Low Emission Zone

What is the Low Emission Zone?

The Low Emission Zone is an area covering most of Greater London, within which the most polluting diesel-engine vehicles are required to meet specific emissions standards. If they don't, they will need to pay a daily charge.

Who is affected?

The vehicles affected by the LEZ are older diesel-engine lorries, buses, coaches, large vans, minibuses and other heavy vehicles that are derived from lorries and vans, such as motor caravans and motorised horse boxes. This includes vehicles registered outside of Great Britain.

There will be a phased introduction of the scheme from 4 February 2008 through to January 2012. Cars and motorcycles are not affected by the scheme.

To check if your vehicle meets the emissions standards, visit LEZ - Emissions Standards (www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/lez/vehicles/2535.aspx).

Where and when does it operate?

The Low Emission Zone (LEZ) covers most of Greater London, following the Greater London Authority boundary. It will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year.

The LEZ will be clearly identifiable by:

• Signs at the boundary informing drivers they are entering the zone
• Signs on roads outside the zone giving advance warning to drivers that they are approaching the LEZ
• Signs approximately every 5km within the zone to let drivers know they are within the LEZ

To see a map of the Low Emission Zone, visit Transport for London – Low Emission Zone Area (www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/roadusers/lez/areaofoperation/).

How does it work?

The LEZ will be enforced using fixed and mobile cameras which will read your vehicle's number plate (or Vehicle Registration Mark) as you travel within the Zone and check it against a database of registered vehicles that:

• meet with the LEZ emissions standards, or
• have paid the daily charge, or
• are either exempt or registered for a 100% discount.

To find out if you're eligible for an exemption or discount, visit LEZ - Discounts & Exemptions (www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/lez/vehicles/4809.aspx).

How much does it cost?

You will need to pay the daily charge if you drive within the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in a vehicle that does not meet the LEZ emission standards and is not exempt from the scheme or entitled to a 100 per cent discount.

The daily charges are:

• Lorries, motor caravans and horseboxes exceeding 12 tonnes (from 4 February 2008): £200
• Buses and coaches exceeding 5 tonnes (from 7 July 2008): £200
• Lorries, motor caravans and horseboxes between 3.5 and 12 tonnes (from 7 July 2008): £200
• Large vans and horseboxes between 1.205 unladen and 3.5 tonnes (from 4 October 2010): £100
• Motor caravans between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes (from 4 October 2010): £100
• Minibuses below 5 tonnes (from 4 October 2010): £100

How to pay

The easiest way to pay is online at Low Emission Zone (www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/lez/5725.aspx) or by phone on +44 (0)207 310 8998 using credit/debit cards. MasterCard and Visa cards are accepted - American Express and Diners Club aren't.

You can pay the daily LEZ charge up to 64 days before you travel, by midnight on your day of travel, or by midnight the next working day (online or by phone).

Penalty charges

If a vehicle is identified as not meeting the LEZ emissions standards, and the required daily charge has not been paid for the date of travel within the Zone, then a Penalty Charge will be issued to the registered keeper of the vehicle who is liable for the payment of the penalty.

The charge is £1000 per day for lorries, buses and coaches that are used inside the zone and do not meet the required emissions standards (This drops to £500, if it is paid within 14 days).

From October 2010, the Penalty Charge for heavier vans and minibuses that are used in the zone and do not meet the required emissions standards is £500 per day. (This drops to £250, if it is paid within 14 days.) Notification will be sent to the Registered Keeper of the vehicle.

Transport for London (TfL) has arrangements in place with an experienced European-wide debt recovery agency to recover penalties incurred by vehicles registered outside of Great Britain. This agency has a good level of success and these same procedures will be used for enforcement of the LEZ.

For more information about the LEZ penalty charges, visit LEZ - Penalties and enforcement (www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/lez/2538.aspx).

If you would like further information on the Low Emission Zone, visit Transport For London - Low Emission Zone (www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/lez/default.aspx).