A Guide to the London Emission Zone Come the 3 rd January 2012 changes and indeed charges will be made against vehicles that do not comply with new emission standards brought in by London Mayor Boris Johnson and Transport for London (TfL).
Contents London Low Emission Zone Overview... 3 Low Emission Zone Summary... 3 Enforcing the LEZ... 3 Information for Minibus, Larger Vans, and Specialist Vehicles... 4 Meeting the LEZ Standard... 4 Information on Busses, Heavy Vehicles, and Lorries... 4 Does my Vehicle meet the new Standard?... 4 Requirements from the 3 rd January 2012... 5 Does my Vehicle meet the new Standards?... 5 Options for Vehicles which do not meet the new Standards... 5 Approved Filters... 6 Choosing a Filter... 6 Certification... 6 Change Your Vehicle... 6 Fleet Reorganisation... 6 Convert Your Vehicle to Gas... 6 Pay Charges... 6 Is Vehicle Registration Necessary to Avoid Paying the Charge?... 7 Vehicles Registered in the UK... 7 Vehicles Registered Outside of the UK including Northern Ireland... 7 Hot to Register Your Vehicle... 7 Exemptions and Discounts... 8 Daily Charges... 8 Paying the Charge... 9 Payment methods... 9 Hired Vehicles... 10 Penalty Charges... 10 Challenging the Penalty Charge... 11 Non Payment... 11 More information on the LEZ... 11
London Low Emission Zone Overview The London Low Emission Zone (LEZ) comes into effect from the 3/1/2012. It has been brought in to reduce the particulate matter in the air of the city, and the zone covers most of Greater London. It is possible to drive within the new LEZ after the 3 rd January 2012 with a vehicle that does not comply with the new regulation, but a charge will be made. Low Emission Zone Summary The low emission zone will effect the following diesel vehicles o Minibuses o Lorries o Buses o Coaches o Motor caravans o o Specialist vehicles Other vehicles such as cars and motorcycles are not affected by the new zone. The LEZ will operate 24 hours per day, every day. The LEZ requires that vehicles must meet certain emission standards or pay a charge The LEZ is changing from the 3 rd January 2012, and subsequently more vehicles will be affected. The LEZ covers Greater London, including Heathrow, and the M1 and M4 where they cross the GLA boundary. The M25 however is exempt from the LEZ. Note, the central London Congestion Charge is a separate entity to the LEZ, and will still apply if your vehicle meets the new LEZ emission standard. Enforcing the LEZ The LEZ will be enforced using car number plate recognition cameras which link to a DVLA, VOSA and SMMT databases to determine whether or not a vehicle is exempt, meets the LEZ standard, registered for a discount, or has already paid the daily charge. More information can be found here: tfl.gov.uk/lezlondon
Information for Minibus, Larger Vans, and Specialist Vehicles From the 3 rd January 2012 owners of minibuses, larger vans, and specialist vehicles will have to have a Euro 3 compliant engine or face a charge for driving in the LEZ. The purposes of the vehicle are irrelevant. Meeting the LEZ Standard If your vehicle was registered after 2002, then it will already be Euro 3 compliant and within LEZ standards for exhaust emissions. The table below shows which vehicles will not meet the new LEZ standards. Vehicle Weight Age 4x4 Utility Vehicles Pickup Trucks Larger Vans Unladen Gross Vehicle Weight between 1.205 tonnes to 3.5 tonnes Registered new prior to January 2002 (This information can be found on the V5C for UK registered vehicles) Motor Caravans Gross Vehicle Weight between Ambulances Minibus with more than 8 seats 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes. Gross Vehicle Weight of less than 5 tonnes. More information can be found on tfl.gov.uk/lezlondon or ring 0845 607 0009 Information on Busses, Heavy Vehicles, and Lorries From the 3 rd January 2012, new LEZ standards may require vehicles to be modified for particulate matter emissions even if they meet current standards. The European Union has set limits on how much particulate matter can be emitted from a motor vehicle. From January 2012 this will be set at Euro IV. The current Euro III will no longer make a vehicle exempt from paying a charge. Does my Vehicle meet the new Standard? Your vehicle will meet the new standards (Euro IV) if it was registered on or after the 1 st October 2001.
You maybe exempt if you have a valid Reduced Pollution Certificate (RPC) or a Low Emission Certificate (LEC) for having a full or partial filter which has been approved, or your vehicle has been converted to run using a gas engine. You may also meet the standard if your vehicle predates 1 st October 2011 and your vehicle has a Euro III compliant engine. More information can be found at tft.gov.uk/lezlondon You may meet the standard now but next year it all changes. Check to ensure you will not be charged come the 3 rd January 2012. Requirements from the 3 rd January 2012 Emissions from next year will have to fall in line with Euro IV standards for particulate matter emission. To avoid additional costs, you will have to replace or modify your vehicle to meet the new LEZ standards. To qualify for exemption from paying a daily charge, a vehicle must be fitted with a full filter and you must have a valid RPC or LEC certificate. The filter must be one which is approved. Does my Vehicle meet the new Standards? The table below shows the criteria for not meeting the new standards. Vehicles Which Require Updating to Meet the New LEZ Standards in 2012 Vehicle Weight Year Registered Breakdown/Recovery Vehicles Lorries Gritters Motorcaravans Concrete Mixers Removal Lorries Road Sweepers Refuse Collection trucks Tippers Snow Ploughs Gross Vehicle Weight exceeds 3 tonnes Coaches with more than 8 seats for passengers Buses Gross Vehicle Weight exceeds 5 tonnes Registered as new prior to October 2006 The V5C (registration document) will give you this information Vehicles registered as new after October 2006 will meet the Euro IV emission standards. More information can be found at tfl.gov.uk/lezlondon or call 0845 607 0009. Options for Vehicles which do not meet the new Standards There are options available if your vehicle does not meet the new emission standards coming into play in 2012. Some options can take quite a while to come into play, so take action as quickly as possible.
Approved Filters Through fitting an approved filter it maybe possible to reduce your vehicle s emissions to meet the new LEZ standard. The fitting and certification of the filter takes three months to complete, so the sooner you get started the better. Choosing a Filter If you select a filter which is not on the list on the LEZ website, then your vehicle will not earn certification and you will have to pay charges from next year. A list of approved suppliers can be found at tft.gov.uk/lezlondon. Certification There are two organisations which can issue certification to a vehicle which has been fitted with an approved filter: The Vehicle and Operator Service Agency (VOSA) or an Authorised Examiner (AE). If an AE inspects and approves the filter he or she will then notify VOSA that the vehicle meets the new LEZ standards. Note: AEs are only eligible to issue certification in the year the filter is fitted. Following years must be carried out by a VOSA testing station. Once certification has been issued VOSA will issue either a LEC or RPC certificate depending on the type of vehicle you have. They will then notify Transport for London that your vehicle meets the new LEZ standard. It may however take ten days before the database is updated, so charges may still apply until your vehicle details are on the database. Find your nearest test centre: Call VOSA 0300 123 9000 AEs are contactable via the approved filter supplier. Change Your Vehicle A way to avoid the LEZ charge is to change your vehicle for one that meets the new standards. Fleet Reorganisation If you are a fleet operator, through rerouting vehicles that meet the new standards into the capital and ones that do not away from it is one way to get round the charge. Convert Your Vehicle to Gas Through converting your vehicle to operate on pure gas, and this has been certified by VOSA and registered with the DVLA, you will avoid paying the charge. Biodiesel vehicles do not meet LEZ standards and will have to pay the charge. Pay Charges Vehicles which do not meet the LEZ standards will pay daily charges to drive within the zone. Transport for London would prefer vehicles were modified or replaced rather than pay the charge.
Is Vehicle Registration Necessary to Avoid Paying the Charge? Generally the answer to this question is no but there are a few vehicles which will need to register with Transport for London before they are exempt for paying LEZ charges. Vehicles Registered in the UK You will need to register if: Your vehicle has been certified by VOSA that it has been fitted with an approved filter or converted to pure gas fuel You are a showman or have a specially constructed vehicle Vehicles Registered Outside of the UK including Northern Ireland You will need to register if: Your vehicle is registered in Northern Ireland and it has been issued with an RPC Your vehicle is compliant with the new LEZ standards Your vehicle is eligible for a discount or exemption Hot to Register Your Vehicle Registering the vehicle can take up to ten days and is free of charge Step 1: Download the form from the tfl.gov.uk/lezlondon website. It is available in several languages or call 0845 607 0009 if in the UK or (+44) 20 7310 8998 (If outside of it.) Step2: Complete the form. You will need to complete one form per vehicle. Step3: Post completed forms to this address together with documentary evidence of LEZ standard compliance. Low Emission Zone, PO Box 4784, Worthing BN11 9PU, UK Or email lezlondon@tfl.gov.uk You will receive confirmation stating whether or not you have been successful in avoiding the charge. Until you receive a successful confirmation you will be eligible to pay the charge. If you have already registered your vehicle with TfL you will not have to reregister if you drive a large van, a specialist vehicle, minibus, or showman vehicle. It is a different process for trucks, specialist heavy vehicles, coaches, and buses. If you have registered for the current LEZ standard, you will have to reregister if you upgrade the same vehicle to meet Euro IV standard.
However, if a vehicle was registered as meeting Euro IV previously, reregistering is not necessary. Exemptions and Discounts Not many vehicles will qualify for 100% discount or exemption. However, the following will: Vehicles which have a primary use of off road but use public roads for a limited period such as large agricultural vehicles such as a tractor. These include: Farming vehicles Mobile cranes Road and building construction machinery Mowing machines Forestry and agricultural tractors Historic vehicles built before 1 st January 1973 Ministry of Defence Vehicles You will only have to register a vehicle like the one above if it is registered outside of the UK. Showman s vehicles qualify for a 100% discount if they are registered to a person in the business of travelling showman and have been specially constructed or modified. Both UK and non UK registered vehicles will have to register to qualify for the discount. More information can be found at tfl.gov.uk/lezlondon. Daily Charges Charges will be made for all vehicles that do not meet the LEZ standards coming in to force in January 2012.
The charges are payable every day of the year. There are no exceptions to this rule. Vehicle Weight Charge (Daily) 4x4 Utility vehicles Gross vehicle weight unladen 100 Pickups Larger Vans between 1.205 3.5 tonnes Motorcaravans Ambulances Gross vehicle weight between 2.5-3.5 tonnes Minibuses capable of carrying Gross vehicle weight of less more than 8 passengers Breakdown and recovery vehicles Lorries Concrete mixers Road sweepers Tippers Snow ploughs Motorcaravans Refuse collection vehicles Removal lorries Fire engines Busses Coaches which carry more than 8 passengers than 5 tonnes Gross vehicle weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes Gross vehicle weight exceeding 5 tonnes 200 Paying the Charge The charge can be paid up to 64 days before travel, up to midnight the following day after travel, and on the day of travel itself. Charges run from midnight to midnight. If you enter the LEZ at 11pm and are still in it an hour later, two days charge will be payable. More than one vehicle can be paid for at a time providing you have the travel dates to hand. Payment methods The charge can be paid by credit or debit card via the website. tfl.gov.uk/lezlondon. Payments can be made 24 hours a day, seven days per week. They can also be paid by phone. UK: 0845 607 0009. Outside of the UK: (+44) 20 7310 8998 Payments by phone can be made 6.00am to 12.30am Sunday to Friday, and 6am to 10pm Saturday. It is possible to set up an LEZ customer account with TfL and pay via a 24 hour automated phone system. You can also pay by cheque. Using this option is only possible if you have downloaded the Paying the Low Emission Zone Charge. The form can also be sent via post, from calling the UK contact number.
Cheques should be posted to: Low Emission Zone, PO Box 4784, Worthing BN11 9PU, UK and take ten working days to clear. It is important to be clear when specifying the date of travel and the vehicle number plate. Failure may result in a penalty charge notice. Hired Vehicles If you have hired a vehicle check with the hire firm if they have made arrangements to pay the charge if it does not comply with the LEZ standards. If they have not, you will be responsible for paying the charge. Penalty Charges Penalty charge notices will be issued if: If a vehicle which does not meet LEZ standards is driven through the LEZ and the daily charge is not paid by midnight the following day. A vehicle which had to be registered but has not been In accurate information has been given about the vehicle such as date of travel or number plate The table below shoes the penalty charge amounts Vehicle Type Weight Penalty Charge Penalty Charge if Paid Within 14 Days Larger vans Pickup trucks 4x4 light utility vehicles Gross vehicle weight unladen between 1.205 3.5 tonnes 500 250 Motorcaravans Ambulances Minibuses capable of carrying more than 8 passengers Gross vehicle weight between 2.5-3.5 tonnes Gross vehicle weight of less than 5 tonnes Breakdown and recovery vehicles Lorries Concrete mixers Road sweepers Tippers Snow ploughs Motorcaravans Refuse collection vehicles Removal lorries Fire engines Busses Gross vehicle weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes Gross vehicle weight 1,000 500
Coaches which carry more than 8 passengers exceeding 5 tonnes It is possible that separate penalty charge notices will be issued for each day a vehicle is driven in the LEZ without corresponding payment. Non registered penalty charge notices will be recovered through dedicated recovery agencies. Penalty charge notices can be paid online at tfl.gov.uk/lezlondon, calling 0845 607 0009, or by post. Challenging the Penalty Charge There is an appeals process if you feel you have been wrongly charged which is outlined on the penalty charge notice itself. If this is rejected you can make an appeal via the Parking and Traffic Appeal Service (PATAS). In the first instance contact TfL if you feel the notice is incorrect. Non Payment If no payment or appeal is fourth coming, the charge increases to 1500 or 750 depending on vehicle type. If payment is still withheld the debt will be passed on to a debt recovery company. More information on the LEZ Website: tfl.gov.uk/lezlondon Phone UK: 0845 907 0009 Non-UK (+44) 20 7310 8998 Email lezlondon@tfl.gov.uk Write to Low Emission Zone, PO Box 4784, Worthing BN11 9PU