Umweltplakette Explained
The Feinstaubplakette (commonly Umweltplakette) is the coloured sticker on the windscreen that lets you drive into a German Umweltzone. Nearly every zone now requires the green one.
The three colours
| Sticker | Petrol | Diesel |
|---|---|---|
| Green (4) | Euro 4+ (or Euro 1+ with cat) | Euro 4+, or Euro 3 with particulate filter |
| Yellow (3) | — | Euro 3, or Euro 2 with filter |
| Red (2) | — | Euro 2, or Euro 1 with filter |
Where you need one
Umweltzonen exist in around 50 German cities, including Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart, Cologne, Frankfurt and Hannover. The zone is signposted with a round sign showing "Umwelt ZONE" and the permitted sticker colours. Driving in without a valid sticker is a €100 fine — and yes, the fine applies even if your car would qualify but you never bought the sticker.
Where to get it
Any Zulassungsstelle, TÜV, DEKRA or many workshops will issue it on the spot for €5–20. You need Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I. It is valid for the life of the car and does not expire, so it does not need renewing like the HU sticker.
Diesel bans are a separate thing
Do not confuse Umweltzonen with Diesel-Fahrverbote. The green sticker gets you into an Umweltzone; it does not get a Euro 5 diesel down a street with a specific diesel ban. Those bans are signposted individually and apply to named roads or districts in cities like Hamburg, Stuttgart and Darmstadt.