London Ultra Low Emission Zone to be city-wide in 2023
Fri, 25 Nov 2022
- London ULEZ will be expanded city-wide from 29 August 2023
- Move could deter more than 100,000 of the most polluting cars a day, according to TfL
- Non-compliant vehicles will face a daily charge of £12.50
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced that the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) will be expanded across all London boroughs from 29 August 2023 to improve air quality.
Transport for London (TfL) estimates that the number of cars not meeting ULEZ standards each day in outer London could fall from 160,000 to 46,000 and the number of vans from 42,000 to 26,000. It said that "the greatest number of health issues related to air pollution occur in outer London areas" and that's why the ULEZ is expanding.
The plans were originally announced by the Mayor just five months after the ULEZ was made 18 times bigger. In October 2021 it was expanded from the central area to cover all areas within the North and South Circular.
Drivers with non-compliant vehicles (pre Euro 4 for petrol cars, vans, minibuses and other specialist vehicles and pre Euro 6 for diesel cars, vans, minibuses and other specialist vehicles) have to pay a £12.50 charge to enter the ULEZ.
>> Check if your vehicle is compliant here
Car scrappage scheme to help drivers switch to cleaner vehicles
A scrappage scheme will launch on 30 January 2023 to help charities, small businesses, disabled people and Londoners on lower incomes scrap their older, more polluting vehicles in favour of cleaner forms of transport.
Eligible applicants can get up to £2,000 for scrapping a car or up to £1,000 for scrapping a motorcycle. For wheelchair accessible vehicles that don't meet the ULEZ emissions standards there is a grant of £5,000 to scrap, or retrofit to ULEZ standards. Alternatively, drivers who scrap their vehicles can choose to receive. lower grant payment and one or two adult-rate annual bus and tram passes.
Micro businesses, sole traders and charities will receive a £5,000 grant for scrapping a van or a £7,000 grant for scapping a minibus. If these are being replaced with a full electric vehicle they will receive £7,500 or £9,500. Alternatively, applications will receive £5,000 to retrofit certain vans and minibuses.
TfL is also introducing a 'grace period' until 25 October 2017 to help disabled Londoners and community transport providers prepare for the expansion.
ULEZ and Congestion Charge fines to increase
TfL is increasing the penalities for non-payment of the ULEZ and Congestion Charge from £160 to £180 (or from £80 to £90 if paid within 14 days).
It is also removing the annual £10 per vehicle Auto Pay registration fee.
What are the environmental benefits of a London-wide ULEZ?
TfL said that the proposals would mean the air around an additional 145 schools, mostly in outer London, would meet the interim World Health Organisation (WHO) target for nitrogen dioxide.
The changes would also see a further 340,000 Londoners living in areas meeting these international health-based standards.
What are the health reasons for a London-wide ULEZ?
New analysis by City Hall published in February 2022 showed that despite recent improvements in air quality, every hospital, medical centre and care home across London is located in areas that breach the new updated World Health Organization’s guidelines for nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter.
More than 500,000 people in London boroughs suffer from asthma and are vulnerable to the impacts of toxic air.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “If no additional action is taken to reduce air pollution beyond the existing polices, around 550,000 Londoners would develop diseases attributable to air pollution over the next 30 years and the cumulative cost to the NHS and the social care system is estimated to be £10.4 billion."
Can I upgrade my Euro 5 car to Euro 6 to meet ULEZ standards?
Why is my car not compliant with the London ULEZ?
