The introduction of the expanded ULEZ zone has been in the works for some time. Late last year, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced that the existing ULEZ would be extended London-wide to “tackle the triple threats of air pollution, climate emergency and congestion”.
It’s here: in a move that will see 5 million more Londoners breathe cleaner air, the ULEZ has expanded to cover all of London today.
Here’s everything you need to know 👇🏾 pic.twitter.com/E785x6h5gN
— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) August 29, 2023
However, the move has proved controversial and a public consultation found 80% of people in the affected areas had opposed the expansion of the zone.
Although the implementation of an expanded London ULEZ was announced some time ago, TfL’s vehicle checking service has suffered some down time today – suggesting that a large number of motorists are checking if their vehicles are compliant at the last minute.
In a bid to help those affected by the changes, the Mayor of London announced in June an expansion of the £110m scrappage scheme from the end of July. Small businesses registered in London with fewer than 50 employees – not just sole traders and micro businesses – are eligible, and charities operating in London will be allowed to scrap or retrofit up to three vans or minibuses instead of just one.
Via the scheme, charities, sole traders and businesses with 10 or fewer employees registered in London can apply to scrap a van (£5,000 grant) or a minibus (£7,000 grant), retrofit certain vans or minibuses (£5,000 grant) or scrap and replace a van or minibus with a fully electric vehicle (£7,500 or £9,500 grant respectively).
The cost of investing in an electric van is still nonetheless considerable, with a number of popular models priced at £30,000 and above.
According to Transport for London, 9 out of 10 cars, and around 8 out of 10 vans seen driving in the zone on an average day are already compliant.
Despite this, and the scrappage scheme, there has been plenty of criticism of ULEZ from small businesses including couriers and removal companies, as well as private tradespersons like plumbers and electricians. Critics of the expansion say that some small companies and sole traders simply don’t have the financial means to either upgrade their vehicles or pay the daily ULEZ fees.
Some opponents of the ULEZ have even taken matters into their own hands by moving cameras or removing them entirely. Earlier this month, the BBC reported that 300 cameras had been damaged or stolen in four months.
On the other hand, supporters of the scheme say it will reduce emissions and improve air quality, thereby saving lives.
How does ULEZ system work?
First, motorists and businesses will need to check if their vehicle is compliant, which can be done via the Transport for London website.
In the case of vans and minibuses and other specialist vehicles, Euro 6 is required in order to avoid payment.
The ULEZ charges can be paid via the TfL website, or the official application, which is available on the Google Play and Apple app stores.
Those caught not paying the fee will be subject to a penalty charge of £180 that is reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days. Penalties can also be paid using the means referred to above.
What about non-UK registered vehicles?
Owners of non-UK registered vehicles must register their vehicle with TfL if:
- It is listed by us as NOT meeting LEZ/ULEZ emissions standards but you can provide evidence, such as vehicle registration documents, that shows it does
- It qualifies for an exemption or discount.
If the vehicle does meet the ULEZ standards, it still needs to be registered with TfL partner EPC plc.
After registration is completed, an email will be sent out to the vehicle owner once the application has been processed. This can take up to 10 working days according to TfL.
“Until we have proof that your vehicle has been accepted as meeting the standards, you’ll need to pay the charges to drive in London, or you may receive a Penalty Charge Notice. You can apply for a refund after your status has been confirmed,” warns TFL.
What about HGVs?
HGVs are subject to the LEZ charges, as detailed here in this article from our archives.
Owners and operators of HGVs should also take account of the Direct Vision Standard requirements for freight transport in London. Again, detailed information on this can be found on our website.
Photo: Matt Brown / Flickr / CC BY 2.0