Everything You Need to Know About London's Low Emissions Zone
If you have a fleet of vehicles that regularly travel into the capital, you might have heard or being affected by London's Low Emissions Zone (LEZ). It's a scheme implemented by Transport for London (TfL) to improve air quality and reduce emissions in the city. In this guide, we'll explain everything you need to know about London's Low Emissions Zone, including how it works, who it affects, and what vehicles are affected.
Understanding the Low Emissions Zone
London is one of the largest cities in the world, and it's also one of the most polluted. In an effort to reduce emissions and improve air quality, the Low Emissions Zone was introduced by Transport for London in 2008. The scheme is designed to discourage the use of heavily-polluting vehicles within Greater London by imposing a daily charge on those vehicles that do not meet specific emissions standards.
What is the Low Emissions Zone?
The Low Emissions Zone is a scheme that requires certain vehicles to meet specific emissions standards in order to be driven within the Greater London area. The scheme is enforced through a daily charge, which must be paid by any vehicle that does not meet the standards.
The aim of the scheme is to reduce emissions and improve air quality in the city. According to TfL, poor air quality is responsible for the premature deaths of around 9,000 Londoners each year.
How does the Low Emissions Zone work?
The Low Emissions Zone operates by setting specific emissions standards that vehicles must meet in order to be driven within the Greater London area. The emissions standards vary depending on the type of vehicle and the fuel type.
If a vehicle does not meet the emissions standards, a daily charge must be paid to drive within the Low Emissions Zone. The daily charge is in addition to any other charges that may apply, such as the Congestion Charge.
Everything You Need to Know About London's Low Emissions Zone
If you're planning on driving within the Greater London area, it's important to understand the Low Emissions Zone and how it works. Here are some key things to know:
Who is affected by the Low Emissions Zone?
The Low Emissions Zone affects a range of vehicles, including cars, vans, minibuses, buses, coaches, and HGVs. The scheme applies to both diesel and petrol vehicles.
The specific emissions standards that must be met vary depending on the type of vehicle and the fuel type. The emissions standards are more stringent for diesel vehicles than for petrol vehicles.
What vehicles are affected by the Low Emissions Zone?
The vehicles that are affected by the Low Emissions Zone are those that do not meet the specific emissions standards set by TfL. This includes vehicles that are:
- Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) over 3.5 tonnes
- Buses and coaches over 5 tonnes
- Minibuses with more than 8 passenger seats
- Vans and other specialist vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes
- Larger vehicles such as lorries, tippers and sweepers
How much is the daily charge for driving within the Low Emissions Zone?
The daily charge for driving within the Low Emissions Zone depends on the type of vehicle and the emissions standard it meets. The charges are:
- £100 per day for vehicles that do not meet the Euro IV emissions standard for particulate matter (PM) for HGVs, buses, and coaches
- £100 per day for vehicles that do not meet the Euro 3 emissions standard for PM for vans, minibuses, and other specialist vehicles
- £300 per day for vehicles that do not meet the Euro IV
All of Isuzu's new trucks are Euro 6 compliant meaning you can bypass these daily charges, simply by upgrading to a Euro compliant Isuzu truck for your fleet.
How can you check if your vehicle meets the emissions standards?
If you're unsure whether your vehicle meets the emissions standards set by TfL, you can check using TfL's online vehicle checker. Simply enter your vehicle registration number, and the checker will tell you whether your vehicle meets the emissions standards or not.
You can also check the emissions standards by looking at your vehicle's registration certificate (V5C). The V5C will list the Euro emissions standard for your vehicle.
Where does the Low Emissions Zone apply?
The Low Emissions Zone applies to the Greater London area, which includes all 33 London boroughs and the City of London. The scheme does not apply to other areas of the UK.
When does the Low Emissions Zone operate?
The Low Emissions Zone operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and public holidays. If you drive within the Low Emissions Zone during this time and your vehicle does not meet the emissions standards, you will be charged the daily fee.
How can you pay the daily charge?
If your vehicle does not meet the emissions standards, you can pay the daily charge online, by phone, or by post. You can also set up an account with TfL to make it easier to pay the daily charge.
It's important to note that the daily charge must be paid by midnight on the day of travel. If the charge is not paid, a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) will be issued, which could result in a fine.
Are there any exemptions to the Low Emissions Zone?
There are some exemptions to the Low Emissions Zone, including:
- Vehicles with a disabled tax class
- Emergency service vehicles
- Historic vehicles (over 40 years old)
- Show vehicles (for example, those used in exhibitions or for film and TV production)
What happens if you don't pay the daily charge?
If you drive within the Low Emissions Zone and your vehicle does not meet the emissions standards, and you do not pay the daily charge, a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) will be issued. The PCN will include a fine, which must be paid within 28 days.
If the fine is not paid within 28 days, it may be increased, and enforcement action may be taken, such as the immobilization or removal of the vehicle.
Is the Low Emissions Zone worth it?
The Low Emissions Zone is an important scheme designed to improve air quality and reduce emissions in the Greater London area. While it may be an inconvenience for some drivers, it's worth remembering that poor air quality is responsible for the premature deaths of thousands of Londoners each year.
If you're planning on driving within the Greater London area, it's important to check whether your vehicle meets the emissions standards set by TfL. If it doesn't, you'll need to pay the daily charge to drive within the Low Emissions Zone.