Advice requested on Green Zone rules in Netherlands, Germany and Denmark.

JULIANLISMORE · Jun 25, 2022

Managing or avoiding "Green Zones" in Netherlands, Germany and Denmark

Emerging from Covid-19 hibernation we're about to embark on a trip to north Jutland which will involve ferry arrival in Netherlands, passing through one corner of Germany and into Denmark and I've only just woken up to the existence of Green Zones in various continental urban areas. Our Cali is a 2011 T5 tdi 180 and I don't even know what Euro number is attached to that engine.

Any advice on where to find out what we need to know about what restrictions we may need to contend with will be greatly appreciated.

Kingfisher · Jun 25, 2022

A 2011 T5 would be a Euro 5 engine.

In the Netherlands you can currently (until at least Jan 2025) enter all low emission zones without restriction. No sticker or permit is necessary.

In Germany a windscreen sticker (Umweltplakette) is needed for access to many city centres. You will not need it for the motorway transit. If you still have a few weeks before your travel, then ordering a sticker online would give peace of mind. If not, then you can get it at TÜV stations and at most dealerships and independent workshops, should you decide to visit any low emission zones in Germany. See the recent thread on this forum
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/german-green-badge.45199/
or this document:

https://assets.adac.de/image/upload/v1583743499/ADAC-eV/KOR/Text/PDF/FTKInfo_Stickers_for_foreign-registered_vehicles_pclvqu.pdf

For Denmark I have no recent experience.

WelshGas · Jun 25, 2022

JULIANLISMORE said:
Managing or avoiding "Green Zones" in Netherlands, Germany and Denmark

Emerging from Covid-19 hibernation we're about to embark on a trip to north Jutland which will involve ferry arrival in Netherlands, passing through one corner of Germany and into Denmark and I've only just woken up to the existence of Green Zones in various continental urban areas. Our Cali is a 2011 T5 tdi 180 and I don't even know what Euro number is attached to that engine.

Any advice on where to find out what we need to know about what restrictions we may need to contend with will be greatly appreciated.

I've just come back from a trip to Nordkapp in Norway from Hook of Holland via Germany and Denmark. Never saw a Green Zone.
They will mainly be City/Town centres etc: if you don't have the right badge, just park outside and walk/cycle or public transport into the centre.
Easy enought to get the German sticker, as above. Not sure there is one for Denmark.

JULIANLISMORE · Jun 25, 2022

WelshGas said:
I've just come back from a trip to Nordkapp in Norway from Hook of Holland via Germany and Denmark. Never saw a Green Zone.
They will mainly be City/Town centres etc: if you don't have the right badge, just park outside and walk/cycle or public transport into the centre.
Easy enought to get the German sticker, as above. Not sure there is one for Denmark.

Thank you both Kingfisher and Welsh Gas. Useful and comforting advice/information.

Jim2007 · Jun 25, 2022

WelshGas said:
Not sure there is one for Denmark.

Centre of Aarhus, centre of Odense, centre of Aalborg.

Useful app with a map detailing all the green zones in Europe currently:

‎Green-Zones

‎Note: This app is primarily intended for private and tourist customers or drivers of cars, motorcycles and campers. For professional users and drivers of trucks and buses, who have concluded a service contract with Green-Zones, the "Green-Zones Fleet-App" is available on the App Store. Who is...

apps.apple.com

WelshGas · Jun 25, 2022

Jim2007 said:
Centre of Aarhus, centre of Odense, centre of Aalborg.

Useful app with a map detailing all the green zones in Europe currently:

‎Green-Zones

‎Note: This app is primarily intended for private and tourist customers or drivers of cars, motorcycles and campers. For professional users and drivers of trucks and buses, who have concluded a service contract with Green-Zones, the "Green-Zones Fleet-App" is available on the App Store. Who is...

apps.apple.com

JULIANLISMORE said:
Thank you both Kingfisher and Welsh Gas. Useful and comforting advice/information.

Regulation for vans

miljoezoner.dk

You can check here for compliance.

My 2014 California is compliant.

JULIANLISMORE · Jun 26, 2022

It seems that entry into any of the city centre emissions restricted zones in Denmark it is a requirement to register in advance the fact that the vehicle is fitted with a diesel particulate filter. The registration requires the uploading of a declaration as follows, along with a copy of the registration document: -

"Declaration from a relevant technical institute or authority confirming that your vehicle is mounted with an approved particulate filter. The declaration must be given less than 18 months for trucks and busses and less than 30 months for vans prior to usage of the vehicle in a Danish low emission zone. The declaration must be in either Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, English, German or French."

I'm wondering from whom or where one obtains such a declaration - does anyone know?

Incidentally, thanks to Jim2007 for his contribution.

WelshGas · Jun 26, 2022

JULIANLISMORE said:
It seems that entry into any of the city centre emissions restricted zones in Denmark it is a requirement to register in advance the fact that the vehicle is fitted with a diesel particulate filter. The registration requires the uploading of a declaration as follows, along with a copy of the registration document: -

"Declaration from a relevant technical institute or authority confirming that your vehicle is mounted with an approved particulate filter. The declaration must be given less than 18 months for trucks and busses and less than 30 months for vans prior to usage of the vehicle in a Danish low emission zone. The declaration must be in either Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, English, German or French."

I'm wondering from whom or where one obtains such a declaration - does anyone know?

Incidentally, thanks to Jim2007 for his contribution.

See last paragraph. The requirement you are quoting, I believe, is for vehicles that don’t meet Euro5 specifications.

JULIANLISMORE · Jun 26, 2022

But, WG, the last two sentences suggests that if the first registration is before 01 January 2012 (as mine is) and the vehicle is "foreign" online registration "must" be made

Kingfisher · Jun 26, 2022

JULIANLISMORE said:
But, WG, the last two sentences suggests that if the first registration is before 01 January 2012 (as mine is) and the vehicle is "foreign" online registration "must" be made

That is indeed what it says. However, since the van is Euro 5 compliant, a copy of the registration certificate should suffice. Isn't the Euro 5 emission class mentioned on there, under item V.9 ?

I would assume that the declaration concerning the particulate filter only relates to aftermarket filters on Euro 4 vehicles. Euro 5 implies a factory particulate filter.

I'm not really sure whether the Danish rules for vans apply to a California that is registered as a passenger car (category M1/SA). Registering online anyway never hurts, I guess.

JULIANLISMORE · Jun 26, 2022

No, I don't believe that my registration doc states that the vehicle engine is rated Euro 5.

Like me, you presumably don't know who might be the provider of a declaration that the vehicle has a DPF fitted?

Kingfisher · Jun 26, 2022

JULIANLISMORE said:
No, I don't believe that my registration doc states that the vehicle engine is rated Euro 5.

Like me, you presumably don't know who might be the provider of a declaration that the vehicle has a DPF fitted?

I can't be of much help, I'm afraid. My Dutch registration does show the Euro class. Maybe a UK Cali owner (or even a Danish one?) knows more?
Alternatively, maybe the Danish authorities can advise what they expect from UK registered vehicles, if their website shows an email address somewhere.

WelshGas · Jun 26, 2022

JULIANLISMORE said:
No, I don't believe that my registration doc states that the vehicle engine is rated Euro 5.

Like me, you presumably don't know who might be the provider of a declaration that the vehicle has a DPF fitted?

My Post 6 contained a link which has a Check your Vehicle link. Have you tried checking your Registration?

JULIANLISMORE · Jun 27, 2022

Thanks Kingfisher for your advice.

Yes, WG, I did use that online vehicle check facility and it did say that my Cali qualified to enter the protection zones. My hang-up (cautious as I am) is that that particular information appears to be at loggerheads with the statements about foreign vehicles being required to be registered in the Danish Vehicle Register (for which latter purpose, it seems, a written declaration that a DPF is fitted is required).

Reading between the lines, I'm guessing that your advice is to stop worrying about it, so I think that I shall try to do just that.

Many thanks for all advice.

WelshGas · Jun 27, 2022

JULIANLISMORE said:
Thanks Kingfisher for your advice.

Yes, WG, I did use that online vehicle check facility and it did say that my Cali qualified to enter the protection zones. My hang-up (cautious as I am) is that that particular information appears to be at loggerheads with the statements about foreign vehicles being required to be registered in the Danish Vehicle Register (for which latter purpose, it seems, a written declaration that a DPF is fitted is required).

Reading between the lines, I'm guessing that your advice is to stop worrying about it, so I think that I shall try to do just that.

Many thanks for all advice.

I think the requirement for registration is for vehicles that don't show up on that checking site. The fact that are vehicles show they can enter probably means that the Danish Authorities have access to the DVLA database and can confirm date of registration , Euro status regarding emissions and the fact a DPF is fitted from manufacture.
Also those regulations appear to be only for Commercial Vans. Many Californias are registered as M1, Diesel Cars. M1 Cars are exempt until at least 2023 and maybe longer. There are no plans to include Diesel Cars post 2023 at present.

Parkinjm · Jul 2, 2022

Just back from trip to Denmark. Went Rotterdam to Bremen Germany then onto to AArhus in Denmark. Stopped in Bremen twice and in various towns en route. No restrictions of any kind. One or two vehicles selected for random checks at Danish border entering Denmark but nothing else. Worry not, just drive and relax!

JULIANLISMORE · Jul 2, 2022

Thanks for all your comforting responses. I just need to try to stop being such a worry-guts.

I've long believed that this is a great forum, peopled by really helpful folk, but I've just been reminded how much that is true.

RonB · Jul 2, 2022

Just back from a few weeks’ road trip in Europe which did include Netherlands and Germany amongst many others, but not Denmark this time. No problem anywhere regarding green zones, although as advised by WG, bicycles and public transport were best ways of visiting city centres. Driving through/around big cities like Amsterdam on main routes are not a problem. If your vehicle is approved on the Danish vehicle checking site then you will be fine.

Anthony1 · Jul 2, 2022

WelshGas said:
I've just come back from a trip to Nordkapp in Norway from Hook of Holland via Germany and Denmark. Never saw a Green Zone.
They will mainly be City/Town centres etc: if you don't have the right badge, just park outside and walk/cycle or public transport into the centre.
Easy enought to get the German sticker, as above. Not sure there is one for Denmark.

Again. I fancy a second go too.

Adno · Jul 4, 2022

i'm in Italy now and i see a lot of beautiful well kept T3 Westfalia , so what? for scrap? because the combustion standards are not so?

Anthony1 · Jul 4, 2022

RonB said:
Just back from a few weeks’ road trip in Europe which did include Netherlands and Germany amongst many others, but not Denmark this time. No problem anywhere regarding green zones, although as advised by WG, bicycles and public transport were best ways of visiting city centres. Driving through/around big cities like Amsterdam on main routes are not a problem. If your vehicle is approved on the Danish vehicle checking site then you will be fine.

What's WG?

Anthony1 · Jul 4, 2022

Anthony1 said:
Again. I fancy a second go too.

Did you meet a couple in a white T6 California?

WelshGas · Jul 4, 2022

Anthony1 said:
What's WG?

Me.

Anthony1 · Jul 4, 2022

WelshGas said:
Me.

So it is. Thank you.

Parkinjm · Jul 9, 2022

RonB said:
Just back from a few weeks’ road trip in Europe which did include Netherlands and Germany amongst many others, but not Denmark this time. No problem anywhere regarding green zones, although as advised by WG, bicycles and public transport were best ways of visiting city centres. Driving through/around big cities like Amsterdam on main routes are not a problem. If your vehicle is approved on the Danish vehicle checking site then you will be fine.

One thing I did note on my trip through Germany was the price of public transport. Just introduced by the government there is a 9euro monthly pass which is available this summer for public transport. A great green initiative and an absolute bargain https://www.lonelyplanet.com/news/germany-introduces-9-euro-transit-ticket

RonB said:
Just back from a few weeks’ road trip in Europe which did include Netherlands and Germany amongst many others, but not Denmark this time. No problem anywhere regarding green zones, although as advised by WG, bicycles and public transport were best ways of visiting city centres. Driving through/around big cities like Amsterdam on main routes are not a problem. If your vehicle is approved on the Danish vehicle checking site then you will be fine.