Low Emission Zones in Europe
Europe-wide information on LEZ s
European Low Emission Zone
Low Emission
Zones
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Your source of information about Low Emission Zones and how they affect you when you drive in Europe. There are many Low Emission Zones (LEZs) in 10 European countries. Low Emission Zones are areas where vehicle access is limited by its emissions.

This website, www.lowemissionzones.eu, gives all the information you need to drive in LEZs in Europe. The information is available within 1-2 clicks from the homepage, either via the frontpage map or side and top menus.

To navigate the site, click on the map; use the tabs at the top to find Cities by A-Z or by Country, how to comply, and retrofitting details. This text also gives many links you can use to navigate the site.

Alternatively use the left hand menu to find out what are LEZs, and do why they exit, get an overview of LEZs, or use our 'Quick Guide'.

The ‘Quick Guide’ gives an overview table with all LEZs by country/city or start date, showing the most important facts at a single glance (emissions standard, vehicles, dates) and a link to full information. It also allows you to search LEZs by vehicle type affected: coach, lorry, camper van, van, car and motorcycle.

Overview of Low Emission Zones (LEZs) in Europe

LEZs are implemented to improve air quality, and help meet the EU health-based air quality limits, particularly of particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5 and also Black Carbon) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Poor air quality kills over 310000 people in Europe each year - more than by road accidents – with human health costs of between €427 and €790 billion per year.

Which vehicles are affected?

The following table gives a summary by vehicles affected:

 Vehicle type

 LEZs

 Vehicle standard 2011

 Future standard

 Lorries only

 Netherlands Euro 4(PM) Euro 4 (1/7/13)
Austrian A12 motorway Euro 2/3  
Mont Blanc Tunnel, FR/IT Euro 1  
 Heavy Duty Vehicles   London, UK Euro 3(PM) Euro 4(PM) (3/1/12)
Denmark Fit filter if <Euro 4  
Sweden 8 years old / Euro 3  
Prague, CZ Euro 2  
 All 4+ wheelers Germany Euro 2-4(PM) & Euro 1 petrol  
 All vehicles Italy Euro 1-3 / no 2-stroke motorcycles  
 Local buses under agreements Norwich, UK Euro 3(NOx)  
Oxford, UK None Euro V (1/1/13)
 Vans London, UK None Euro 3 (3/1/12)
Germany Euro 2-4(PM) & Euro 1 petrol  
taly Euro 1-3 / no 2-stroke motorcycles  

Operating hours: Most LEZs operate permanently, the exemption is Italy, where LEZs sometimes operate at peak or other selected times.

Do I have to register before entering? In Germany and Sweden you will need to buy a sticker. Danish vehicles need to purchase a sticker for the Danish LEZs, foreign vehicles need to carry proof of the vehicle emissions standard. Foreign vehicles are required to register with London’s LEZ (as the national database does not include their details). Entry to the Prague LEZ is by permit. Some Italian LEZs require stickers, and you need to pay to enter the Milan Ecopass area. In many cases registration is possible by Internet or post. More information on registering can be found on our 'Where do I need to register' page.

Other LEZs are enforced with cameras reading the vehicle number plates (Netherlands, London), or by police controlling the vehicle papers (Italy, A12, Mont Blanc Tunnel), or local agreements (Norwich, Oxford (UK)).

LEZs are also called Environment Zones, or in a selection of European languages: Umweltzonen, Fahrverbote, Milieuzones, Lavutslippssone, Norway, Miljozone, Miljözon, Zielone Strefy, Nízkoemisní Zóny, ZAPA (Zone d'Action Prioritaire pour l'Air, zone environnementale), Zona de Bajas Emisiones.

LEZs currently exist in 8 countries, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, the Czech Republic. They are also in planning in other countries.

If your vehicle does not meet the emission standards required, you can buy a newer vehicle, use a different vehicle, or modify your vehicle's engine, for example by fitting a diesel particulate filter. You can find more about the different options from our how to comply page.

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English Albanian Belarusian Bulgarian Croatian Czech Danish Dutch Estonian Finnish French German Greek Hungarian Irish Italian Latvian Lithuanian Macedonian Maltese Norwegian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Swedish Turkish Ukrainian
This automatic translation is provided to help you. We accept no responsibility for the accuracy of translations. The site is written in English.
News & Press

We keep this website up to date, with new and altered LEZs. If you wish to recieve our periodical alerts, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The LEZ in Napoli has been altered and extended until at least 30.6.12.

LEZ tightening 3.1.12:  London also now includes vans. See the press release, in other languages on the London page.

LEZ starting 16.1.12: Central Milan's 'Area C' congestion charge and LEZ.

LEZs starting 1.1.12: Heidenheim, Urbach, Freiberg am Neckar, Ingersheim, Hagen, Castrop-Rauxel, Gladbeck, Herne and Herten, all in Germany.

LEZs tightening 1.1.12: Freiburg, Heidelberg, Heilbronn, Herrenberg, Ilsfeld, Karlsruhe, Leonberg, Ludwigsburg, Mannheim, Markgröningen, Mühlacker, Pfinztal, Pforzheim, Pleidelsheim, Reutlingen, Schwäbisch-Gmünd, Tübingen, Ulm, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Neu-Ulm in Germany. As well as Lisbon, Rome.

Milan's Ecopass is no longer in operation from 1.1.12, and is replaced by a congestion charge that also combines as an LEZ, banning certain Euro standard verhicles called 'Area C', which starts in operation on 16.1.12.

Late Dec Alert, with changes as of 1.1.12

In Germany, Baden-Württemburg, Heidenheim & Urbach start and Pleidelsheim expands to include Freiberg am Neckar & Ingersheim on 1.1.12. The standard is Euro 3(PM)

December Alert

Hagen, Germany LEZ starts 1.1.2012

The existing Baden-Württemburg LEZs are tightening to Euro 3(PM), these are: Freiburg, Heidelberg, Heilbronn, Herrenberg, Ilsfeld, Karlsruhe, Leonberg, Ludwigsburg, Mannheim, Markgröningen, Mühlacker, Pfinztal, Pforzheim, Pleidelsheim, Reutlingen, Schwäbisch-Gmünd, Tübingen, Ulm. The exception is Stuttgart which is tightening to Euro 4.

Frankfurt is tightening to Euro 4(PM)

Neu-Ulm is tightening to Euro 3(PM) 1.1.2012

The Ruhr LEZ expand their area to a single area of 820km2 1.1.2012. The current Ruhr LEZs are: Bochum, Bottrop, Dortmund, Duisburg, Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Mühlheim, Oberhausen, and Recklinghausen. From 1.1.12 it will also include Castrop-Rauxel, Gladbeck, Herne and Herten.)

Osnabrück is tightening to Euro 4(PM) 3.1.2012 

Further Italian winter LEZs confimed for this year:
   Aosta winter LEZ re-started November 2011 (Euro 1)

   Trentino Province winter LEZs re-started November: Levico Terme, Rovereto, Trento, Lavis, Pergine Valsugana and Borgo Valsugana. Ala and Mezzocorona are no longer LEZs.

   Rovigo winter LEZ re-started November and tightening to Euro 3 for diesels.

Verona all year round LEZ was tightened to Euro 2

Portugal: Lisbon is Portugals first LEZ!

Hungary: Budapest has an emissions-related charging system

London: Press release, less than 4 months to go! English, Czech (CZ), Danish (DK), French (FR), German (DE), Italian (IT), Lithuanian (LT), Hungarian (HU), Dutch (NL), Polish (PL), Spanish (ES).

September Alert

Bolzano / SüdTirol's LEZs re-start  1st November 2011 and will operate all year

Emilia-Romagna region LEZs re-start 1st October 2011

Lombardy LEZs become permenent from 15th October 2011

Rome starts an LEZ for goods vehicles on 1st November 2011, to add to its coach and motorcycle LEZs.

Magdeburg & Halle (Saale) (DE) starting LEZ 1st September 2011.

Milan's Ecopass extended until at least December 2011.

June Information Alert

New features: You can now link straight to our site in your language. Add the country code after www.lowemissionzones.eu, eg www.lowemissionzones.eu/de
                           In addition to the automatic translations, we also have an overview fully translated by mother-tongue speakers in German and Italian.

Bremen tightening 1/7/2011 for German green sticker
Dinslaken starting 1/7/11, German yellow sticker
Markgröningen starting 1/7/11, German red sticker

London's press release about the changes in January 2012 for vans and heavy duty vehicles, available in English, Czech (CZ), Danish (DK), French (FR), German (DE), Italian (IT), Lithuanian (LT), Hungarian (HU), Dutch (NL), Polish (PL), Spanish (ES).

Magdeburg & Halle (Saale) (DE) confirmed LEZ starting in September 2011.

In Trentino (IT), Rovereto and Levico Therme confirmed, Lavis, Mezzolombardo and Riva del Garda no longer operating LEZs.

Coming up: 1st March 2011, Leipzig starting LEZ with Euro 4(PM) diesel, Euro 1 petrol, Wuppertal and Düsseldorf tightening to diesels Euro 3(PM)

January Information Alert. 

Trento re-starts its LEZ on the 10th January 2011.

Napoli confirms that the LEZ will continue until at least the 31st December 2011.

New & improved: We have improved our LEZ Quick Guide, and you can now search the LEZs by those affecting different vehicle type, at the click of a button.

Krefeld, Germany: LEZ starting 1/1/2011. Euro 3(PM) diesel, Euro 1 petrol  
Osnabrück, Augsburg, Germany: LEZ tightening 3/1/2011 for diesels to Euro 3(PM)

December Information Alert.

New & Improved: You can now link to all LEZ registrations directly from our website, see the information on each city, country or region.
Reminder: Find which retrofits are certified in which countries here.

October Information Alert.

Coming up:1st November: Rijswijk in the Netherlands starts its LEZ. Italy: Bolzano's LEZs start again. Emilia Romagna LEZs are confirmed as being in operation from 1 November 2010 to 31 March 2011, and 1 October 2011 to 31 March 2012.

Coming up: 15th October, Lombardy's LEZs start again.

Napoli's LEZ extended to at least 31st December 2010

Markgroningen (Germany) is planning an LEZ from 1st July 2011.

1st October 2010: Munich's LEZ tightens

1st September 2010: Danish LEZs tighten

1st July 2010. New LEZs in Sweden and Denmark. LEZs strengthen in Denmark, Stuttgart.

New LEZs and further information on existing LEZs

24th March 2010: Emmendingen 24th March 2010     leezen logo2a 2 120x120    EU_flag

Cleaning Europe’s Air: A complete, multilingual, one-stop-source of information on Low Emission Zones (LEZs) in Europe
There is now a single website which gives you all the information you need on Low Emission Zones in one place – and in your language!  
Why LEZs? Air pollution kills an estimated 310 000 people a year in Europe. The European Union has set legally defined air quality standards to protect our health. Many cities and towns in most countries in Europe fail to meet these standards. Increasing numbers of cities and towns operate or are preparing “Low Emission Zones”, or “Environment Zones” among other measures, to help meet the standards. There are currently over 160 LEZs in 11 countries in Europe, including cities like Berlin, Amsterdam, London, Milan, but also many smaller towns like Mühlacker (Germany), Como (Italy) or Norwich (UK) - and the A12 motorway in Tirol (Austria).
LEZs are areas or roads to which entry is restricted for vehicles with more polluting engines. Who needs this site? Anyone who drives around Europe; including hauliers, tourists, lorry and coach operators. It provides all the information needed to navigate around Europe's LEZs – including where to can drive with which vehicles. With one button the website is in your language and the information is in one or two clicks from the homepage.
Your questions on LEZs are answered in a regularly updated website, with no adverts or cost to users. Questions like: Where exactly are these zones? Can our vehicles drive into them? What emission standard is my vehicle? Do I have to register before I drive in? How can my vehicle comply with the standards? What air quality impact do LEZs have?  
The EU is supporting this website with part-funding for 3 years from the 8th December 2009 as part of its implementation of the EU Action Plan on Urban Mobility.
Please write about this website, use it, recommend it, link to it and spread information about it.

Further information for news articles or stakeholders, contact Lucy Sadler at Sadler Consultants Ltd. Download a full version of this press release as pdf.

8th December 2009 - This website has been granted EU-funding to extend the website for 3 years. Amongst other things, this will give details of ALL LEZs and implement translations of the website in many different languages! Update will be in place in Spring 2010.

November 2009: The A12 Austrian Motorway standards have tightened.

October 2009: Our 'Quick guide to all LEZs' tables are now more easily found on our website ! You can see summary tables of all LEZs in Europe, sorted either by LEZ start date or by country & city. It can help you decide what vehicle you need to travel to all your destinations!

October/November 2009, Italian winter LEZs are now coming into operation.

September 2009: German-registered heavy duty vehicles can now also find out what particulate traps fit their vehicles from www.feinstaubplakette.de.

On the 1st August 2009 the Dutch LEZ sign changed to Dutch LEZ entry signfor entering and Dutch LEZ exit sign on exit, see the Netherlands page for more details.

June 2009: Information on the measured impact on LEZs, now many have been in operation for over a year and on strengthening Dutch enforcement of LEZs, see here.

January 2009: lots of new LEZs in Germany and updates to filters certified

6th November 2008: Lots of updates to the Dutch and Norwegian LEZs.

9th October 2008: Amsterdam started its LEZ

7th October 2008: Heavy goods vehicle retrofits now available for Germany. See the updated retrofit table.

In September and October 2008 there were lots of changes and updates to LEZs in the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark. See the city pages and links for further information.

Leiden (1/1/2009) has announced starting date of its LEZ. 

 

PRESS RELEASE for the original launch of www.lowemissionzones.eu 22nd January 2008

Download this as a pdf: press release (.pdf 55kB)

If you wish to recieve our periodical alerts, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
 
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