Driving guide
Umweltzone and the green sticker
Low-emission zones cover Düsseldorf, Cologne and much of the Ruhr. Here is what that means if you are driving a rental car from DUS.
Updated By the DUS Car Hire editorial team How we research
The short answer
An Umweltzone is a low-emission zone that cars may only enter with a green emissions sticker (Umweltplakette) on the windscreen. Düsseldorf has one, as do Cologne, Essen, Duisburg and many other German cities. Rental cars registered in Germany are recent enough and already carry the green sticker, so you do not need to buy one. Driving into a zone without it costs a fine.
Where the zones are
Zones are marked by a white “Umwelt Zone” sign with a supplementary plate showing the green sticker. In NRW they include Düsseldorf, Cologne, Bonn, Neuss, Wuppertal and much of the Ruhr (Duisburg, Essen, Oberhausen, Gelsenkirchen, Bochum, Dortmund). The airport itself and the motorways are outside the zones.
Rental cars and the sticker
At pickup, check that the green sticker is on the bottom right of the windscreen. If it is missing, tell the desk before you drive off – otherwise the fine is the driver’s problem. Electric cars need the sticker too.
Low-emission zones abroad
- France: cities such as Paris, Lyon and Strasbourg require a Crit’Air sticker – German rentals rarely have one. Order it in advance from the official website.
- Belgium: Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent run LEZs; foreign cars may need free registration in advance.
- Netherlands: milieuzones mainly target older diesels; modern rental cars are generally fine.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Still have a question? Contact our support team.
Ready to compare prices at DUS?
See live offers from the suppliers at Düsseldorf Airport, with all conditions shown before you pay.