Umweltzoneplackett - Windscreen "rackett!"

[Tony Jones]

The little "Euro 4" sticker we bought outside Berlin in 2009 was supposed to be for the life of the vehicle. However, when we had to have a new windscreen last month, we found that removing the sticker left a bit behind, and a message in white across the sticker, invalidating it (a bit like if you rub away the signature on your bank card). So the sticker is only actually valid for the life of the WINDSCREEN, not the vehicle!

No big deal for us, we only paid €5 for it and don't know when we'll next be in Germany, but ...

I keep seeing posts from people who want to buy their Umweldzoneplackett in advance, online. Just occurs to me to suggest, whether you BUY in advance or not, don't stick it on until you actually need to - it would be REALLY annoying if you had to replace the windscreen before you got to your German city!

[Brian Kirby]

That's odd, Tony. I got ours from TuV Sud by internet/post, and it is like a UK VED disc. I put it into a spare tax disc holder, and have now had to transfer it between three windscreens.

 

Is there something about Transit windscreens that causes this level of attrition - or do all motorhomers find they get screens cracked by flying stones ever two years or so?! :-(

[rupert123]

Ours was a stick on windscreen one, bit like the Swiss autoroute sticker, and will only come off in bits, good idea Brian to put it in a holder of some sort. Our last x250 had two screens in four years so not only Transits.

[spospe]

Ours is in a tax disk holder (I had to trim it a bit in order to get it to go in).

 

I know someone who changed his car and simply swapped the Umweltplackett from one vehicle to the other and as he has a 'personal' plate which was also swapped, no one can tell what has been done.

[Guest pelmetman]

I've been hoping to crack Horace's windscreen for ages *-).............as its started to delaminate around the edges, but its still watertight ;-)...............Cars had 2 new screens...........works van 4 8-)

[lennyhb]

Brian Kirby - 2013-04-05 4:07 PM

 

That's odd, Tony. I got ours from TuV Sud by internet/post, and it is like a UK VED disc. I put it into a spare tax disc holder, and have now had to transfer it between three windscreens.

 

(

 

I think that is actually illegal Brian, it is supposed to be permanently fixed to the screen. Unlikely to cart you off to Coldiz for the offence. :D

Coldiz actually not a bad experience these days.

[Brian Kirby]

lennyhb - 2013-04-05 6:14 PM

 

Brian Kirby - 2013-04-05 4:07 PM

 

That's odd, Tony. I got ours from TuV Sud by internet/post, and it is like a UK VED disc. I put it into a spare tax disc holder, and have now had to transfer it between three windscreens.

 

(

 

I think that is actually illegal Brian, it is supposed to be permanently fixed to the screen. Unlikely to cart you off to Coldiz for the offence. :D

Coldiz actually not a bad experience these days.

I'm not aware of that, Lenny. The disc itself is not adhesive coated, so the tax disc holder was the simplest way to display it. Maybe the more recent ones are the self-adhesive variety, I've now had it several years.

[spospe]

Brian Kirby - 2013-04-05 6:56 PM

 

lennyhb - 2013-04-05 6:14 PM

 

Brian Kirby - 2013-04-05 4:07 PM

 

That's odd, Tony. I got ours from TuV Sud by internet/post, and it is like a UK VED disc. I put it into a spare tax disc holder, and have now had to transfer it between three windscreens.

 

(

 

I think that is actually illegal Brian, it is supposed to be permanently fixed to the screen. Unlikely to cart you off to Coldiz for the offence. :D

Coldiz actually not a bad experience these days.

I'm not aware of that, Lenny. The disc itself is not adhesive coated, so the tax disc holder was the simplest way to display it. Maybe the more recent ones are the self-adhesive variety, I've now had it several years.

 

Our disk is a sticky one and it is intended not to be removed (bought in 2010)

[mirage]

I`ve just renewed mine for a new vehicle, both have been sticky and disintegrate if you attempt to remove.

[RogerC]

why not stick it onto some clear vinyl then if needs be you can transfer it to a new screen....simples

[JeffersonCampervan]

I bought mine at the big TÜV in Köln. They were very helpful. Since my vehicle has a North American VIN and wasn't in their system, it took a couple of phone calls to TÜV HQ (which was half a block away).

 

Anyway, mine was adhered to the windshield right there and then. No other option. That was in July 2007.

[thirtle26]

Racket or not I suppose they are needed. We are going to Luxembourg in May and may go into Germany. Where is the best place to obtain one on line as the prices seem to vary.

[Robinhood]

thirtle26 - 2013-04-07 3:57 PM

 

Racket or not I suppose they are needed. We are going to Luxembourg in May and may go into Germany. Where is the best place to obtain one on line as the prices seem to vary.

 

https://www.berlin.de/labo/kfz/dienstleistungen/feinstaubplakette.shop.en.php

 

....cheapest online resource, takes credit card, and usually only a couple of days or so for delivery.

 

Be aware you are likely (from your 'van description) to get a yellow sticker, which will restrict your access to some emissions zones.

[thirtle26]

Thanks, I will get in touch with them. I knew we would only warrant a yellow sticker but no sure what this means exactly. Will we not be able to go right into some towns - not that we often do - as we tend to park on the outskirts and then use public transport..

[Robinhood]

The map downloadable here:

 

http://www.umwelt-plakette.de/umweltplakette/Karten%20Umweltzonen%20D/Deutschlandkarte/2013-01/Staedte%20und%20Plakette_ab%2001.01.2013_%20DE.pdf

 

....will give you an idea (though don't use the hosting site to buy a plakette - they aren't the best!).

 

Much of Germany is unrestricted, zones being limited to a number of major towns, and some of the large conurbations.

 

What it shows is that a Yellow sticker will only allow you to enter a very limited number of the restricted zones, since many have progressively over time revised the requirements up to Green. ("Aktuell" on the map is the current required value).

 

Unless you wish to enter one of these very few, and since the motorway routes through the centres of these zones are all unrestricted, then I'm not sure I would bother getting a yellow sticker.

[BGD]

I show my ignorance here, but is this windscreen sticker needed everywhere in Germany, or only within some big cities?

 

Reason for asking is that we are toying with popping in to Germany this coming autumn, but won't be going into any of the big cities...we always park/camp outside and use the scooter to go in. So would I need one?

[Robinhood]

BGD - 2013-04-07 4:46 PM

 

I show my ignorance here, but is this windscreen sticker needed everywhere in Germany, or only within some big cities?

 

Reason for asking is that we are toying with popping in to Germany this coming autumn, but won't be going into any of the big cities...we always park/camp outside and use the scooter to go in. So would I need one?

 

....see my edited bit above (and the comments on whether to get one would apply to your 'van as well).

 

Since I can get a Green sticker, and given the low, lifetime cost, I have one, but despite visiting Germany regularly, and not deliberately avoiding them, I have never entered an Umweltzone (other than to transit through on the Autobahn - all of which are unrestricted).

[thirtle26]

After reading your comments and the age of our van we will probably not buy one and just avoid zoned areas/towns.

[spospe]

BGD - 2013-04-07 4:46 PM

 

I show my ignorance here, but is this windscreen sticker needed everywhere in Germany, or only within some big cities?

 

Reason for asking is that we are toying with popping in to Germany this coming autumn, but won't be going into any of the big cities...we always park/camp outside and use the scooter to go in. So would I need one?

 

It's not just 'big cities', it's anywhere where the authorities have decided to introduce the concept of clean air. Given that it is so easy to enter a zone without even realising it (miss seeing the notice at the boundary) and given the low cost of the Plackette, I would recommend everyone visiting Germany getting one, either here in the UK or at the border.

 

Why risk it? Normal diversions, or curiosity can take you into a zone, as could the need to buy provisions, or have a breakdown repaired, tyre replaced etc.

[Robinhood]

spospe - 2013-04-07 7:11 PM

 

BGD - 2013-04-07 4:46 PM

 

I show my ignorance here, but is this windscreen sticker needed everywhere in Germany, or only within some big cities?

 

Reason for asking is that we are toying with popping in to Germany this coming autumn, but won't be going into any of the big cities...we always park/camp outside and use the scooter to go in. So would I need one?

 

It's not just 'big cities', it's anywhere where the authorities have decided to introduce the concept of clean air. Given that it is so easy to enter a zone without even realising it (miss seeing the notice at the boundary) and given the low cost of the Plackette, I would recommend everyone visiting Germany getting one, either here in the UK or at the border.

 

Why risk it? Normal diversions, or curiosity can take you into a zone, as could the need to buy provisions, or have a breakdown repaired, tyre replaced etc.

 

.....well, the map I've linked to above is pretty definitive (at the start of the year), and the current zones are almost exclusively large cities (or connurbations such as the Ruhrgebeit). Some, as in Münster, are also pretty small areas of the city centre.

 

It is certainly possible to miss the signs (though they are usually very well signposted), but the areas are not policed (as is the London Emissions Zone) by CCTV, so you would have to be pretty unlucky to get caught for a brief transgression, and in any case, the penalty is €40, not the £200 for London.

 

As I've already pointed out, probably most important, however is the class of sticker you can obtain. A Yellow (EuroIII) sticker will now be valid in very few Umweltzonen, (possibly 4 out of the 50 or so) and is thus relatively valueless. I had a yellow plakette for my previous 'van, but, this gives access to far fewer zones than it used to, and I now wouldn't bother. I've already commented on Green (though, as I've said, I've never actually entered a Zone of any colour requirement).

 

As I've already said, Autobahns through otherwise restricted areas (such as the Ruhrgebeit, which could otherwise be awkward for transit) are exempt.

[Robinhood]

....one thing that occurred to me was that (as the sticker applies to most motor vehicles, not just diesel or LGV/HGV - i.e. a petrol car requires one) was that Bruce's scooter might need one to travel into a zone.

 

As far as I can ascertain, from the Berlin authorities' write-up (In English), two and three-wheel vehicles are exempt.

 

http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/umwelt/luftqualitaet/de/luftreinhalteplan/download/Umweltzone_Broschuere_en.pdf

 

 

 

 

[mirage]

One of the easiest and cheapest ways of getting one is from Stadt Koln (Cologne) see Web Site Stadt Koln for address. Send a copy of relevant page of your Registration Document with a covering one line request for a Plakette and a 5 Euro Note. You will see instructions for this at tail end of how to send money by bank transfer which I would not bother with. Had two plakettes from them and both have arrived back within ten days. If it was`nt so cheap I would`nt bother as many have said but its one thing less to bother about when touring in Germany, if just transiting I would give it a miss.