A low emission zone is waiting in London – Register ahead of time
If you plan on traveling to the United Kingdom with your camper van, you might want to visit London. Beware though, if you do not want to get in trouble you must pay attention to the low emission zone. Plan accordingly before your departure. Anyone who registers beforehand will be on the safe side. You will not run into trouble with your Roadsurfer camper van and will not have to pay any fee.
Low Emission Zone: Fines are quite high
The goal of the city of London is to achieve an emission-free urban center within the next few years. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, describes it as follows: “The air in London is deadly and I will not stand by and do nothing.” On the way to London you will come across various zones and check points. They are pretty serious with the low emission. The result is a specific science of congestion charge, emission surcharge and low emission zone (LEZ). You will find a more detailed overview at the bottom of the page.
Low Emission Zone: The LEZ is said to exclude old vehicles within London
The LEZ was originally decided in order to banish old diesel vehicles from the inner city center. For this purpose, vehicles that want to enter that zone were divided into certain groups of types of vehicles. As a general rule, vehicles that do not comply with the current emission standards must pay a fee. Good news for those traveling with a camper van from Roadsurfer, because all our camper vans comply with the current Euro Six Standard and therefore you will not have to worry about additional fees.
The Low Emission Zone affects the metropolitan area of London
However, the passage will only be free of charge if you register for the LEZ before your road trip. If you get caught without a registration you have to expect high fines of about 500-1,000 Pounds. The LEZ covers most of greater London all day and night. In London itself, the specific zones are marked with signs.
The city center of London is monitored with cameras
Some more crucial information for a visit in London: All vehicles that are not registered in the United Kingdom belong to the category called “Van” and are subject to registration (empty weight from 1,205 kilos and permissible gross weight up to 3,5 tons). If you want to try and get by without any registration, good luck to you. We would not advise on doing that. The city is monitored by cameras and everything is evaluated. Unregistered vehicles have to pay a fine no matter the background. Fines will also be sent via letter to your home address in Germany.
The ultra low emission zone is coming to London starting in April 2019
In the next few years it will be even more difficult to pass. As of April 2019 there will be the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) which will complement the previous congestion charge zone. After that, all vehicles that do not meet certain emission standards will have to pay an additional 12.50 Pounds per day in addition to another congestion charge. The fee of the ULEZ will replace the current T-charge for high-emission vehicles. Do not worry about that though. Roadsurfer camper vans are not among those vehicles.
Attention: Register campervans for the low emission zone before your departure!
Starting in 2021, the ULEZ will be extended to the northern and southern borders of London. Those who do not comply with ULEZ emission standards must pay a fine. Good news for Roadsurfer rentals again. Camper vans with our current diesel emission standard Euro Six must not pay anything. You only have to register in advance for the low emission zone. The time of processing for the registration takes about ten days. Hence, please plan accordingly and register in time.
What now? Print and register with the LEZ form!
Fill out the LEZ form, print, sign and send it. The registration further requires copies of the registration papers, which must be sent with the papers to the following address:
Low Emission Zone
PO Box 343
Darlington
DL1 9QD
Great Britian
Once you have submitted the papers you have to wait and then you are almost ready to start
Click here for the LEZ form in English:
Overview on London's Air Quality Programs
Legislative Date: February 17th 2003.
Area: Central London
Vehicles: (if the standard is not met it will be shown in parentheses): motor tricycles and four-wheelers*, passenger cars, vans, large vans, trucks and especially heavy vehicles
Validity: Monday-Friday from 7 am – 6 pm except on public holidays and all days between Christmas and New Years Day
Daily Fee: 11.50 Pounds (10.50 Pounds, Autom. Payment, 14 Pounds if paid the next day, 10 Pounds Auto Registration Fee)
Legislative since: October 23rd 2017
The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) will replace the T charge in central London as of April 8, 2019.
Area: Central London
Vehicles (if standard is not met it is shown in brackets): Engine three and four wheels* (Euro Three), cars and vans (Euro Four), large mini buses and mini buses (Euro Four), buses, coaches and lorries, as well especially heavy duty vehicles***
Validity: Monday to Friday from 7 am to 6 pm except on public holidays and all days between Christmas and New Years Day
Daily Feed: 10 Pounds if standard is not met
Legally effective: from April 8th 2019
Area: Central London
Vehicles (if standard is not met shown in brackets): motorcycles, motor tricycles and four-wheelers (Euro Three), cars, private rental vehicles and small delivery vans (Euro Four Petrol, Euro Six Diesel), large vans and mini buses** (Euro Four Petrol, Euro Six Diesel), buses and coaches above five tonnes, lorries and special vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes*** (Euro Six)
Validity: 24 hours a day during every day around the year
Daily Fee: 12.50 Pounds if standard is not met. Buses and trucks pay 100 Pounds if the standard is not considered
Legislative date February 4th 2008
Area: Greater London
Vehicles (if standard shown in brackets is not met): large vans and mini buses** (Euro Three), buses, trucks and heavy vehicles** (Euro Six)
Validity: Every day of the year for 24 hours each day
Daily Fee (if the standard is not met): 100 Pounds if the standard is not considered. Buses and trucks pay 200 Pounds if the standard is ignored.
Legally effective on October 26th 2020
Area: Greater London
Vehicles (if standard is not met shown in brackets): large vans and mini buses** (Euro Three), buses and coaches above five tonnes, lorries and special vehicles above 3.5 tonnes*** (Euro Six)
Validity: 24 hours a day at every day during the whole year
Daily Fee (if standard is not met): 100 Pounds, buses and trucks 200 Pounds and special vehicles 300 Pounds
Legally effective: from October 25th 2021
Area: Extension from London to the north and south
Vehicles (if standard shown in brackets is ignored): motorcycles, motor tricycles and four-wheelers (Euro Three), cars, private rental vehicles and vans (Euro Four Petrol, Euro Six Diesel), large vans and mini buses** (Euro Four Petrol, Euro Six Diesel)
Validity: 24 Hours a day during all days of the year
Daily Fee: If the standard is not met 12.50 Pounds
*motor tricycles and four-wheelers that are over one meter wide and two meters long
**large vans and mini buses, camper vans, horse transporters, breakdown and recovery vehicles, private ambulances, hearses, estate vehicles and other vehicles that meet the weight criterion. Small vans (over 1.205 kilos without load and less than 3.500 kilos gross vehicle weight) and mini buses (passenger cars with more than eight seats plus a driver’s seat, less than 5.000 kilos gross vehicle weight).
***trucks, RVs, horse transports, breakdown and recovery vehicles, snow ploughs, gritters, refuse collection vehicles, road sweepers, concrete mixers, fire engines, dump trucks, tow trucks, other special vehicles with a weight of more than 3,500 kilos. Buses and coaches and passenger cars with more than eight seats including the driver’s seat with a gross vehicle weight of more than 5,000 kilos.