What Is The Low Emission Zone? The low emission zone (LEZ ) is an area covering Greater
London which has been in operation since 2008 for large, commercially operated
diesel vehicles. In 2012, it extended from buses, lorries and coaches to also affect
a number of other vehicles. If your vehicle is not compliant with the requirements
of the low emission zone, you will have to make a daily charge payment.
The low emission zone runs 24 hours a day and 7 days a week,
all year around. If you do not make the daily payment required to travel in the
zone and your car is not compliant, you will also face fines. Many vehicles are
exempt from the payment and you must make sure you are included in this,
otherwise payments will build up and running your vehicle can become expensive.
Vehicle Charges For Low Emission Zone The low emission zone was created to encourage the most
polluting heavy diesel vehicles to become cleaner. This means if you continue
to use these vehicles, you will receive a charge. The daily
charge ranges from £100-£200 . The charge you receive will vary based on the
vehicle and weight of the vehicle you are using. You will receive £100 penalties
for:
Larger Vans, Motorised Horseboxes, 4x4 Light Utility
Vehicles, Pick-Ups, Other Specialist Vehicles �1.205 Tonnes Unladen Or More Minibuses (With More Than Eight Passenger Seats 5 Tonnes
Or Less Gross Vehicle Weight Motor Caravans, Ambulances 2.5-3.5 Tonnes Gross Vehicle
Weight
You will receive £200 penalties for:
Lorries, Goods Vehicles, Motor Caravans, Motorised
Horseboxes, Breakdown And Recovery Vehicles, Snow Ploughs, Gritters, Refuse
Collection Vehicles, Road Sweepers, Concrete Mixers, Tippers, Fire Engines,
Removals Lorries, Other Specialist Vehicles More Than 3.5 Tonnes Gross Vehicle
Weight Buses, Coaches (With More Than Eight Passenger Seats) � More
Than 5 Tonnes Gross Vehicle Weight
Paying a daily charge of either £100 or £200 is very costly
for all drivers, making the LEZ an effective method to lower the carbon
emissions from these vehicles. If your vehicle does not meet LEZ emission
standards and you are not exempt or registered for a 100% discount, this will
lead to a fine if you fail to make your payment. Your charge must be paid by midnight
of the next working day and even if there has been a problem with your payment
going through, a penalty will still be given.
As the LEZ operates all day and all year, there are no days
where this payment can be avoided if you are driving a vehicle that is not
exempt. The current penalty charges are as follows, however, will be halved if
the penalty is paid within 14 days:
Large Vans - Over 1.205 Tonnes Unladen Up To And
Including 3.5 Tonnes Gross Vehicle Weight - £500
Motor Caravans & Ambulances - 2.5 - 3.5 Tonnes Gross
Vehicle Weight - £500
Minibuses (With More Than 8 Passenger Seats) - 5 Tonnes
Or Less Gross Vehicle Weight - £500
Lorries, Goods Vehicles, Motor Caravans, Motorised Horseboxes,
Breakdown And Recovery Vehicles, Snow Ploughs, Gritters, Refuse Collection
Vehicles, Road Sweepers, Concrete Mixers, Tippers, Fire Engines, Removals Lorries,
Other Specialist Vehicles - More Than 3.5 Tonnes Gross Vehicle Weight - £1,000
Buses, Coaches (With More Than 8 Passenger Seats) - More Than
5 Tonnes Gross Vehicle Weight - £1,000
If you know your vehicle is not exempt, you should always
make your payment on time for the low emission zone to avoid even larger
penalties and fines.
Vehicles Exempt From The Low Emission Zone Thankfully, not all drivers will have to pay these vehicle
charges. Vans, minibuses, horseboxes, motor caravans, utility vehicles and
pick-ups registered after October 2006 should all be acceptable for the low
emission zone without requiring any payment. Any vehicles registered before
2002 will have to be modified and adjusted for the low emission zone or you
will have to pay the charge.
Vehicles that must be registered after October 2006 include:
Articulated Lorries - Over 3.5 Tonnes Gross Vehicle
Weight Lorries - Over 3.5 Tonnes Gross Vehicle Weight Flatbed Lorries - Over 3.5 Tonnes Gross Vehicle Weight Coaches - Over 5 Tonnes Gross Vehicle Weight
Vehicles that must be registered after January 2002 include:
Larger Vans - 1.205 Tonnes Unladen To 3.5 Gross
Vehicle Weight Minibuses - 5 Tonnes Or Less Gross Vehicle Weight Smaller Vans - 1.205 Tonnes Unladen To 3.5 Gross
Vehicle Weight Horseboxes - Over 1.205 Tonnes Unladen Vehicle Weight Motorised Caravans - Over 2.5 Tonnes Gross Vehicle
Weight Light 4x4 Utilities - 1.205 Tonnes Unladen To 3.5 Gross
Vehicle Weight Pickups - 1.205 Tonnes Unladen To 3.5 Gross Vehicle
Weight
You should always make sure your vehicle is exempt and can
be driven in the low emission zone without making a payment. Alternatively,
make sure your payment is made in advance before you drive so you have no
issues when you drive through with a vehicle that is not exempt.
You can check if your vehicle is affected by clicking
this link .
Where Is The Low Emission Zone? There are actually several low emission zones located
throughout the UK, which includes:
Brighton Glasgow London Norwich Nottingham Oxford
The low emission zone in London covers
the majority of Greater London , with an ultra low emission zone (ULEZ)
being located in inner London. If you drive through the ultra low emission zone
and the low emission zone with vehicles that are not exempt, multiple payments
will be required.
Find out more about the ultra
low emission zone .
Paddington
Motor Springs Ltd work with classic cars, heavy-duty vehicles and a range
of other cars, supplying and fitting. You can always contact our team if you
are unsure of whether your vehicle is compliant or when you need repairs for
compliant vehicles. Call us on 020
8795 3300 or 07710
986688 or fill in our contact form
to make an enquiry.