Ruhr low-emission zone (Umweltzone Ruhrgebiet)

The Umweltzone Ruhrgebiet is one joint zone of about 850 km² from Duisburg to Dortmund, covering 13 cities: Bochum, Bottrop, Castrop-Rauxel, Dortmund, Duisburg, Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Gladbeck, Herne, Herten, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Oberhausen and Recklinghausen. The rules are the same everywhere, every day, at all hours.

You need the green sticker (Umweltplakette). Petrol cars Euro 1+ with a catalytic converter and diesel cars Euro 4+ (or Euro 3 with a particle filter) normally get green.

Foreign-registered vehicles must have the sticker too. One German sticker is valid in all German zones and does not expire.

Motorways crossing the zone are exempt (per ADAC, not an official page); you need the sticker as soon as you leave them. Note that the A40 continues as the B1 east of the Dortmund-West interchange, and the B1 is not exempt.

Since 1 October 2026, cars with a German E-plate no longer need a sticker. Foreign electric cars without a German E-plate still need the green sticker. No day pass is mentioned: check the official website.

Before you leave: 1) Check your registration certificate for your car's Euro norm and fuel type. 2) See whether it qualifies for the green sticker. 3) Get the sticker before the trip; the procedure is on the official website (essen.de). 4) Fix it to the windscreen.

The city-centre Christmas markets (Essen Kennedyplatz/Willy-Brandt-Platz, Dortmund Hansaplatz, Duisburg Königstraße) are all inside the zone. Without a green sticker, do not drive into the cities: you risk a fine. Always check the official website for the procedure and any intermediaries.

Alternative: leave the car outside the zone and take a regional train to Essen Hbf, Dortmund Hbf or Duisburg Hbf.