The rules in brief
| Point | What we found (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Zone | everything inside the S-Bahn ring (Ring) |
| Hours | 24 hours a day, all year |
| Sticker | green only; yellow and red are not enough in Berlin |
| Foreign vehicles | affected like any other |
| Fine | about 100 euros without a sticker |
| Exemptions mentioned | electric cars, motorcycles, some classic cars (one source; to verify) |
Where to buy the sticker
Stickers are sold at vehicle inspection centres (TÜV, DEKRA), some garages and vehicle registration offices. Bring your vehicle registration document and a few euros; the price varies by place. Stick it inside the windscreen. A rental car picked up in Germany usually already has one: ask at the counter.
Our advice: leave the car outside
For a visit to Berlin a car is rarely useful: the U-Bahn, S-Bahn and tram cover the centre (see Berlin public transport). If you arrive by car, park outside the Ring near an S-Bahn station and take the train. Street parking in the centre is paid and often hard to find.
Renting a car in Berlin
To get out of the city (lakes, Potsdam, Spreewald), a rental car picked up at the airport is handy: see our guide to car rental at BER airport and Berlin airport. For excursions, also see the lakes around Berlin.
