📅 September 19, 2023 | Uncategorized

Expansion of the ULEZ (ultra Low Emissions Zone) and what this means for vehicle transport companies.

The unwelcomed expansion of the ULEZ in London went ahead on the 29^thAugust 2023, what will this mean to vehicle transport companies.

Last month the government went ahead with the expansion of the ULEZ in London leaving many vehicle transport companies paying the cost. Each vehicle which doesn’t meet the ULEZ emissions standard and isn’t exempt, will need to pay a £12.50 daily charge to drive within the zone. Will companies swallow the cost or pass this cost onto customers?

In a very competitive market sector, vehicle transport companies are now faced with no choice but to add the new charges to the service they provide and with inflation still increasing this will have an impact on whether the consumer is able or happy to pay the extra costs.

What Vehicles are affected.

Let’s look at the vehicles affected by the new ULEZ zone; this is determined by the declared emissions of the vehicle rather than age. The following information can be found on the TFL government website.

Petrol cars that meet the ULEZ standards are generally those first registered as new with the DVLA after 2005, although cars that meet the standards have been available since 2001.
Diesel cars that meet the standards are generally those first registered with the DVLA as new after September 2015.

The charge runs 24 hours a day, starting from midnight, 7 days a week. If you do not pay, the fine is £180 (reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days). For more information head to the TFL.Gov website.

These charges are additional to any Congestion Charges, making the movement of vehicles in and around London very costly. Anyone wanting to become a trade plate driver or already a trade plate driver within the zone will struggle due to the extra costs of which the consumer would not be willing to swallow just because the driver lives within the zones, leaving a cost for the driver or £62.50 a week.