Exemption authorisations for driving in the low emission zone

Under certain conditions, anyone with a diesel vehicle up to Euro 5 needs a special permit to drive in the new low emission zone.

Description

Residents of the low emission zone, delivery traffic, severely disabled persons with a severely disabled parking permit and certain other groups of people will be allowed to drive into the low emission zone in 2023 without an individual exemption permit.

Who does not need an individual exemption

Once your application has been received, you will be sent a certificate authorising you to drive in the low emission zone for the time being. This must be clearly legible and placed behind the windscreen.
A personal visit is not necessary. Once your application has been approved, you will receive an authorisation notice with a card, which must be carried visibly in the vehicle.
If you do not fulfil the requirements, you will be sent a written notification.

Enquiries

If you have any questions about driving in the low emission zone with a diesel vehicle or about special authorisation to drive in the low emission zone, please contact:

Phone: 089-233 36349
E-mail: ausnahmeumweltzone.kvr@muenchen.de

Prerequisites

The diesel driving ban will be introduced in three stages from 1 February 2023 and will initially restrict diesel vehicles of the Euro 4/IV emissions standard and worse from entering the environmental zone extended to include the Mittlerer Ring. On 1 October 2023, this access restriction will be extended to diesel vehicles of the Euro 5/V emission standard in stage two. For these first two stages, there is a general exemption for residents and delivery traffic by means of signage. From 1 April 2024, these exemptions by means of signage will no longer apply.

You can find detailed information on the three stages at"Questions & Answers".

Duration & Costs

Processing time

The processing time for the application depends on the volume of applications.

Payment methods

You will receive the payment information with the authorisation card.

Fees

25 euros

Reduced fee in cases of hardship (e.g. receipt of social assistance or income below the seizure limit) 10 euros

Payment methods available

Questions & Answers

Due to the amended general ruling, shift workers and social and care services no longer require an individual exemption permit and are authorised to enter the city.
Shift workers are advised to carry written confirmation from their employer that they are starting or finishing work when travelling.

Please note that authorisation for the shift worker group only applies if you start work before 6 a.m. or finish work after midnight.

If you are a resident, severely disabled with a severely disabled parking permit, delivery traffic or already fall under the generally regulated exemptions (see "Who does not need an individual exemption"), you do not need to submit an application.

All other persons can apply for an individual exemption under certain conditions.

For the application you need

  1. for journeys in the predominantly public interest, for example to supply the population with essential goods and services:
    All emergency, auxiliary and supply vehicles of local public transport need an order confirmation.
  2. for journeys to fulfil individual interests that cannot be postponed:
    The exemption in the individual interest is not granted if another vehicle not covered by the ban is available to the applicant within a reasonable period of time.
  • for the maintenance and repair of technical equipment necessary for operations, if not already exempted as a tradesperson in accordance with the general ruling:
    • Evidence
  • Special vehicles, towing vehicles of showmen, vehicles used as workplaces with fixed superstructures/installations, heavy goods transporters:
    • Business registration or
    • Travelling trade licence
    • Order or
    • Confirmation of participation
  • Vehicles for the commercial transport of severely disabled persons:
    • Business registration
    • Order confirmation
  • necessary regular visits to the doctor, e.g. patients who cannot use public transport:
    • medical certificate
  • Journeys by shift workers and other persons who cannot use public transport due to their working hours:
  • private hardship cases:
    • Journeys for a short period of time or in rare special cases (e.g. moving house):
      • written justification and proof (e.g. new tenancy agreement)
    • Journeys for special reasons for the family care of children under the age of 8 (regular journeys to a day nursery, day care centre, school are excluded: Crèche, daycare centre, school, leisure activities = "parent taxi"):
      • written justification
    • Private journeys to care for relatives:
      • Proof of care level (at least care level 1)
  • other exceptions:
    • in the predominant and urgent individual interest, in particular persons who are dependent on travelling to the environmental zone for other reasons, but who are unable to purchase an alternative vehicle due to their financial circumstances (e.g. income below the seizure exemption limits or receipt of social benefits):
      • the social welfare notice or
      • proof of salary
      • written justification as to why the journeys to the environmental zone are necessary

If you are a resident, severely disabled with a severely disabled parking permit, delivery traffic or already fall under the generally regulated exemptions (see link: "Who does not need an individual exemption"), you do not need to submit an application.

All other persons can apply for an individual exemption.

For the application you need

  1. for journeys in the predominantly public interest, for example to supply the population with essential goods and services:
    All emergency, auxiliary and supply vehicles of local public transport need an order confirmation.
  2. for journeys to fulfil individual interests that cannot be postponed:
    The exemption in the individual interest is not granted if another vehicle not covered by the ban is available to the applicant within a reasonable period of time.
  • for the maintenance and repair of technical equipment necessary for operations, if not already exempted as a manual labourer in accordance with the general ruling:
    • Evidence
  • Special vehicles, towing vehicles of showmen, vehicles used as workplaces with fixed superstructures/installations, heavy goods transporters:
    • Business registration or
    • Travelling trade card
    • Order or
    • Confirmation of participation
  • Vehicles for the commercial transport of severely disabled persons:
    • Business registration
    • Order confirmation
  • necessary regular visits to the doctor, e.g. patients who cannot use public transport:
    • medical certificate
  • private cases of hardship:
    • Journeys in a short period of time or in rare special cases (e.g. moving house):
      • written justification and evidence (e.g. new tenancy agreement)
    • Journeys for special reasons for the family care of children under 8 years of age (regular journeys to: Crèche, daycare centre, school, leisure activities = "parent taxi"):
      • written justification
    • Private journeys to care for relatives:
      • Proof of care level (at least care level 1)
  • other exceptions:
    • in the predominant and urgent individual interest, in particular persons who are dependent on travelling to the environmental zone for other reasons, but who are unable to purchase an alternative vehicle due to their financial circumstances (e.g. income below the seizure exemption limits or receipt of social benefits):
      • the social welfare notice or
      • proof of salary
      • written justification as to why the journeys to the low emission zone are necessary

Applies to diesel vehicles with emission standards Euro 0 to Euro 5/ Euro V.

The general exemption for residents and delivery traffic as well as some other exemptions in accordance with the general ruling no longer apply.

Exemptions for driving in the extended environmental zone are to be granted exclusively

  • in accordance with Annex 3 of the 35th BImSchV,
  • by means of a general ruling with exemptions for certain vehicles or driving purposes
  • through individual exemptions subject to a charge on the basis of
    § 1 Para. 2 of the 35th BImSchV

can be decreed or regulated.

You will find further details here in the second half of 2023.

Legal basis

§ Section 1 (2) of the 35th BImSchV (35th Ordinance on the Implementation of the Federal Immission Control Act) in conjunction with Section 40 (1) BImSchG (Federal Immission Control Act)

Data protection

By signing the application for a special permit to drive in the low emission zone, you confirm that you have taken note of the data protection declaration.

You can find out which data is collected, how it is used and stored in our information sheet on the GDPR.

Data protection information sheet Munich low emission zone (PDF)

Landeshauptstadt München

Kreisverwaltungsreferat
Hauptabteilung II Fahrzeugzulassungs- und Fahrerlaubnisbehörde
Ausnahmegenehmigung Umweltzone

Internet

Postal address

Landeshauptstadt München
Kreisverwaltungsreferat
Hauptabteilung II Fahrzeugzulassungs- und Fahrerlaubnisbehörde
Ausnahmegenehmigung Umweltzone

Eichstätter Straße 2
80686 München

Address

Eichstätter Straße 2
80686 München

By appointment only

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