Germany exemptions

The national LEZ scheme gives general exemptions from the LEZ for the following type of vehicles:
1. mobile machinery and equipment;
2. work machines;
3. agricultural and forestry tractors;
4. two- and three-wheeled motor vehicles incl. "quads";
5. ambulance cars, doctor's cars with the mark "Arzt Notfalleinsatz" (doctor in emergency service);
6. motor vehicles driven by, or carrying persons with serious mobility impairments, helpless or blind persons who have a severe disablement document marked with disability codes "aG", "H" or "Bl";
7. vehicles that may use special priority privileges, such as police, fire brigade, disaster relief or refuse collection vehicles;
8. Army and NATO vehicles.
9. Vintage cars older than 30 year with “H” in the registration number or with a red number plate (prefix 07) for historic vehicles.

 

NRW exemptions 

1. Social and financial hardship exemptions

An exemption can be applied for if it can be proven that particular requirements are fulfilled as detailed below. These exemptions are time limited.

1.1  General requirements

1.1.1       The vehicle was registered by the current owner before 1.1.2008.

1.1.2       A retrofit of the vehicle that would allow the vehicle entry into the LEZ is not technically possible. This needs to be proved by a technically competent expert (usually TÜV or similar) within the last year.

1.1.3       There is no other vehicle that the registered owner can use that meets the requirements of the LEZ.

1.1.4       A replacement vehicle is not economically possible / viable.
For a private person this is laid out in the legal system of the ZPO. A replacement is not economically possible if the monthly net income is below the levels set out below (as of 2011):
A single person with no dependents:      1130,00 €
Someone with 1 dependent:                  1560,00 €
Someone with 2 dependents:                1820,00 €
Someone with 3 dependents:                2110,00 €
Someone with 4 dependents:                2480,00 €
Someone with 5 dependents:                3020,00 €

For firms this needs to be proven by an accountant (Steuerberater) that a purchase of a vehicle that could enter the LEZ would endanger the firms existence.

 

1.2  Particular requirements for particular trips
If the requirements in 1.1 are met, then an exemption can be given for the following purposes

 1.2.1 Private / business trips

1.2.1.1 Trip to repair technical equipment, repair of building damage from water, gas or electrical damage

1.2.1.2. Trips of social or care help

1.2.1.3 Trips for required hospital or doctors appointments

1.2.1.4 Coach destinations

 

1.2.2. Public trips

1.2.2.1 Trips to service the population with necessary goods for food shops, pharmacies, old peoples homes, hospitals and similar establishments, as well as weekly and special markets

1.2.2.2 Trips for the supply and disposal of construction sites, the delivery of goods to production plants and the dispatch of goods from production, incl. works transport, if alternatives are not available

 

1.3  Particular requirements for social or vehicle specific reasons

If the requirements in 1.1 are met, then an exemption can be given for the following purposes
1.3.1 Disabled persons that have difficulty walking with a disability pass (§3 Abs. 2 Nr. 2) market with ‘G’ or people with an orange coloured disabled parking permit (§46 Abs. 1 Nr. 11 StVO) and need to drive this vehicle

1.3.2. Special vehicles with particular business ideas (eg historic buses for weddings or town visits)

1.3.3. Special vehicles with high costs to replace or retrofit and low mileage in the LEZ (very heavy vehicles, showmen's vehicles, work vehicles with adaptations which are used for this particular requirements (eg Measurement vehicles, media vehicles, and tradesmen's workshop vehicles),

1.3.4 Particular hardship cases, for which the existence is endangered by the LEZ. Such hardship cases should be proved by an accountant (Steuerberater).

 

2. Exemptions for camper vans

 For camper vans for the trip from home to the next motorway exemptions can be applied for if:

2.1  The vehicle must have been registered by the current owner before 1.1.2008.

2.2  A retrofit of the camper van that would allow entry into the LEZ is not technically possible or cost more than € 4500. This needs to be proved by a technically competent expert (usually TÜV or similar) within the last year.

 

3. Exemptions from other places

 3.1  Simplified proof

 If the exemption is less than 2 years old a hardship exemption as set out in 1.2 above) does not need to prove that they meet the requirements in 1.1 again. The existing exemption is sufficient proof.

 3.2  Reciprocal Recognition of other exemptions

 If an exemption has been granted under 1.3 above to another LEZ, then that exemption needs to be placed visibly in the vehicle.

 

Disclaimer:
These exemptions are listed for your guide only. They are not officially translated, and are current as of autumn 2023. The original on the city/regional/national website is the only accurate source.