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Are we all up to speed on these new charging zones?
By 2020 these cities will be charging any motorised vehicle with some exemptions to enter the defined area of the city based
on which Euro rating they comply with.
London
Birmingham
Derby
Leeds
Nottingham
Southampton.
Minimum requirement for ULEZ compliance:
The ULEZ standards are:
Euro 3 for motorcycles, mopeds, motorised tricycles and quadricycles (L category)
Euro 4 for petrol cars, vans, minibuses and other specialist vehicles
Euro 6 for diesel cars, vans and minibuses and other specialist vehicles
Euro VI for lorries, buses and coaches and other specialist heavy vehicles.
Graham, there is a complex list of reasons for the exclusion of a range of different vehicles from the ULEZ charges, with changes being applied to those
exemptions over a period of time. It almost seems made to catch people out and as you say the most polluting vehicles like buses and taxi's are exempt at the present time.
This policy will discourage people from driving into city centre's and that's fine for me personally because it means I will not visit. Not fine for anyone who commutes to work and cannot change their car.
I know other cities will follow suit fairly quickly. Coventry is an example.
According to some of my bike mates who venture across the channel to tour around Europe, most countries have these ULEZ already in place and require some vehicles to have certification for compliance although the rules vary across Europe.
I don't want to be around when they fly building materials into the cities using drones because that is exactly what is being mooted.
Banning all diesel construction vehicles will otherwise wreck building construction in the capital.
I can't really see pallets of bricks, sheets of glass and cubic metres of wet concrete being flown across London by drones to numerous different
building sites is going to happen myself.
All good and my car passed because it meets Euro 4 emissions standard. Just to remind you mine is a 2.5 SE petrol automatic with late August 2002 registration with 6 speed box.
The minimum for ULEZ is Euro 4 for petrol cars and Euro 6 for Diesel cars.
Having done the ULEZ test which is basically entering your license plate/registration number the results page then lists the T-charge:
"Congestion Charge and T-Charge" "Your vehicle may also be subject to the Congestion Charge and/or T-Charge. This is a daily charge for driving a vehicle within the charging zone between 07:00 and 18:00, Monday to Friday (two-wheeled vehicles are not affected)."
So I used the online checker for the T-charge and the result said my car is not compliant for the T-charge and the reason given is because my car "does not meet Euro 4 standard". https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/emissions-surcharge
Can some other UK members please try this, perhaps with a few other engine combinations to see whats going on or is it just the 2.5 V6 petrol engine which seems to be an issue for these government emissions for some reason?
The taxation class from DVLA is somewhat odd.
For my 2002, 2.5 V6 petrol, S type the V5 document lists it as: 249 g/km or CO2 emissions.
Reading the DVLA site, tax rates for 249 g/km gives it an annual rate of tax of £540, but its not that much on mine its only £315.
There is a short note underneath the tax tables which says: " *Includes cars with a CO2 figure over 225g/km but were registered before 23 March 2006."
The * is by the tax band K for 201 - 225 g/km
So the 2.5 petrol is in tax band K for a car of 201 to 225 g/km. But the V5 says it is 249 g/km.
There is no DVLA explanation of this other than the car was registered before 23 March 2006.
So perhaps the ULEZ checker is using the Euro 4 based on the 201 to 225 g/km and the T-charge checker is using the higher figure of 249 g/km?
But be aware there is a significant discrepancy between the ULEZ and the T-charge rating of the 2.5 V6 S type.
ULEZ says its a Euro 4 and the T-charge says not.
Is it worth contacting TFL?
For my S-Type it's not much change except in how much, as it, and my previous Jaguars, have all fallen foul of the original congestion charge in London.. I do need to keep an eye on the other cities that also implement this as my family holidays tend to be driving holidays in the UK
Update news on some European cities with regards to low emissions.
Some cities will not allow a vehicle to enter which does not meet stated emissions standards.
It is an offense to enter without the minimum standard.
London ULEZ comes into effect on 8th April 2019.
So from that date any non-compliant car entering central London will have to pay £24 a day.
£11-50 congestion charge + £12-50 ULEZ charge.
From 8 April 2019, the most polluting cars, vans and motorbikes will have to pay £12.50 to drive through central London, while buses, coaches and HGVs will pay £100. The charge will apply to petrol cars that do not meet Euro 4 standards and diesel vehicles that do not meet Euro 6 standards.
Oh well, never enjoyed driving in London anyway :-) Thanks for the info though Busa.. I have seen very little media advertising about these changes so I genuinely appreciate the info
As well as qualifying vehicles avoiding the ULEZ Charge, I see Blue Badge holders (restricted mobility) can also register their vehicle to avoid having to pay the Congestion Charge. Not suprising these badges are regularly misused by non-qualifying drivers!
As well as qualifying vehicles avoiding the ULEZ Charge, I see Blue Badge holders (restricted mobility) can also register their vehicle to avoid having to pay the Congestion Charge. Not suprising these badges are regularly misused by non-qualifying drivers!
Graham
Exactly !!!
Too many local government offices do little or nothing to take legal action against blue badge misuse.
I see it myself when a car pulls up into a disabled space and someone get's out who probably isn't the badge holder and there is nothing physically wrong with them.
After spending 6 years on elbow crutches I do know when people have walking disabilities or not.
Oh well, never enjoyed driving in London anyway :-) Thanks for the info though Busa.. I have seen very little media advertising about these changes so I genuinely appreciate the info
My pleasure Steve.
The roll out of these ULEZ in UK cities will continue and they will without doubt raise the bar as to which vehicles are chargeable.
The London ULEZ is going to be expanded fairly soon.
I recommend anyone who will be driving in the Zone to check the terms and rules of charging if their vehicles are chargeable.
For instance if a chargeable vehicle enters the zone before midnight and leaves the zone after 00-01, then 2 x ULEZ charges are payable.
"When ULEZ operates A daily charge runs from 00:01-midnight. If you drive within the ULEZ area across two days, for example before midnight and after midnight, you will be liable to pay two daily charges if your vehicle that doesn't meet the ULEZ standards."
Vehicles which are not registered in the UK will also have to pay ULEZ charges under the same rules.
As well as qualifying vehicles avoiding the ULEZ Charge, I see Blue Badge holders (restricted mobility) can also register their vehicle to avoid having to pay the Congestion Charge. Not suprising these badges are regularly misused by non-qualifying drivers!
Graham
You are correct Graham but by registering the vehicle as Disabled or Disabled Passenger Tax band means that the vehicle can only be driven to transport the disabled person. My wife has a blue badge but does not drive so to register would mean that I could not use the car for my personal use as my wife does not always accompany me.
I am slightly confused by the fact that my 2000 XJ8 doesn't pass the London ULEZ test but one registered later the same year does. I am making a spreadsheet to see if it's worth buying a later model when the ULEZ zone expands next Oct !. As I only use the car a few times a month it might not be worth the hassle of selling it and buying an later one. I totally understand why ULEZ needs to be enforced in London but allowing an 19 year old 3.2 litre V-8 car to pass and not allowing a 20 year old one seems quite strange to me !
I am slightly confused by the fact that my 2000 XJ8 doesn't pass the London ULEZ test but one registered later the same year does. I am making a spreadsheet to see if it's worth buying a later model when the ULEZ zone expands next Oct !. As I only use the car a few times a month it might not be worth the hassle of selling it and buying an later one. I totally understand why ULEZ needs to be enforced in London but allowing an 19 year old 3.2 litre V-8 car to pass and not allowing a 20 year old one seems quite strange to me !
best
Pete
It is all down to the emissions. Perhaps your early 2000 does not include emission updates which the later 2000 does. A late 2000 built after September would be 2001 spec where the earlier from September 1999 would be 2000 spec. It has to meet Euro 4 to be ULEZ free.
ULEZ : Ultra Low Emission Zone charges
