Overview
- Green HU stickers expired at the turn of the year, so affected vehicles must book inspection promptly or face fines and a mandatory supplementary check with a 20% fee surcharge.
- Cars with a blue TÜV sticker are due for inspection in 2026 and, if they pass, receive a brown sticker dated 2028.
- Overdue HU brings stepped penalties up to €60 and a Flensburg point for delays over eight months, and driving without a valid sticker can jeopardize insurance coverage after an accident.
- New vehicle types registered from January must include Next‑Generation eCall emergency technology using modern mobile standards.
- Costs are set to rise with reports of higher TÜV fees of up to about €100, a CO₂ charge lifting fuel prices by roughly three cents per liter, annual advance payment of vehicle tax, and Euro 7 emissions rules arriving in autumn 2026.