Low-emission zone in Darmstadt
As per 1 November 2015, an emissions sticker is needed in the city of Darmstadt in southern Hessen. Since 1 June 2019 there is also a diesel ban in place in two streets in the city center. On this page you can read all you need to know. Will you visit other German cities as well? Then look at this list of all low-emission zones in Germany. More about the emissions sticker itself can be found on the homepage of this website.
Order the official German emissions sticker, now for only €13,95 including VAT and delivery costs.
Map of the low-emission zone in Darmstadt
The low-emission zone, or Umweltzone as it is called in German, is the part that is colored orange on the map above. Unlike many other German zones that are limited to the city center, the low-emission zone of Darmstadt extends far beyond the built-up area. Even the suburbs Arheiligen and Eberstadt are included. Keep this in mind when you visit or pass through Darmstadt.
Exceptions
As always, you do not need an emissions sticker on the highway. You will not be fined if you drive past Darmstadt on the A5 or the A65. Technically you also do not need an emissions sticker on the A672 which connects the A5 and the A65 to the city center, but you can only leave this highway within the low-emission zone where you do need the sticker. Another exception is the B3 that turns into the A661 just north of Darmstadt. From Weiterstadt onward, you do not need an emissions sticker on this road. On the map it is indicated by the blue line.
Parking outside the low-emission zone
Because the low-emission zone of Darmstadt is very large, it is not as easy to park outside the zone as in some other German cities. One possibility is to leave the A67 at Griesheim, where you can park at the shopping center (A on the map). From there, tram lines 4 and 9 take you to Darmstadt in 15 minutes.
Which emissions sticker do you need in Darmstadt?
Just like in all other cities with a low-emission zone in Hessen, it is the green emissions sticker that is needed in Darmstadt. If you do not have a sticker or if you have an older red or yellow sticker, you risk a fine of €100.
Availability of the emissions sticker for Darmstadt
If you travel to Germany often, then you will probably already have an emissions sticker. In that case it is not necessary to buy a new one for Darmstadt, because all German emissions stickers are always valid in all the entire country. Unless you change your license plate number, your sticker will also not expire.
If you do not have an emissions sticker, you can either buy it in Germany at vehicle inspection company such as DEKRA or order it online. In both cases, a copy of your vehicle registration certificate needs to be presented. If you use the order form on our website and if your vehicle is eligible, the sticker will be sent out by mail within one working day. Payment options are listed at the bottom of the order form.
Diesel ban in Darmstadt
Despite the low-emission zone, Darmstadt still suffers from air pollution. To further improve the air quality, the city followed Hamburg and Stuttgart and introduced a diesel ban that went into effect on 1 June 2019. Two streets in the center of Darmstadt are affected. Just to make it more complicated, very old vehicles with a petrol engine are also banned from driving in these two streets. So the commonly used term diesel ban is not entirely correct.
On the map above, you can see which two streets in the center of Darmstadt are affected by the diesel ban. The blue line at the top is the Hügelstraße, where between the Karlstraße and the Wilhelminenplatz older and polluting vehicles are not allowed. The line at the bottom is the Heinrichstraße and here the diesel ban covers the part between the Karlstraße and the Heidelberger Straße. Even if you have a green emissions sticker, you will still be fined if you drive on either of these two streets with:
- A vehicle with a diesel engine that does not meet the requirements of emission standard EURO 5. This concerns most passenger cars from before 1 September 2009 and most buses and lorries from before 1 October 2008.
- A vehicle with a petrol engine that does not meet emission standard EURO 2. This concerns most vehicles from before 1 January 1997.
On the outside of a vehicle, it generally cannot be seen which emission standard it meets. This is why the police of Darmstadt randomly check vehicles. Usually drivers of older vehicles with diesel engines will be asked for their vehicle registration certificate. If your vehicle does not meet the emission requirements, you will be fined €100. This is is the same fine as for driving in Darmstadt without an emissions sticker.
What is there to see and do in Darmstadt?
Darmstadt is a relatively small but pleasant city with a long history in science and education. Many people visit the city for its schools or research centers. As far as tourist attractions are concerned, you should not miss the Mathildenhöhe. This hill with beautiful buildings and a small museum is one of the prime examples of the Jugendstil. While not built in the same architectural style, the Russian chapel on the same hill is also worth seeing. Then there is the Ludwigsmonument on the Ludwigsberg, whereas the Hessisches Landesmuseum is the largest museum of Darmstadt. Just south of the city, on top of a mountain in the forest, you can visit the medieval castle Burg Frankenstein.
Order the official German emissions sticker, now for only €13,95 including VAT and delivery costs.