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Low emission zones - apply for a special permit

You may only drive in low emission zones without a suitable environmental badge if you have an exemption licence.

You do not need to apply for a special permit for test, trial or transfer journeys with a temporary licence plate, a red licence plate or an export licence plate.
These journeys are automatically exempt from the traffic restrictions.

Please note: Special regulations apply to the "diesel traffic bans" in Stuttgart.
Information on this can be found on the homepage of the state capital Stuttgart.

Prerequisite

  • Your vehicle was registered before 1 January 2010 with a yellow sticker, in the municipal area of Remseck a. N. and the district of Kornwestheim Pattonville as part of the regional environmental zone of Ludwigsburg and the surrounding area before 1 April 2017,
  • technical retrofitting is not possible,
  • You do not have any alternative vehicles registered to you and
  • a replacement purchase is not economically reasonable.

Under these conditions, you can obtain an exemption authorisation for certain journeys, for example

  • Journeys made in the public interest
    These are, for example
    • Journeys to supply the population with essential goods, in particular for the delivery ofdelivery
      • the food retail trade,
      • pharmacies,
      • homes for the elderly, hospitals and similar publicpublic facilities as well as
      • weekly and special markets
    • Journeys to supply the population with essential services, in particular
      • for the maintenance and repair of essential technical equipment,
      • to repair damage to buildings, including water, gas and electrical damage and
      • for social andand care services
    • Journeys with special vehicles (e.g. cranes, heavy-duty transporters and special tractors used by showmen and showwomen)
    • Journeys with motorhomes for holiday purposes (limited to motorhome owners in the environmental zone)
  • Journeys in important individual cases
    These include, for example
    • necessary visits to the doctor (e.g. for dialysis patients)
    • Journeys made by shift workers who who cannot use public transportpublic transport
    • Journeys to maintain manufacturing or production processes
    • Individual journeys for special reasons
    • Journeys for people with severe disabilities who have a walking disability and can prove thiscan prove this

As a rule, an exemption is also valid for all other green environmental zones in Baden-Württemberg. The purpose of the journey must also exist in the other environmental zone. As proof, you must always carry the issued exemption authorisation with you when driving in Baden-Württemberg environmental zones and display it clearly visible in the vehicle.

Responsible department

the lower administrative authority

Depending on the location for which you are applying for an exemption, the lower administrative authority is the city administration or the district administration.

Please note: You will only be directed to a competent authority if an environmental zone has been set up for the location you have entered.

Procedure

First clarify whether retrofitting is technically feasible. If not, you must have this certified by

  • a technical inspection organisation or
  • a technical inspection organisation or a test engineer.

Note: If your vehicle was first registered before 1971, you do not need to have this confirmed separately. The vehicle documents are sufficient proof.

Check what you need an exemption for and whether it is for journeys in the public interest or in important individual cases.

As a rule, you must apply for the exemption in writing. Most authorities have forms available.

The rest of the procedure varies. Enquire locally.

Deadlines

The exemption authorisation must also be presented when entering a low emission zone for the first time.

The exemption is valid for a maximum of one year. If you continue to fulfil the requirements, you may be able to have the exemption extended.

Required documents

  • Registration certificate part I (for newer vehicles) or vehicle registration document (for older vehicles)
  • Certificate of technical non-retrofittability
    You can obtain this from a test engineer or a technical inspection organisation (TÜV, DEKRA, GTÜ, KÜS, FSP), for example. It is valid for one year, but does not replace an exemption licence.
  • Proof of the economic unreasonableness of a replacement purchase, e.g. for tradespeople: justified statement from a tax consultant or auditor that a replacement purchase would jeopardise your existence

Costs

These vary depending on the city or district.

Please note that there are also costs for a certificate stating that your vehicle cannot be retrofitted.

Miscellaneous

Note: Certain vehicles may enter low emission zones without an environmental badge and without a special permit, for example:

  • Vehicles of people with severe disabilities who have the mark "aG", "H" or "Bl" on their severely disabled person's pass
  • Ambulances and doctors' vehicles with the corresponding "Emergency doctor" labelling
  • Classic cars with an "H" licence plate

Tip: A list of these vehicles can be found in Annex 3 to Section 2 (3) of the 35th Ordinance on the Implementation of the Federal Immission Control Act (35th BImSchV).

Appeal

  • Objection
  • Action before the administrative court

Legal basis

Verordnung zur Kennzeichnung der Kraftfahrzeuge mit geringem Beitrag zur Schadstoffbelastung (35. BlmSchV) (Regelung der möglichen Ausnahmen)

  • § 1 Anwendungsbereich
  • § 2Zuordnung von Kraftfahrzeugen zu Schadstoffgruppen
  • Anhang 3 zu § 2 Ausnahmen von der Kennzeichnungspflicht

Straßenverkehrs-Zulassungs-Ordnung (StVZO)

  • § 23 Gutachten für die Zulassung von Fahrzeugen als Oldtimer

Release note

machine generated, based on the German release by: Verkehrsministerium Baden-Württemberg, 02.07.2024