Low emission zones in neighboring countries: Beware of these fine traps
A short trip abroad can be quite expensive: Neighboring countries often require environmental stickers. Incidentally, this usually also applies to electric cars.
The topic of low emission zones has now reached Switzerland: the Stick'Air sticker with six emission classes has been in place in Geneva since 2020. Depending on the level of air pollution and the sticker (which costs five francs for garages in the canton of Geneva), entry to the city center of Geneva may be prohibited. However, this has only been activated on a few days so far. This is why Geneva is mostly like the Principality of Liechtenstein. No environmental badge is required there. This is also the case for cars in Austria. Although there are environmental speed limits or driving bans (e.g. Salzburg), there are no stickers to change them. Attention: Commercial vehicles and motorhomes with truck registration must have environmental stickers on the A12, Vienna and in other regions, for example!
Germany simple, France complex
The green environmental badge is currently mandatory in 35 environmental zones in Germany. The trend is decreasing: environmental zones have also recently been abolished, including 2025 in Freiburg im Breisgau near the border, because newer cars are increasingly cleaner and the sticker is therefore less and less useful. But: It is still valid in 35 places. Without a sticker? 100 euros (approx. 92 francs). Parked cars are also checked (except in private parking garages). The sticker is available from ACS and TCS, also by post in Germany from GTÜ in Stuttgart or otherwise in German garages or from TÜV.
Things are getting complicated in France. In 2025 alone, 30 so-called ZFE zones were added to the twelve existing ones, such as Mulhouse. Without a Crit'Air sticker (available online), ZFEs are taboo. Fines otherwise: from 68 euros. The sticker applies nationally, but the rules apply locally - so google it. Alternatively, Strassbourg issues a 24-hour permit online, which can be used to drive without a sticker if, for example, a car does not meet the limit values.
Italy highly complicated
Last but not least, Italy. There are hundreds of so-called ZTL zones. Each one is different: sometimes large for the environment, sometimes small for the city; sometimes time-based and sometimes emission-based. Unfortunately, the only way to avoid this is to surf online in advance and buy the stickers online - separately for each municipality! Caution: In some cases, cameras automatically record and fine drivers - and in Florence, for example, every trip to the ZTL costs at least 87 euros. A tip for Italy: Hotels located in the zones often organize permits for guests.
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*The content was created by the Autosprint editorial team in collaboration with carXpert. Cars of all makes are welcome in the carXpert garages and body shops.
