Overview
- From 1 January 2026, Next‑Generation eCall is mandatory for newly type‑approved passenger cars and light vans, and from 1 January 2027 vehicles without NG eCall cannot be first registered.
- From 7 July 2026, only new registrations of cars and light commercial vehicles with specified safety systems will be allowed, including pedestrian and cyclist automatic emergency braking, emergency lane keeping, intelligent speed assistance, driver‑attention warning, an Alcolock interface, event data recording and an emergency stop signal, plus extended head‑impact protection.
- Germany’s transport ministry specifies that the advanced emergency braking upgrade to detect pedestrians and cyclists (Stage C) applies to all first registrations from July 2026.
- Emissions rules tighten with the Euro 6e second stage in January 2026 and Euro 7 for newly developed models from 29 November 2026 before applying to all new registrations by end‑2027, with ultrafine particle measurement and tire and brake abrasion limits phased in and the first binding EV battery durability minimums set at 80% after 5 years/100,000 km and 72% after 8 years/160,000 km.
- Motorists face immediate cost and paperwork changes in 2026, including an expected CO2 price impact of roughly up to 3 cents per liter for petrol and slightly more for diesel, plus a 19 January licence exchange deadline in Germany for card licences issued between 1999 and 2001.