Name of the environmental zone: Environmental Zone Cologne – Germany
Date of entry into effect of the zone: 01-01-2008
Type of environmental zone: Permanent
Not allowed to drive (temporarily): Information currently unavailable
Not allowed to drive (permanently): Vehicle class: car, motorhome (M1), bus (M2, M3), van (N1), truck (N2, N3)
Fuel type: all
Euronorm: 0-3 (diesel), 0 (petrol, LPG)
Sticker/registration/application: Entry only with sticker (green)
Fines: 100 euros.
Area/extension of the environmental zone: The environmental zone encompasses the inner-city of Cologne and the outer districts. On the left bank of the river Rhine the zone encompasses the districts within the military ring. Excluded from the zone is the business park Ossendorf. The western districts Müngersdorf, Junkersdorf, Lövenich and Weiden are included. On the right bank of the river Rhine, the districts Buchheim, Buchforst, Deutz, Humboldt/Gremberg, Vingst, Poll as well as parts of Mülheim are included in the zone. It is delimited by the highway A4, the eastern approach road, Vingster Ring, Frankfurter Straße, Höhenberger Ring, Buchheimer Ring, Herler Ring and Bergisch Gladbacher Straße.
On 01.10.2019 the environmental zone of Cologne was enlarged. On the left bank of the Rhine, it extends to the Niehl district between Industriestraße, Niehler Damm und Bremerhavener Straße. Industriestraße, as a transit zone, is excluded from the area. On the right bank, it extends to all or part of the following districts: Stammheim, Dünnwald, Höhenhaus, Mülheim, Buchheim, Holweide, Dellbrück, Höhenberg, Merheim, Brück, Ostheim, Neubrück, Rath/Heumar.
Special features: Retrofitting allowed: yes (PM)
Contact of the environmental zone and exceptions: Vehicle registration office: kfz-zulassung@stadt-koeln.de; Phone: 0221/221-26635, -26692.
Exemptions: Doctor, Disabled vehicle, Fire brigade, Military, Mobile cranes, Vintage car older than 30 years, Police car and Ambulance
Environmental zone (green)
Do I need stickers or registrations?
To enter an environmental zone, each vehicle concerned requires a valid green environmental sticker. Otherwise, a fine of 80 euros plus 25 euros processing fee is to be expected.
How do I recognize the low emission zone?
The green environmental zone can be recognized by the traffic signs 270.1 and 270.2.
In front of each zone there is the sign 270.1 with an additional sign for the permitted sticker.
The end of the low emission zone is shown by the sign 270.2.
In our Green Zones App we have a detailed map of each low emission zone. So you can easily see the boundaries and avoid penalties.
Are there other low emission zones in Germany?
Yes, a lot of them. With over 80 different environmental zones, Germany has one of the most in Europe.
In our Green Zones App we have gathered together all the low emission zones in Europe and presented them clearly.
Electric cars
Is there a sticker for electric cars?
Yes! However, the sticker for electric vehicles is not intended for everyone. If the vehicle is registered in Germany, the last character on the license plate can be an "E". However, if the vehicle is registered abroad, an electric sticker (E-sticker) is required.
What advantages do I have with an E-sticker?
The E-sticker gives you various advantages. Depending on the municipality, there are various advantages, such as the use of bus lanes, free parking on the road and at electricity charging points, as well as the possible use of otherwise closed roads.
Do I need a green environmental sticker despite the E-sticker?
Yes, every car, no matter whether it is being driven on with petrol, diesel or electricity, requires a green environmental sticker according to the law. The E-sticker also entitles you to additional advantages over non-electric vehicles. The 35th BImSchV does not provide a separate paragraph for electric vehicles, which regulates them as an exception. Therefore: If an electric vehicle drives into a green environmental zone without a green sticker, a fine of 80 € + approx. 25 € handling fee must be expected.
Good to know...
All current driving bans and further information are available in our Green-Zones App.
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