Low-emission zone in Bochum
On 1 October 2008, Bochum was one of the first German cities to introduce a low-emission zone. If you want to enter this low-emission, an emissions sticker for your vehicle is necessary. On this page you can learn all you need to know about the situation in Bochum. Look here for a list of all low-emission zones in Germany and here for more information about the emissions sticker itself.
Order the official German emissions sticker, now for only €13,95 including VAT and delivery costs.
Map of the low-emission zone of Bochum
Originally Bochum had its own low-emission zone, but since 1 January 2012 it is part of the larger low-emission zone of the densely populated Ruhr area. Only the part of the zone that covers Bochum is shown on the map above, but you should keep in mind that the zone extends far beyond the city. For more information about the entire low-emission zone, look at the page about the Ruhr area.
Exceptions
You do not need an emissions sticker if you only pass through Bochum on the highway. This is because just as in the rest of Germany, highways can never be part of a low-emission zone. The highways concerned are the A40, the A43, the A44 and the A448 which serves as the ring road of Bochum. Only if you leave one of these highways within the low-emission zone, an emission sticker is needed.
Parking outside the low-emission zone
If your car is not eligible for an emissions sticker, then there are possibilities to park outside the low-emission zone of the Ruhr and take public transport to reach Bochum. Probably the best place to park is the P+R terrain in Höntrop (A on the map), right next to station Wattenscheid-Höntrop on line S1 of the S-Bahn that goes straight to the city center.
Which emissions sticker do you need in Bochum?
Just like in the rest of the Ruhr area, the green emissions sticker is necessary to drive within the low-emission zone of Bochum. If your vehicle does not have a sticker or if your vehicle has an older red or yellow sticker, you risk a fine of €100.
Availability of the emissions sticker for Bochum
Unlike a few other German cities, Bochum does not provide a service to buy the emissions sticker online for foreign vehicles. Instead, they refer you to vehicle inspection companies such as DEKRA or TÜV. Most larger car dealerships also should be able to provide you with a sticker. Do remember that you must buy the sticker before you drive into the low-emission zone of the Ruhr area. Gas stations along the highway usually do not sell the sticker.
Unless you already are in Germany, another option is to order the sticker online. You can use the order form on our website and the sticker will be sent from Germany to your home address within one working day. A digital copy of your vehicle registration certificate is needed to apply. Payment options include credit card, Apple Pay and SEPA bank transfer.
What is there to see and do in Bochum?
Bochum is the fourth largest city in the Ruhr area and it has a long history in mining and industry. Nowadays, the city focuses on education and services, though its industrial past also makes the city a minor tourist destination. Important attractions include the Deutsches Bergbau-Museum, one of the most prominent mining museums in the world. Bochum is also the location of several art exhibitions and cultural festivals, some of these are organized in the enormous Jahrhunderthalle which was built in 1902.
Order the official German emissions sticker, now for only €13,95 including VAT and delivery costs.