How much could London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone cost you?

Back to blog   |   Back to news

From this year, regulations on how vehicles can be operated in many parts of the UK are changing as part of a government led initiative to reduce pollution levels in the UK.

The changes differ from location to location but what the proposed schemes have in common is a commitment to encourage the use of lower emission vehicles by penalising those that do not comply with the latest ‘Euro 6’ standards.

The most common solution being investigated is called a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) which is defined by the Department for Transport (DfT) as ‘an area where targeted action is taken to improve air quality’ with a view to ‘shape the urban environment in a way that delivers improved health benefits and support economic growth’.

By far the most extensive of these zones is the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) that came into force in London on 8 April 2019.

What is the ULEZ?

All pre-Euro 6 diesel-engined cars and vans entering the ULEZ will pay £12.50 (trucks face a charge of £100) in addition to the £11.50 Congestion Charge. The charge will also be applied to all pre-Euro 4 petrol-engined cars and vans.
 
The ULEZ will be in operation 24/7 and is due to be expanded on 25 October 2021 to cover the areas between the North and South circular roads. 

Future plans for the capital include the introduction of a series of Zero Emission Zones in 2020 in some London Boroughs and a Zero Emission Zone in central London in 2025.

How will the London ULEZ impact van operating costs?

Here are two examples of how much the new ULEZ could cost van operators:

The massive cost implications are obvious, so it is vital that you are aware of the changing clean air landscape and how it could affect your business operations. Most businesses run their vans for at least five years before changing, so decisions made now could impact where your van, or vans, can operate in the future without incurring a financial penalty.

For a more in-depth look at Clean Air Zones and how it could affect your business, download our FREE guide here.