Renting a car in France and want to drive to Germany
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Renting a car in France and want to drive to Germany
I will be spending 5 days in Alsace and then planning to drive from Colmar France to Freiburg Germany for 2 days. I will need an environmental pass. How do I get one for a rental car?
#2
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 18,109
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You can in theory get one at a TüV station or a garage which tests exhaust fumes, but you need the registration document, which you wont have in a rental.
Chances are your rental car already has one so close to the border, but if not you have to avoid the emissions zone with your car, and park it outside.
Can you contact the place you are renting from and ask them?
Chances are your rental car already has one so close to the border, but if not you have to avoid the emissions zone with your car, and park it outside.
Can you contact the place you are renting from and ask them?
#3
Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi! I think the simplest thing is that you do not enter the area marked in yellow with your rental car. In any case, I to tell you that I've passed many times on Highway 31 without the sticker and they've never stopped me. The car has the sticker of my country and I don't understand why I need another one if my car is from EU. In any case, the fine is €100. That 'it's not a fortune either. Said that, if you hire a vehicle in or close to a German low-emission zone, it will almost always have an emissions sticker. You can ask your rental company.
i
Freiburg low-emission zone
i
Freiburg low-emission zone
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you hetismij2. I already did ask the hotel and they basically told me to look online at a link they sent. It required documentation on the car I did not have. I'll reach out to the car rental place and see what they say. Thanks so much for your input.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks Besalu. My hotel is in the yellow zone and I was warned by a friend that I could get multiple tickets over my two day stay. I will try to reach out to the car rental company to see what they say. Otherwise if it's too much of a hassle, I may just skip Freiburg and stay the extra 2 days in Alsace. Thanks again.
#6
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 18,109
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It is a shame countries can't agree on stickers for these zones. At least Spain accepts French and German stickers for foreign cars. I assume your rental will have the Critair sticker on it for Strasbourg.
#8
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 18,109
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The French in particular are clamping down on having a Crit'air sticker. I'd like to think any French rental car has one automatically (as opposed to a lease car which may not have one). Some areas are permanent (like Paris and Strasbourg) others depend on the air quality - if it gets bad then cars without the right level of sticker can't move, which could be a pain if you have a plane to catch.
MAny German cities have zones, but usually have an area close to the centre, or public transport to the centre where you can safely leave the car.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
sebinah
Europe
18
Jun 17th, 2006 09:28 PM
hts
United States
4
May 1st, 2002 04:01 PM
Cornelia
Europe
4
Mar 14th, 2001 06:46 AM