr/
GERMANY – The Feinstaubplakette (also known as the Umweltplakette) cost £14.65, again including postage, and also valid in Spain. (Feinstaub, means ‘Fine Dust’; Umwelt means environment.) Apply at https://www.tuvsud.com/de-de/branchen/mobilitaet-und-automotive/feinstaubplaketten
For a lot more information, including current lists of cities with Green Zones, go to https://www.eurocampings.co.uk/blog/listing/emissions-sticker-france/ and/or https://www.eurocampings.co.uk/blog/listing/german-emissions-stickers/
(Thank you once again, ACSI).
The irony is that we keep away from cities unless we have to, and then we use the ring road or motorway bypass, but at least we’re fully equipped for our forthcoming spring journey to France, Germany and beyond.
Our rating of 2 for France, on a scale of 0 (electric car) to 5. Vehicles with a rating of 3 or higher are banned from most environmental zones, as are vehicles with no sticker!
'Order Receipt' for German low-emission zone sticker.
The cost of the German low-emission zone sticker was £14.65 at the existing exchange rate, simply paid with bank card at the time of order.