Driving A Pre-2005 Car In London Is About To Get Seriously Expensive

According to new figures, 1.6 million Londoners stand to be hit by £12 a day charges thanks to an Ultra Low Emissions Zone expansion
Driving A Pre-2005 Car In London Is About To Get Seriously Expensive

Like many big cities, London isn’t exactly a car-friendly place. The capital’s motorists already face chronic traffic problems and an £11.50 a day Congestion Charge fee, with the recent £10 ‘T-Charge’ (Toxicity-Charge) introduction merely adding to the pain. And in the next few years it’s set to get worse.

Currently, the T-Charge covers all vehicles that comply with Euro III standards or earlier, but by 8 April 2019, the Ultra Low Emission Zone will be established, meaning motorbikes will need to be at least Euro 3 compliant or better, petrol cars at least Euro 4, and diesels Euro 6 or newer. Unlike T-Charge, which operates from 7am-6pm Monday to Friday, ULEZ will be a 24 hours a day, seven days a week kinda deal. If your car doesn’t comply, it’s a £12.50 fee, on top of the £11.50 Congestion Charge (which covers the same area of central London) if you travel at the ‘wrong’ time.

“Ah,” you’re probably thinking, “I’ll just avoid central London. It’s a nightmare to drive in anyway.” You’d have a point, but the current proposal is to expand the ULEZ in 2021, up to the North and South Circular roads.

The Ultra Low Emission Zone will cover central London from 2019, with plans for an expansion in 2021
The Ultra Low Emission Zone will cover central London from 2019, with…

This would mean driving a pre-2005 petrol car anywhere at any time in this huge area is going to cost £12. It’s worse for diesel owners - any pre-2014 model won’t be Euro 6, so it’ll be liable for the charge. So it’s not just cool, modern classics that’ll become prohibitively expensive to run in London, but hundreds of thousands of regular motors.

This week Autocar obtained new figures from the SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) that point to over 1.6 million drivers being affected by the extended zone. Specifically, 782,439 diesel cars and 858,018 petrols currently in the capital fall foul of the proposed changes, far more than the 576,000 total figure which Transport For London has touted.

A public consultation on the expansion is running is running until 28 February 2018.

Comments

ThatCarDude 1

And that’s why I live in the USA!

02/01/2018 - 12:34 |
76 | 4

chanting USA USA USA!!

02/02/2018 - 12:39 |
8 | 0

The only upside of living in the US…

02/04/2018 - 18:33 |
0 | 0
Mr.PurpleV12

Here in America, driving an old car gets cheaper with age.

Thats why I have 2.

02/01/2018 - 12:41 |
250 | 0
BenPaye(JDMSquad)(MX5Squad)(LFAsquad)(Subie Squad) (Rotary F

In reply to by Mr.PurpleV12

I wanna fly over so bad

02/01/2018 - 12:42 |
18 | 2

Same in Bulgaria.
If it’s over 15 years old and under 100hp tax is 5-10 euro.

02/01/2018 - 12:57 |
12 | 0

Absolutely right. My family has 3 classics

02/02/2018 - 12:43 |
0 | 0

Yea obd1 cars dont have to pass emissions tests. Thats one reason i bought my 92 civic at first

02/03/2018 - 22:22 |
0 | 0

The stupid UK, first Brexit now this.

02/04/2018 - 11:16 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

I’ve lost faith in England. America, here I come!

02/01/2018 - 12:44 |
48 | 0
Nishant Dash

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Haaaaaaaaallelujah

02/01/2018 - 13:40 |
4 | 0
GTRTURTLE 🔰 🐢(Oo \ S K Y L I N E / oO) (Koen

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

If you do be prepared for bad and idiotic drivers.

02/01/2018 - 16:45 |
2 | 0
llP VeIoclty

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Lol there are other countries in the world, all im seeing in the comments is Usa

02/01/2018 - 18:57 |
6 | 0
Black Phillip

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

You’ll wanna go to Canada

02/04/2018 - 18:34 |
0 | 0
Freddie Skeates

Damn it, RIP Yaris

02/01/2018 - 12:46 |
2 | 0
Jakob

Long story short, according to them, a 2004 Prius is more polluting than a 2010 Range Rover.

02/01/2018 - 13:06 |
102 | 2
Anonymous

In reply to by Jakob

Well it actually is when you factor in making the batteries

02/01/2018 - 13:16 |
22 | 20
Anonymous

The north and south circular proposal would never get the go ahead. It’d be ridiculous to impose what is essentially a tax on having a vehicle on such a wide scale. Hope the ever brilliant mayor plans to ban all the ancient rotting taxis from the area at the same time, or will their ancient diesel engines get a free pass?

02/01/2018 - 13:09 |
6 | 0
TheMindGarage

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Government cluelessness at its finest. They aren’t actually fully tackling the problem without dealing with those taxis and buses, but they’re trying to make it seem like they are by heavily taxing the easiest thing they can find.

02/01/2018 - 13:20 |
10 | 0
Carmadnab

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

They get a fat discount….

02/01/2018 - 19:21 |
0 | 0
Rahul 1

see, this is the kind of bs i see going on over Europe and makes me glad i live in the US, but Europe ain’t a bad place. It’s just the government rules and regulations

02/01/2018 - 13:20 |
4 | 0
Sir Wafel (WhyBeAre of CT) (Multipla Squad) (propane)

In reply to by Rahul 1

I much prefer europe than us anyway lol. Plus here in Poland there is no stupid stuff like that. Being behind can be a good thing XD

02/01/2018 - 15:33 |
4 | 0
Anonymous

It’s almost as if your not allowed to be poor anymore….

02/01/2018 - 13:29 |
50 | 0
Erich Mohrmann

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Sounds like 1800s… Restoring the British empire?

02/02/2018 - 06:34 |
4 | 0
Sudip Suresh

why you should come to america

  1. this
02/01/2018 - 13:40 |
24 | 2
srirachasalsa

Y’all need to come to America. Come on, join us. We have cheap gas and food all of the damn place!

02/01/2018 - 13:50 |
10 | 0

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