Driving in Germany from the UK: tolls, Umweltplakette and rules

There is no motorway toll or vignette for cars. The German federal road toll, collected by Toll Collect, applies to vehicles with a technically permissible maximum laden mass of more than 3.5 tonnes. Two privately run crossings charge every vehicle: the Warnow tunnel in Rostock and the Herrentunnel in Lubeck.

Germany has 35 low-emission zones (Umweltzonen) in force, listed by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA); 23 others have been lifted. Since 2012 only vehicles with a green sticker (Umweltplakette, group 4) may enter. The sticker is valid in every German zone. Foreign-registered cars, including UK cars, need it too. Driving in a zone without one is fined 100 EUR.

• Germany (all zones): Umweltzonen in force (UBA list, last content change 26 August 2026)

  Green sticker required in: Berlin; Munich; Stuttgart; Augsburg; Regensburg; Ludwigsburg area; Pforzheim; Bremen; Frankfurt am Main; Darmstadt; Limburg an der Lahn; Marburg; Offenbach; Wiesbaden; Osnabruck; Aachen; Bonn; Cologne; Dinslaken; Dusseldorf; Eschweiler; Hagen; Krefeld; Langenfeld; Monchengladbach; Munster; Neuss; Overath; Remscheid; Siegen; Wuppertal; the Ruhr area zone (Bochum, Bottrop, Castrop-Rauxel, Dortmund, Duisburg, Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Gladbeck, Herne, Herten, Mulheim, Oberhausen, Recklinghausen); Leipzig; Halle (Saale); Magdeburg. Zones are signposted.^[2]

  Official page (opens in a new tab)↗

• Germany (all zones): Who is exempt and the fine

  Motorcycles and three-wheelers, vintage vehicles (Oldtimer), vehicles for disabled people and vehicles with German electric-vehicle plates are exempt. Driving in a zone without a sticker or exemption is fined 100 EUR.^[1]

  Official page (opens in a new tab)↗

• First-aid kit, warning triangle and reflective vest.^[8]
• Winter tyre rule (situational, no fixed dates): in black ice, packed snow, slush, ice or frost on the road you may drive only if all wheels have winter tyres. These must carry the Alpine symbol (mountain pictogram with snowflake, 3PMSF).^[4]
• Source for the tyre marking: the Alpine-symbol definition of winter tyres in the vehicle construction regulations.^[5]
• A green Umweltplakette on the windscreen if you will drive in any of the 35 low-emission zones.^[1]

Built-up areas

50 km/h^[8]

Outside built-up areas

100 km/h^[8]

Motorways

130 km/h^[8]

Drink-drive limit

0.5 g/l (0.5 mg/ml blood or 0.25 mg/l breath); 0.0 for novice drivers in their probation period and drivers under 21. From 0.3 g/l with impaired driving, or from 1.1 g/l, it is a criminal offence.^[8]

130 km/h on motorways is a recommended speed, not a general limit; signed limits apply. Towing combinations up to 3.5 t with special technical equipment: 100 km/h on motorways.

• You can drive in Germany for up to 6 months with your UK photocard driving licence. If you stay longer you need the 1968 international driving permit (IDP) as well as your UK licence; you cannot buy an IDP outside the UK.^[9]
• If you drive a vehicle that does not belong to you, you may need written permission from the registered owner.^[9]
• You do not need an IDP to drive in the EU with a UK photocard licence (for a visit).^[10]
• Display a UK sticker on the back of the car unless your number plate shows the UK identifier with the Union flag. Cover or remove any old GB sticker.^[11]
• Take your log book (V5C) and insurance certificate if you are taking your own vehicle. GOV.UK warns that emission stickers for some European cities may need buying weeks before you go.^[12]
• You do not need a green card to drive in the EU, but you must have valid vehicle insurance.^[13]

For documents, insurance, pets and border checks that apply to every country, see the driving to Europe checklist.