ULEZ and modern classics?

[normalbloke]

braddo said:

[quote=Skyedriver
.... is it not time you all had a revolt/riot/demo like the French would?

The French have similar zones in several cities across the country. And they include outright bans on some older vehicles...

[McGee_22]

I've got 5 old BMW's - here's how they sit ULEZ wise;

1982 E24 635CSi - has Historic car status so MoT free, Tax free and ULEZ exempt.
1985 E24 M635CSi - will be ULEZ free in 2026.
1995 E34 Alpina B10 4.6 Touring - has to pay ULEZ
1997 E38 Alpina B12 5.7 - ULEZ exempt on NoX levels
2001 E39 Alpina B10 4.6 Touring - ULEZ exempt on NoX levels

[vixen1700]

I was chatting to somebody the other day who had a V8 supercharged XJR Jag and was surprised to find out it was ULEZ exempt despite it having 299 kg/c or whatever the thing is. With the limit for exemption being less than 75 kg. Later models (which you'd assume would be cleaner) were not exempt.

Very odd.

[sennasurgeon]

The Judicial Review is happening today and lots of demonstrations and grass roots camera removal.

So there is hope.

I don't want to stop using my old Merc

[hilly10]

I just checked my TR6 Oct 73 and it’s not exempt, but it is in every other city Clean Air Zone. Did not know the cut of point was Jan 1973. Ah well no trips down London way for me

[NomduJour]

It’s a rolling 40 year exemption - once it’s in the Historic tax class, it’s exempt.

[hilly10]

My car is historic mot and tax exempt but the checker defo said not exempt

[NomduJour]

If it’s taxed in the historic class (ie over 40 years old and free), it’s exempt from ULEZ whatever the database says:

“All vehicles that have a historic vehicle tax class are exempt from the ULEZ”

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emissio...

[//j17]

hilly10 said:

I just checked my TR6 Oct 73 and it’s not exempt, but it is in every other city Clean Air Zone. Did not know the cut of point was Jan 1973. Ah well no trips down London way for me

Yes it is - it's just that the main checker tool only checks exemptions based on Euro emissions ratings. There is/was a second one hidden away that did more but hard to find so up to the individual to read a few paragraphs on a website - https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emissio...

For a classic car you're automatically exempt from the ULEZ if you car is registered with the (rolling 40yr) "Historic" tax class and NOT used commercially. You can also apply for an exemption if your car's official emissions meet or exceed the appropreate Euro limits (I believe a number of modern classic BMWs that were built before the Euro standards came in qualify for this).

The "built before 01/01/1973" exemption is for the LEZ and NOT the ULEZ, the LEZ being the long-standing, Greater London wide emissions zone that only applies to big diesels, like HGVs/lorries/minibuses.

So the only edge cases are:
a) You just like paying rod tax so haven't switched your 40+ year old car to the "Historic" class.
b) You're driving a post-01/01/1973 classic lorry that's NOT being used for commercial purposes and IS under the "Historic" tax class - where I'd guess you'd be exempt from paying the ULEZ charge but still liable for the LEZ.

Edited by //j17 on Wednesday 5th July 14:21

[hilly10]

Dead right, just got hold of the small print on the Gov.uk site

[Yertis]

hilly10 said:

I just checked my TR6 Oct 73 and it’s not exempt, but it is in every other city Clean Air Zone. Did not know the cut of point was Jan 1973. Ah well no trips down London way for me

Unless it's the middle of the night – when it was good fun – you don't want to be driving a TR6 in London anyway.

[hilly10]

Yertis said:

Unless it's the middle of the night – when it was good fun – you don't want to be driving a TR6 in London anyway.

I was just wondering Yertis if any time I went to the Ace cafe and then went over the rd into ULEZ territory. And yes I agree I don’t want to be driving the TR down there

[NMNeil]

NomduJour said:

It’s a rolling 40 year exemption - once it’s in the Historic tax class, it’s exempt.

Which make no sense at all if the whole object of the ULEZ is to limit pollution, yet they exempt the most polluting cars if they attain a certain age.

[hilly10]

NMNeil said:

Which make no sense at all if the whole object of the ULEZ is to limit pollution, yet they exempt the most polluting cars if they attain a certain age.

Totally agree.

[Super Sonic]

hilly10 said:

NMNeil said:

Which make no sense at all if the whole object of the ULEZ is to limit pollution, yet they exempt the most polluting cars if they attain a certain age.

Totally agree.

The reasoning is that there are very few 40+ yo cars on the road, and almost none of those are daily drivers.

[//j17]

NMNeil said:

NomduJour said:

It’s a rolling 40 year exemption - once it’s in the Historic tax class, it’s exempt.

Which make no sense at all if the whole object of the ULEZ is to limit pollution, yet they exempt the most polluting cars if they attain a certain age.

Yea, but "The Merstham to Brighton Veteran Car Run" doesn't have the same ring to it does it.

[catso]

hilly10 said:

My car is historic mot and tax exempt but the checker defo said not exempt

I think you need to contact them to be sure, it seems that being Historic tax class isn't enough to automatically show as exempt, though I think it should be?

My old Moto Guzzi Motorbike is 'Historic' yet shows as needing to pay the ULEZ charge so I assume I'd get fined if I rode it there and didn't pay? Also, I presume I could get it changed but unlikely I'll ever ride it in London so not really bothered.

Though my 1963, V8 Land Rover (no Catalytic converter and 15mpg on a good day), also 'Historic' is exempt and TFL even compliment me by telling me that I am; "helping to improve air quality across London".

[//j17]

catso said:

hilly10 said:

My car is historic mot and tax exempt but the checker defo said not exempt

I think you need to contact them to be sure, it seems that being Historic tax class isn't enough to automatically show as exempt, though I think it should be?

My old Moto Guzzi Motorbike is 'Historic' yet shows as needing to pay the ULEZ charge so I assume I'd get fined if I rode it there and didn't pay? Also, I presume I could get it changed but unlikely I'll ever ride it in London so not really bothered.

Though my 1963, V8 Land Rover (no Catalytic converter and 15mpg on a good day), also 'Historic' is exempt and TFL even compliment me by telling me that I am; "helping to improve air quality across London".

OK, as people seem obsessed with not believing what those of us who've been living and driving their classics inside the current ULEZ are saying and are obsessed with believing the VERY basic vehicle checker how about we try this.

1. Ignore the basic vehicle checker, it only checks Euro rating and does NOT check tax status.
2. Go to the payment site at https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/pay-the-charge-se... and try to make a payment for your classic. This is the site you'd actually need to use to pay the charge for a non-exempt vehicle so actually has the full fat vehicle checker built into it.

My cars come up at £12.50/day on the basic check but if I try to make a payment they come up "Exempt".

[vixen1700]

Super Sonic said:

hilly10 said:

NMNeil said:

Which make no sense at all if the whole object of the ULEZ is to limit pollution, yet they exempt the most polluting cars if they attain a certain age.

Totally agree.

The reasoning is that there are very few 40+ yo cars on the road, and almost none of those are daily drivers.

Mine is 54 years old and a daily driver, in fact driven most days.

[Dashnine]

vixen1700 said:

Super Sonic said:

hilly10 said:

NMNeil said:

Which make no sense at all if the whole object of the ULEZ is to limit pollution, yet they exempt the most polluting cars if they attain a certain age.

Totally agree.

The reasoning is that there are very few 40+ yo cars on the road, and almost none of those are daily drivers.

Mine is 54 years old and a daily driver, in fact driven most days.

Congratulations, that makes you one of the 'almost none'.