The following general requirements apply to the granting of an exemption:

• The vehicle must have been registered to the vehicle owner before January 1, 2008.
• The vehicle cannot be technically retrofitted so that an emissions sticker can be issued.
• The owner does not have another vehicle that is allowed to drive in an environmental zone.
• A replacement purchase is not economically reasonable.

Furthermore, one of the following special reasons must exist for the journey:

• Maintenance and repair of technical installations, to repair damage to buildings (including gas, water and electrical damage),
• social and nursing care services,
• necessary regular visits to the doctor or a medical emergency,
• the origin and destination of coaches,
• the workplace cannot be reached by public transport due to working hours,
• Supply of the population with essential goods from the food trade, pharmacies, retirement homes, hospitals and similar facilities as well as weekly and special markets,
• Supply and disposal of construction sites,
• deliveries of goods to production plants and dispatch of goods from production (including works transport) if no alternatives are available.

If the general requirements are met, exceptions are also possible for

• Holders of severely disabled parking permits (orange),
• Severely disabled persons with the mark "G" in the severely disabled person's pass,
• Special vehicles with a special business idea (e.g. historic buses for city tours/weddings),
• Special vehicles with particularly high purchase or conversion costs and low mileage in the low emission zone (e.g. heavy goods vehicles, showmen's tractors, vehicles with special superstructures such as measuring vehicles or special media vehicles),
• motorhomes for the journey to the nearest highway access road.

The application for an exemption permit (see under Forms and links) can be submitted

• in person,
• by post,
• fax or
• e-mail .

Please enclose the following information or documents (in copy):

• Proof that a conversion is not possible (e.g. from the manufacturer, TÜV),
• Registration certificate part I (vehicle registration certificate),
• for traders: Business registration,
• for freelancers: tax certificate

and additionally

• for private individuals:
  Reason for the journeys; on which days (or in which period) they are necessary, medical certificate, or in the case of shift work: confirmation from the employer,
• for tradespeople / freelancers:
  on which days (or in which period) are journeys necessary, confirmation from the client (especially permanent clients),
• for farmers / special vehicles:
  Proof that a lower-emission vehicle is not economically justifiable,
• in cases of hardship:
  detailed justification,
  - additionally for private individuals: proof of income / pension, - for tradespeople: Expert opinion from an auditor,
  confirmation from the IHK, or similar

For private individuals:

• max. 20 euros if the main residence is within the environmental zone,
• max. 30 euros if the main residence is outside the environmental zone;

For businesses:

• max. 40 euros if the company headquarters is located within the environmental zone,
• max. 60 euros if the company is located outside the environmental zone.

A rejection due to insufficient evidence or reasons also leads to a fee obligation.