Low emission zone Essen

Important!

Essen has two environmental zones: Essen (green), Essen - environmental lanes (NOx)

Name of the environmental zone: Environmental Zone Essen – Germany

Date of entry into effect of the zone: 01-01-2012

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 €

Area/extension of the environmental zone: The environmental zone encompasses the areas Bochum, Bottrop, Dortmund, Duisburg, Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Mülheim, Oberhausen, Recklinghausen, Castrop-Rauxel, Gladbeck, Herten and Herne.

Special features: Retrofitting allowed: yes (PM)

Contact of the environmental zone and exceptions: Citizens' Services: buergerdienste@stadtdo.de, Phone: +49 (0)231/50-13331

Exemptions: Doctor, Disabled vehicle, Fire brigade, Military, Mobile cranes, Vintage car older than 30 years, Police car and Ambulance

Name of the environmental zone: Eco Lanes Essen (NOx) - Germany

Date of entry into effect of the zone: 27-10-2020

Type of environmental zone: Permanent

Not allowed to drive (temporarily): Information currently unavailable

Not allowed to drive (permanently): Vehicle class: all motorised classes
Fuel type: all

Fines: 15 €

Area/extension of the environmental zone: The Eco Lane is located on the Schützenbahn from Varnhorstkreisel in the south to Gladbecker Straße in the north.

Contact of the environmental zone and exceptions: buergerdienste@stadtdo.de, Tel: 0231/50-13331

Exemptions: Fire brigade, Military, Police car, Public bus 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.

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.

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.

Diesel driving bans (NOx)

Do I need stickers or registrations?

Currently, no sticker or registration is required for the diesel driving bans. However, there are considerations and plans to introduce a blue sticker. Even without a sticker, it is essential that the European standards and rules are observed in order to avoid penalties. Otherwise a fine of 25 -75 Euro plus handling fee is to be expected.

For the diesel driving ban zones, traffic signs No. 251 "Ban on motor vehicles" and/or No. 253 "Ban on motor vehicles over 3.5 t" with an addition for diesel vehicles "Diesel up to Euro 5/V" will be used. Petrol vehicles may also be affected. This is indicated by the additional sign "Petrol up to Euro 2/II".


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.

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.

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.

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.


Blog & News

Low emission zone in Wallonia overturned: Major cities targeted, introduction postponed to 2025

Wallonia, known for its picturesque landscapes and charming towns, has decided to introduce a controversial low emission zone in 2022. The previous Walloon government had drawn up a plan to gradually ban the most polluting vehicles from the roads. This measure triggered fierce debate and unrest. However, the current Environment Minister Céline Tellier (Ecolo) appears to be overturning these plans.

Attention low emission zones in Belgium: Up to 350 euro fine!

Belgium has drastically tightened its low emission zones for vehicles in major cities such as Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent since 2022, with further restrictions planned for 2025. Anyone driving in these cities must expect a fine of up to 350 euros. This regulation applies not only to local drivers, but also to foreign drivers. In all three cities, there is an environmental zone in which certain vehicles are not allowed to drive. Cameras monitor compliance with the rules by recording and comparing the licence plates of vehicles.