On April 1, a ban on older diesel vehicles in Stuttgart will come into effect - and it now includes car owners who live in the city.  

No more diesel in Stuttgart

Up until now, drivers who are residents of Stuttgart have been exempt from the diesel bans. From April 1, however, everything changes. Anyone driving a diesel vehicle that does not comply with Euro 5 emission standard is no longer allowed to enter the city.

For the moment, vehicles with engines conforming to Euro 5 are not banned, but they will require an emissions sticker. The city has announced it will perform further tests on Euro 5 engines to decide whether they should be banned at some point in the future.

Exceptions to Stuttgart’s diesel ban  

Residents of Stuttgart, who have been vociferously protesting against the ban, have managed to secure a few concessions from the city authorities. The diesel ban will not apply to delivery traffic, craftsmen and emergency services such as ambulances and the police.

It will also be possible to request special exceptions for things like visits to the doctor or the hospital. Even commuters who cannot access public transportation can apply for an exemption, as can parents who need to drop their children off at school or daycare. Permits for these special exceptions will cost somewhere between 53 and 106 euros, depending on the circumstances.

Why is there a diesel ban in Stuttgart?

The state capital of Baden-Württemberg - along with the rest of Germany - has been struggling to reduce levels of air pollution for many years, with nitrogen dioxide levels repeatedly rising above EU-recommended limits.

In February 2018, the Federal Administrative Court granted federal states the power to impose diesel bans to improve air quality. Such bans were quickly imposed by Hamburg and Stuttgart, but other German cities are still dragging their heels.

Diesel bans in other cities in Germany

In 2017, Munich was taken to court by environmentalists over its refusal to implement diesel bans, but it is still resisting. Cologne has appealed against a court order to enforce diesel bans and is seeking alternative ways to clean up the city’s air.

Düsseldorf is currently implementing a wide range of measures, such as low-carbon public transportation and increased cycling infrastructure, to avoid having to impose a ban. In Berlin, city authorities have decided to close at least 11 streets to diesel vehicles.