Transport for London (TfL) is calling on the owners and operators of vehicles registered outside Great Britain, including Northern Ireland, to take action now to avoid fines when new emissions standards come in to effect in January 2012.
All affected vehicles need to be registered with TfL before they drive into Greater London to show they meet the new standards.
Owners and operators of HGVs, buses and coaches that are Euro III for particulate matter (PM) compliant and are already registered with TfL will need to take appropriate action to ensure their vehicles meet the new Euro IV standards and then re-register the vehicle before 3 January 2012. Operators or owners who have vehicles already registered as meeting Euro IV for PM or above will not need to re-register.
Owners of vehicles that do not meet the required emissions standards or who have not registered with TfL by 3 January 2012 and who drive within Greater London will have to pay a £200 daily charge or risk a £1,000 penalty.
Owners and operators of larger vans, minibuses or specialist vehicles, such as horseboxes and caravans or 4 x 4 light utility vehicles, will need to register with TfL to show they meet Euro III emissions standards for particulate matter (PM). Any vehicles that do not meet these new LEZ standards now will need to take appropriate action and then register the vehicle with TfL before 3 January 2012.
Owners of these vehicles that do not meet the required emissions standards or have not registered with TfL by 3 January 2012, and who drive within Greater London, will have to pay a £100 daily charge or risk a £500 penalty.
Owners and operators of affected vehicles have a number of options available to them to ensure they comply with the scheme including:
• Fitting a filter to the vehicle to improve the emissions: TfL recognises accredited filter modifications from across Europe
• Purchasing a newer vehicle
• Reorganising a fleet so that only vehicles which meet the required emissions standards drive within the LEZ
• Paying a daily charge