Motorists are being reminded of imminent changes to the ULEZ zone which is increasing in size this week in London - affecting more vehicles.
From Monday October 25, the ULEZ zone is expanding in Central London to create a single, larger zone which is set to affect many more motorists.
Motoring experts at Leasecar.uk and LeaseElectricCar.co.uk have calculated how motorists of older, higher polluting vehicles could face paying in the region of £10,000 a year just for driving their car every day.
That’s the estimated annual figure facing drivers who qualify to pay the 24-hour ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) fee on top of the Congestion Charge (currently between 7am and 10pm) - if they need to pay both.
Also on Monday, the rules are changing within London’s Congestion Charge Zone meaning only battery electric car vehicles will qualify for a 100 per cent discount, saving those drivers £15 a day.
The customer will need to register and apply for this discount with Transport for London.
A spokesman for LeaseCar.uk said: “The expansion of the ULEZ zone is set to affect many more motorists and the potential costs demonstrates the importance of investing in lower polluting vehicles.
“There are a wide range of exemptions and discounts, but motorists in the capital whose vehicles qualify to have to pay the ULEZ fee may also have to pay the Congestion Charge as well, depending on where and when they are driving, and what type of vehicle they have.
“The costs can really mount up, depending on how many days they need to use their vehicle in these designated areas, so it’s useful to highlight what is happening.”
Transport for London (TfL) estimates around four out of five cars already meet the ULEZ emissions standards, but have introduced the guidelines to encourage the owners of older more polluting cars, motorcycles and lighter vans and minibuses to act.
Cars, motorcycles, vans and other specialist vehicles (up to and including 3.5 tonnes) and minibuses (up to and including five tonnes) will incur the daily charge when driving in the ULEZ zone if they don’t meet emissions standards.
Road signs and advanced information signals will inform motorists if they are entering the zone and cameras will read number plates of vehicles driving in the zone to determine if they comply with the ULEZ standards.
All money raised from ULEZ will be invested back into the transport network.
Find out more about the schemes, discounts, exemptions and charges on the TfL website.
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