Duisburg low-emission zone: map and entry rules

The shared Ruhr area zone links the marked areas of thirteen cities. It does not cover every town in the Ruhr region.

Areas covered

The participating cities are Bochum, Bottrop, Castrop-Rauxel, Dortmund, Duisburg, Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Gladbeck, Herne, Herten, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Oberhausen and Recklinghausen. The map shows the extent within each city.

Through routes and roads outside the zone

Motorways are excluded. After leaving for a hotel, car park or another destination, you may need a green sticker. One valid sticker for your vehicle is accepted throughout all thirteen cities.

A green German emissions sticker (Umweltplakette) is required to enter the Ruhr area low-emission zone unless your vehicle is exempt. The requirement also applies to vehicles registered outside Germany.

Attach the sticker clearly to the inside of the windscreen. It must show your vehicle’s current registration number. Vehicle documents and an order confirmation do not replace the physical sticker. The same valid green sticker is accepted in every German low-emission zone.

Exemptions

National exemptions include motorcycles and other two- or three-wheeled motor vehicles, certain working and emergency vehicles, and qualifying historic vehicles. The law also provides exemptions for transporting people with specified disabilities, subject to the required evidence.

Vehicles displaying electric-vehicle identification recognised under section 11 of the German Vehicle Registration Regulation (FZV) are also exempt. For a foreign-registered vehicle, this may be an equivalent foreign marking or a blue German E sticker. Electric or hybrid propulsion alone does not qualify without the required identification.

The full national exemptions are listed in Annex 3 to the 35th BImSchV. You can apply to the local authority for an individual exemption in qualifying circumstances. Obtain any required permit before travelling; submitting an application does not authorise entry.

When the rules apply

All year, 24 hours a day, including weekends and public holidays.

Penalties

The German penalty schedule sets a standard fine of €100 for a low-emission-zone offence. Administrative fees and expenses may be added. Other traffic offences are assessed separately.