Name of the environmental zone: Environmental zone Styria - Austria
Date of entry into effect of the zone: 01-06-2012
Type of environmental zone: Permanent, 24 hours a day
Not allowed to drive (temporarily): Information currently unavailable
Not allowed to drive (permanently): N1, N2 and N3 class trucks that do not fulfill Euro Norm 3.
Fines: 90 - 2.180 €
Area/extension of the environmental zone: Districts of the city of Graz and its surrounding, south-eastern Styria, Deutschlandsberg, Hartberg-Fürstenfeld, Leibnitz, Voitsberg, Weiz.
Contact of the environmental zone and exceptions: Information currently unavailable
Exemptions: Information currently unavailable
Environmental zone
Do I need stickers or registrations?
To enter the environmental zone, each vehicle concerned requires a valid Austrian environmental sticker (Umwelt-Pickerl). Otherwise, a fine of up to 2180 euros is to be expected.
How do I recognize the low emission zone?
The low emission zones are marked with two types of sticker. On the one hand, there is the mostly digital sign for speed restriction, which is usually seen on motorways. On the other hand, there is the sign for immission control - air. This shows a black circle similar to the prohibition sign with the remark IG-L. Who exactly is allowed to enter or not, is not visible from the entry sign.
In our Green-Zones App we have a detailed map of each low emission zone. So you can easily recognize the borders and avoid penalties.
Are there other low emission zones in Austria?
Austria has a total of 8 different environmental zones. These are divided into normal environmental zones and noise protection zones: Außerfern, Burgenland, Linz, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Styria, Tyrol, Vienna.
In our Green Zones App we have gathered together all the low emission zones in Europe and presented them clearly.
Good to know...
All current driving bans and further information are available in our Green-Zones App.
New environmental zones against microplastics?
Abrasion from tyres, brakes and the road creates a lot of microplastics. This not only accumulates in soil and water, but is also released into the air, where it is absorbed by humans through the respiratory tract. So in addition to particulate matter, microplastics must also be regulated as quickly as possible. Could there soon be environmental zones to combat the small plastic particles?
What is the most polluting means of travel?
The future belongs to the train. It has the best CO2 balance. But the aeroplane is no longer as polluting as we thought. In fact, the car is in last place.
Whether electric or hydrogen - there is a lack of infrastructure
Hydrogen vehicles are popular in California. At the filling stations, however, this leads to waiting times of about 45 minutes. Similar to the situation with e-cars in Europe, the infrastructure is not keeping up and is slowing down the mobility turnaround.
Grace period for diesel in Germany
Strict emission tests for diesel vehicles in Germany will be postponed for two years. Actually, the new measurement procedures were announced for 2021. The German Environmental Aid criticises that the Ministry of Transport is doing too little against dirty diesels on the roads to protect the car industry.
Microplastics: How tyres harm the environment
Microplastics and fine dust are released into the environment in large quantities through the abrasion of tyres and thus enter soils and water bodies. The effects of microplastics on local ecosystems are still poorly understood. Experts are calling for better collection technology and stricter traffic concepts to reduce environmental pollution.
Scrappage scheme: France backs bicycles
French people who trade in their combustion engine for an electric bicycle will in future receive €2,500 from the state. This is not intended to make vehicles greener in the transport transition, but to reduce their overall number. A similar push in Germany fell on deaf ears from politicians.
European charging network inadequate
By 2025, there should be one million charging points for electric cars in Europe. This is the only way to ensure the targeted nationwide coverage for e-cars when travelling across the continent. The EU Court of Auditors sees this goal in jeopardy.
Hamburg to become Germany's largest car-free zone?
An initiative wants to turn the Hamburg district of Eimsbüttel into a "children's room on the street". Pedestrians are to have priority, and cars will only be allowed to drive at 10 km/h. This is how the district plans its own driving bans.
A brief sigh of relief for internal combustion engines
After the new Euro 7 standard was already seen as the de facto end of the internal combustion engine, it could now be made much more industry-friendly after all. Current measurements by the ADAC also give the car industry reason to rejoice. Due to the tightening of regulations in the European environmental zones, it is nevertheless likely that the internal combustion engine will be phased out in the foreseeable future.
Berlin's Müggelsee soon to be an environmental zone?
After the zero-emission zone for the city of Berlin recently suffered a bitter setback because it is against the law according to expert opinions, the Berliners now want to tackle the problem on water instead. The capital's largest lake is to become an environmental zone and only allow hybrid and electric boats from 2025. The criticism is fierce.