2023-09-29 07:14:02
City trips driving bans in cities
Drivers can enter the low-emission zone here for money
Many cities in Europe no longer allow cars with poor emissions into the city center. However, in some metropolises, drivers with foreign license plates can purchase access to the low-emission zone by registering online for a fee.
Status: 29.09.2023 | Reading time: 4 minutes
Since the end of August, the low emission zone has covered all boroughs of London; Compliance with the rules is monitored by cameras
Quelle: picture alliance/empics/Yui Mok
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With environmental stickers and environmental zones, cities across the EU are trying to get the problem of fine dust, which is harmful to health and the environment, under control. Vehicles of any kind with poor emissions standards must therefore remain outside in many metropolises. As a rule, only petrol engines with a regulated catalytic converter and diesel engines (Euro Six, Five, Four and Euro Three with particle filters) are allowed into urban environmental zones, which are usually also attractive city centers. In Germany this corresponds to the green environmental sticker.
However, in some European metropolises, drivers with foreign license plates can buy access to the low-emission zone by registering online for a fee, as the following examples show.
England: Travel to central London is expensive
If you want to drive through the middle of the city in London, you will lose a small fortune. Because Great Britain’s capital started showing car traffic the red card early on. Originally, the many traffic jams were the reason why the so-called congestion charge was introduced in February 2003. 22 square kilometers of the city center were affected. In 2007 the zone was almost doubled again. Currently, 15 pounds (approx. 17.50 euros) are charged for each car to travel to the city center on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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Since 2019, the tax for the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) has been added to the congestion fee. For a car that no longer meets the EU standard of a green sticker, a daily ULEZ charge of 12.50 pounds (approx. 15 euros) will be due. The low emission zone was extended to Greater London at the end of August 2023 and now includes all 32 boroughs. By the way, not paying is not a solution: there is a dense network of cameras all over London that keep an eye on everything. Violations are punished with a fine of 180 pounds (approx. 210 euros).
Additional Information: tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge and tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/ulez-payments
France: The vignette should be ordered in good time
Travelers in rickety cars are becoming less and less likely to enter France’s city centers. The number of environmental zones is increasing. In Paris, Grenoble, Lille, Toulouse, Nice and, more recently, Strasbourg, cars with high emissions are banned from driving. There are two different but permanent environmental zones ZFE (zone à faible émission) and ZCR (zone de circulation restraint) as well as temporary driving bans depending on the location.
The German environmental sticker is not recognized. Instead, drivers must order the Crit’Air vignette online. It applies for an unlimited period of time and for every type of environmental zone. For cars first registered after December 31, 1996, for motorcycles after June 1, 2000 and commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tons after September 30, 1997, the vignette can be ordered from the French Ministry of the Environment. The application is also available in German.
Since the vignette will still be sent by post, you should definitely allow enough time for the order! But it only costs around 4.60 euros including postage. Drivers who drive without a French sticker face a fine of at least 68 euros.
Additional Information: certificat-air.gouv.fr
Belgium: Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent with environmental zones
In Belgium’s environmental zones, which go by the abbreviation LEZ (Low Emission Zone), vehicles with emissions standards Euro zero to one and diesel vehicles with standards Euro zero to four are prohibited. The cities of Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent have environmental zones. Belgian registered cars must adhere to this.
More information about traveling by car:
Foreign cars can, for example, for Brussels on the website lez.brussels/mytax/de/ be entered. If the car does not meet emissions standards, you can buy yourself out of the ban with day tickets for 35 euros. However, you should not do this more than eight times a year. The fine is quite steep, with up to 350 euros that can be payable in the event of a violation.
Further information: for Antwerp: lez.antwerpen.be/?taal=DE; for Ghent: lez.stad.gent/de/flows/controleertoegang
Italy: Driving ban in several old towns
In Italy, cities such as Bologna, Florence, Genoa, Milan, Rome, Turin and Verona protect their old towns with general driving bans, the Zona Traffico Limitato (ZTL). Only cars with special permits or residents are allowed to drive there. All others, without exception, must leave their vehicle behind.
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There is a risk of fines of around 100 euros if the rule is not followed. Anyone who has booked a hotel in the middle of a driving ban zone should provide the hotel with their vehicle license plate well in advance of arrival so that the hostel can organize an entry permit.
Milan, on the other hand, has set up a proper inner city environmental zone. Petrol cars with Euro zero to two and diesel cars with standard zero to five are excluded from entry, as are all vehicles longer than 7.5 meters. Driving permits can be purchased for all other cars. Cost: five euros per day, multi-day passes cost 15 euros.
Further information for Milan: areac.atm-mi.it/Areac/IWeb/English.aspx
Information from the ADAC: adac.de/verkehr/tanken-kraftstoff-antrieb/fahrverbote-umweltzonen/fahrverbote-ausland/
Austria introduces daily vignette for motorway tolls
In Austria, a one-day vignette for motorways will be offered for the first time from 2024 at a price of 8.60 euros per car. Previously, a ten-day vignette had to be purchased even for short stays or transits.
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