TfL introduces Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)
To help improve air quality, an Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) now operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year within the same area of central London as the Congestion Charge. Most vehicles, including cars and vans, need to meet the ULEZ emissions standards or their drivers must pay a daily charge to drive within the zone.
Drivers of older, more polluting vehicles are being charged to enter the congestion zone area at any time. TfL hopes the move will reduce the number of polluting cars in the capital, and estimates about 40,000 vehicles will be affected every day.
Vehicles can be checked using TfL's online checker but broadly speaking, those which are non-compliant are:
- Motorbikes that do not meet Euro 3 standards (pre-2007 vehicles)
- Petrol cars and vans that do not meet Euro 4 standards (vehicles pre-2006)
- Diesel cars and vans that do not meet Euro 6 standards (vehicles pre-2015)
- Buses, coaches and lorries will need to meet or exceed the Euro 6 standards or pay £100 a day
Anybody who does not pay the charge will face a fine of £160, although a first offence may result in only a warning letter.
The ULEZ is set to be expanded to cover the entire area between the North and South Circular roads in 2021.
Source:Tfl
