London's Low Emissions Zone (LEZ)
Started on 4 February – how will it affect you?
The London LEZ covers most of Greater London, including parts of Kent and all of the Congestion Charge zone. It includes some motorways, but not the M25 and is, as its name suggests, intended to improve the quality of air in London – said to be amongst the most polluted in Europe.
Lorries and other large diesels are producers of considerable amounts of particulate matter (PM10 ) and oxides of nitrogen. Particulates (tiny soot particles) can pass deep into the lungs causing breathing and heart problems, whilst oxides of nitrogen contribute to acid rain and react with hydrocarbons to produce chemicals which can harm plants and animals.
There are no barriers or tollbooths – only signs to advise that you are entering the zone which will operate every day of the year, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends and bank holidays.
Fixed and mobile cameras record registration numbers which are checked against a database of registered vehicles.
The LEZ daily charge is £200 for Lorries and will be £100 for vans and minibuses but these fees are only payable by affected vehicles that don't meet the required emissions standards.
Days run from midnight to midnight so if a vehicle goes into the zone at 10pm and comes out at 2am it will be liable for two 'day charges' if it doesn't meet the required emissions standard.
What vehicles are affected?
The London Low Emissions Zone applies only to large diesel-engined vehicles. All cars, small vans and motorcycles are excluded from the scheme.
Introduction of the LEZ is being phased from 4 February 2008 to January 2012 though, so it doesn't affect all large diesel vehicles from day one.
- 4 February 2008 – only applies to diesel-engined Lorries weighing 12 tonnes and over.
- July 2008 – also applies to Lorries over 3.5 tonnes, buses and coaches.
- October 2010 – also applies to large vans (over 1.205 tonnes unladen) and minibuses. This will cover large diesel engined vehicles including motor caravans and motorised horseboxes.
- It will also affect other specialist vehicles which are derived from lorries and vans, including motorised horse boxes, breakdown and recovery vehicles, refuse collection vehicles, gritters, sweepers, concrete mixers, tippers, removals lorries, fire appliances, ambulances and large hearses (over 2.5 tonnes).
Initial Period of grace
Transport for London (TfL) has allowed a period of grace of 28 days at the start of the scheme. A non-compliant vehicle entering the zone after 4 February will receive a warning letter rather than a Penalty Charge Notice.
Emissions Requirements
The LEZ is designed to make the most polluting diesel vehicles comply with the specific emission standards of 'Euro III' for particulates. If affected vehicles don't have the necessary equipment fitted to improve emissions, they will have to pay the daily charge.
- The Euro standards are set by the European Commission and govern exhaust emission standards for new cars and other vehicles sold in Europe.
- TfL use official data from DVLA, VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) and SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) to determine whether particular vehicles meet the required emissions standards.
- TfL assumes that all vehicles first registered on or after 1 October 2001 meet the Euro III requirements.
- From 2012, the standard will be raised to Euro IV – All vehicles first registered on or after 1 October 2006 will be assumed to meet Euro IV.
From 2012 some older (Euro II) vehicles that have been modified to meet the 2008 requirements will then require further modification – or will have to pay the daily charge.
What modifications may be required?
Vehicles not already meeting the required emissions standard will have to be fitted with either an approved particulate filter or a partial filter.
- Only equipment which has been independently certified as capable of achieving the necessary reductions will be accepted by Transport for London.
- The particulate filter is fitted in the vehicle's exhaust pipe.
- Typically, fitting a particulate filter will increase the Euro standard by two (raising it from Euro I to Euro III).
- Partial filters only remove some (about half) of the particulate matter and therefore only improve emissions by one Euro standard e.g. from Euro II to Euro III or Euro III to Euro IV.
Once the equipment has been fitted, the vehicle has to be tested at a VOSA HGV test centre.
- If the vehicle passes the test VOSA will issue either a Reduced Pollution Certificate (RPC) or a Low Emissions Certificate (LEC) – depending on the type of vehicle and device fitted.
- The RPC is only issued to certain vehicles and may allow a reduction in Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). The LEC is available for a wider range of vehicles, but doesn't offer a reduction in VED.
- There is a charge for the RPC and LEC and the vehicle will need to be tested annually – but this can be included in the vehicle's annual test.
Registration
The majority of British trucks will not need to register (except those from Northern Ireland) as they will already be on Transport for London's register of vehicles that are compliant, non-compliant or exempt.
All operators of non-GB, including NI, registered lorries, buses, coaches, large vans, minibuses and other heavy vehicles derived from lorries and vans – will have to register. Some may be entitled to exemption or 100 per cent discount.
Vehicles must be registered at least 10 working days before entering the zone.
Exemptions
Some vehicles are automatically exempt from the LEZ. They don't need to register with TfL and will not be charged:
- Agricultural and forestry tractors, mowing machines, agricultural and farm machinery and equipment, mobile cranes, road building construction machinery.
- Historic vehicles registered with DVLA before 1 January 1973
- Military vehicles registered in Great Britain.
Discounts
A 100 per cent discount applies to Showman's vehicles which have been custom built and permanently fitted with equipment that forms part of the show. These vehicles need to be registered with TfL.
Hiring a vehicle
If you hire or lease a vehicle with a view to driving in the LEZ, check with the hire company that it complies with the LEZ emission standards. Otherwise the hirer will be responsible for the charge.
More details & how to pay
Full details including how to register and how to pay if your vehicle is covered by the scheme but doesn't comply with the emissions requirements can be found on the Transport for London website.