Hello all, I am planning a trip from Hungary to Germany by car. I have booked a rental car at Hertz. I am getting aware of the regulations to drive through Slovakia and Czech Republic (Vignette, High visibility vest). In Germany my final destination is hotel in Berlin. To enter this city every car must have a green environment sticker (umweltplakette) indicating that the car have an acceptable level of particle emissions. "Vehicles passing through these areas without an emissions sticker make the owner liable to a €40 fine ..." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vignette_(road_tax)#Germany).
I have read somewhere else that this emission sticker can be obtained, for 5 euros, in garages, vehicle testing organisations, vehicle registration offices and at numerous Internet websites but vehicle registration is needed and I don't have until a got the car.
Is there any rule that exempt a turist driving a foreign rented car into an 'umwelt zone' of having that sticker or I am obliged to go to a garage?
Yesterday I asked Hertz if they already have this sticker on their cars and I waiting for their answer.
Thank you for you help
driving a foreign rented car into Berlin x umweltplakette
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Here is the answer from Hertz:
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Response (Daniele) - 15/08/2012 11.18 AM
Dear Marcilio
Thank you for your recent enquiry.
We would like to inform you that all Hertz cars rented in Germany are equipped with the sticker required to access environmental zones. However, Hertz cars rented outside Germany are not equipped with the sticker and it is the responsibility of the driver to purchase one. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide a registration number of a car, as due to the frequent vehicles rotation we cannot determine in advance which specific vehicle will be assigned.
We remain at your service and thank you for contacting Hertz.
Yours sincerely
Hertz Internet Helpdesk
A Umweltplakette kan be obtained from TÜV, Dekra, GTÜ, KÜS or the registration office and others. If you go to a registration office be prepared to get a queue number and wait forever. However, they'll know how to handle it.
In any case, you'll need the registration certificate (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil2 aka. Fahrzeugschein).
If it's in Hungarian, that may be a problem.
I'd write an email to the closest TÜV office and ask (www.tuev.de)
And hope that your car meets the German emissions standards.
Thanks logos999, I have written do TUV.
TUV responded:
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Dear Mr. Grisotto,
please ask Hertz directly, if the have the sticker already on board (most car rental services have them). If not, you must go to a Service point (TÜV), where you can buy one. (please take the registration paper with you).
It´s also possible to order the sticker via web:
http://www.tuev-sued.de/auto_fahrzeuge/feinstaub-plakette/feinstaubplakette_ausland
You only need a copy of the registration papers.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen / Kind regards
TÜV Süd Service Team München
TÜV SÜD Auto Service GmbH
Service Center München
80339 München
Ridlerstraße 57
Germany
Have you checked if you can go by public transportation to your hotel?
You probably don't need or want the car in Berlin anyway.
You can park the car on the street in most areas outside the inner city at no costs.
And, only the inner city of Berlin requires the sticker (what is inside the inner S-bahn ring or inside the A100 freeway.