ULEZ charge in 2021

[NomduJour]

If the car doesn’t meet the Euro 4 emissions limits (and a 2001 B5 RS4 apparently doesn’t), it isn’t compliant. The TfL database seems to be very inaccurate.

[A1ps]

Thanks guys. Unfortunately, it seems the car as new was registered under the private plate. On the V5C document there's no mention of any other registration plate.

As soon as I hit the send button on this email, I'm going to contact TFL with all the details of my car and examples of the same vehicle but with the other registrations which pass the ULEZ criteria .

[NomduJour]

As said, the other B5 RS4s don’t automatically meet the ULEZ criteria as they were not certified by the manufacturer as complying with Euro 4 emissions (early ones were Euro 2, later Euro 3) - even if you can demonstrate that they do, despite never being categorised by Audi as such, someone would have had to send the details and confirmation etc to TfL as in the above Saab situation.

The other thing is that the database appears to be being amended (one of my compliant cars was listed as non-compliant, then that changed), so I wouldn’t rely on not being fined in a non-compliant car without some regular checking.

[AC43]

A1ps said:

Hi guys, mega thread revival. Sorry.

I'm totally baffled right now about this blighted ULEZ lark.

I have is an Audi RS4 B5 which bar my family is my absolute pride and joy. The date of registration is 01/02/2001 and is on a private plate that came with the car.

I have entered my registration details on the TFL website and that states I'd have to pay the charge. However, 2 friends have exactly the same vehicle make and model and when they enter their details on the same site, the TFL website states they don’t have to pay the charge. One friend has an X reg and the other has a Y reg.

My car has a private plate and I'm wondering if this is the reason why the website states I have to pay the daily charge, as it may think I have an R registration vehicle, whereas my car was registered on 01/02/2001.

I've emailed TFL asking what's going on.

Wouldn't 2001 be an X plate? My OH's Clio was registered in 2000 on a W. It's not compliant. I think it was built during the Euro 3 period. But I don't know if Renault submiited it for testing - nothing comes up various sites I looked at

[OMNIO]

Before taking TfL's checker as gospel, do a bit of research on the thresholds and see if you're car complies.

Motorcycles need to be Euro 3. Plugging the details of my 2003 Honda hornet resulted in it being 'non compliant' but the NoX emissions are well below the threshold. The emissions weren't on the v5 so I had to request a copy of the certificate of compliance from Honda and send it off to TfL. They wrote back to confirm that my bike was now exempt.

TfL being TfL of course, this exemption applies to my bike only. So everyone will need to do it themselves!

[A1ps]

Thanks again guys for the helpful replies.

I spoke with TFL earlier today and they categorically said my car was non-compliant.

I gave them the registration details of 2 other RS4’s which according to their website ARE compliant even though they were registered before my car. She said she didn’t know why this was and that the owner may have given incorrect information when registering the car.

That sounded like an absurd reply to me so I pressed her politely. Her response to this was “ALL petrol cars registered before September 2005 will be charged. The other 2 cars you mentioned might have private plates and therefore our systems might not pick up on the Euro status”.

I did look into this further and my car definitely is Euro 3. I’m all for green issues, but this is a ridiculous.

I can’t even begin to tell you guys how absolutely devastated I am to sell such a stunning, rare and beast of a car. But what hurts even more is the fact that my daughter was born in the car... and I her.

[Gooly]

It still bothers me that ULEZ hasn't been extended to black cabs, which are belching around with some pretty shockingly low-tech diesel motors in some cases. As much as I'm sad that ULEZ means no more 80s / 90s petrol stuff in London, it's ultimately a good thing but I hope at some point part of the levy can fund a scrappage scheme for old black cabs which seem to spend the majority of their time idling in Soho stinking up the whole place.

Would also be nice if they could arrange a provision for Jap imports, which seem to be charged regardless of their year or emissions. A 2004 350z is ULEZ exempt, yet the Japan-only 4-seat version with the same engine, chassis and emissions tech isn't...

Also as far as that analysis of TFL's report goes, that does nothing to prove the claim that TFL are deliberately engineering traffic. Pushing traffic out of suburban roads onto trunk roads has long been TFL's game and has many good justifications for doing so that go beyond emissions. Play streets, noise and safety among other things.

As far as delivery vans go, not much is going to change without A) massive new strategic warehouses which allow hyper-local distribution or B) some sort of nationalised delivery network stepping in to reduce half-empty private vans driving around. If only we had a service that could do so...

Edited by Gooly on Monday 25th November 12:19

[DonkeyApple]

Gooly said:

It still bothers me that ULEZ hasn't been extended to black cabs, which are belching around with some pretty shockingly low-tech diesel motors in some cases. As much as I'm sad that ULEZ means no more 80s / 90s petrol stuff in London, it's ultimately a good thing but I hope at some point part of the levy can fund a scrappage scheme for old black cabs which seem the spend the majority of their time idling in Soho stinking up the whole place.

Would also be nice if they could arrange a provision for Jap imports, which seem to be charged regardless of their year or emissions. A 2004 350z is ULEZ exempt, yet the Japan-only 4-seat version with the same engine, chassis and emissions tech isn't...

Also as far as that analysis of TFL's report goes, that does nothing to prove the claim that TFL are deliberately engineering traffic. Pushing traffic out of suburban roads onto trunk roads has long been TFL's game and has many good justifications for doing so that go beyond emissions. Play streets, noise and safety among other things.

As far as delivery vans go, not much is going to change without A) massive new strategic warehouses which allow hyper-local distribution or B) some sort of nationalised delivery network stepping in to reduce half-empty private vans driving around. If only we had a service that could do so...

Edited by Gooly on Monday 25th November 11:53

The black cabs are all being changed. They have long ago reached an agreement between TFL and the union as to the rate of change etc.

But if consumers don’t want the stinky old black cabs then they can all do what I do and and put their arm down if the next cab with a yellow light is an old knackered one.

I think a lot of Londoners do make that selection as the bulk of the really old rattlers give the appearance of plying their trade from tourist hotspots.

[R Mutt]

DonkeyApple said:

The black cabs are all being changed. They have long ago reached an agreement between TFL and the union as to the rate of change etc.

But if consumers don’t want the stinky old black cabs then they can all do what I do and and put their arm down if the next cab with a yellow light is an old knackered one.

I think a lot of Londoners do make that selection as the bulk of the really old rattlers give the appearance of plying their trade from tourist hotspots.

That's just the nature of the old black cab, an outdated icon appealing to tourists. The old boys aren't going to go electric so will just continue to ply their trade in the same tourist hotspots for the meantime.

Now Uber, much more environmentally sound

[Laurel Green]

Uber will not be granted a new licence to operate in London after repeated safety failures, Transport for London (TfL) has said.

Subject to appeal, though.

[A1ps]

Gooly said:

It still bothers me that ULEZ hasn't been extended to black cabs, which are belching around with some pretty shockingly low-tech diesel motors in some cases. As much as I'm sad that ULEZ means no more 80s / 90s petrol stuff in London, it's ultimately a good thing but I hope at some point part of the levy can fund a scrappage scheme for old black cabs which seem to spend the majority of their time idling in Soho stinking up the whole place.

Would also be nice if they could arrange a provision for Jap imports, which seem to be charged regardless of their year or emissions. A 2004 350z is ULEZ exempt, yet the Japan-only 4-seat version with the same engine, chassis and emissions tech isn't...

Also as far as that analysis of TFL's report goes, that does nothing to prove the claim that TFL are deliberately engineering traffic. Pushing traffic out of suburban roads onto trunk roads has long been TFL's game and has many good justifications for doing so that go beyond emissions. Play streets, noise and safety among other things.

As far as delivery vans go, not much is going to change without A) massive new strategic warehouses which allow hyper-local distribution or B) some sort of nationalised delivery network stepping in to reduce half-empty private vans driving around. If only we had a service that could do so...

Edited by Gooly on Monday 25th November 12:19

This is what I don't understand. I was told ALL pre September 2005 petrol cars will pay the charge. But how is the 2004 350Z exempt!

I really do not understand what TFL want and dont want - other than our hard earned!!

[Gooly]

A1ps said:

This is what I don't understand. I was told ALL pre September 2005 petrol cars will pay the charge. But how is the 2004 350Z exempt!

I really do not understand what TFL want and dont want - other than our hard earned!!

Many Euro 3 cars seem to pass - I remember checking various early 2000 petrol cars and found some Euro 3 stuff like certain years of GS300s would pass. I think it's done based on actual emission figures - even if a car isn't certified as Euro 4, if it's low enough in certain emissions then it will pass. I think the oldest ULEZ exempt car I found was a 2000MY but can't remember what it was.

Still gutted that London's lovely collection of 80s and 90s street parked BMWs, Mercs and Porsches will diminish though.

[MJK 24]

A1ps said:

Gooly said:

It still bothers me that ULEZ hasn't been extended to black cabs, which are belching around with some pretty shockingly low-tech diesel motors in some cases. As much as I'm sad that ULEZ means no more 80s / 90s petrol stuff in London, it's ultimately a good thing but I hope at some point part of the levy can fund a scrappage scheme for old black cabs which seem to spend the majority of their time idling in Soho stinking up the whole place.

Would also be nice if they could arrange a provision for Jap imports, which seem to be charged regardless of their year or emissions. A 2004 350z is ULEZ exempt, yet the Japan-only 4-seat version with the same engine, chassis and emissions tech isn't...

Also as far as that analysis of TFL's report goes, that does nothing to prove the claim that TFL are deliberately engineering traffic. Pushing traffic out of suburban roads onto trunk roads has long been TFL's game and has many good justifications for doing so that go beyond emissions. Play streets, noise and safety among other things.

As far as delivery vans go, not much is going to change without A) massive new strategic warehouses which allow hyper-local distribution or B) some sort of nationalised delivery network stepping in to reduce half-empty private vans driving around. If only we had a service that could do so...

Edited by Gooly on Monday 25th November 12:19

This is what I don't understand. I was told ALL pre September 2005 petrol cars will pay the charge. But how is the 2004 350Z exempt!

I really do not understand what TFL want and dont want - other than our hard earned!!

People with pre 2005 Lotus Elises are getting them exempted. They already meet Euro 4 emissions. Lotus sell the owner a certificate of conformity confirming this.

[CABC]

R Mutt said:

Now Uber, much more environmentally sound

All those hybrids using ice all day circling around looking for hotspots? Uber is creating pollution not reducing it.
The rate of change to electric cabs is stunning. I guess the oil burners have all been sold oop north?

[CAPP0]

A1ps said:

Thanks again guys for the helpful replies.

I spoke with TFL earlier today and they categorically said my car was non-compliant.

I gave them the registration details of 2 other RS4’s which according to their website ARE compliant even though they were registered before my car. She said she didn’t know why this was and that the owner may have given incorrect information when registering the car.

That sounded like an absurd reply to me so I pressed her politely. Her response to this was “ALL petrol cars registered before September 2005 will be charged. The other 2 cars you mentioned might have private plates and therefore our systems might not pick up on the Euro status”.

I did look into this further and my car definitely is Euro 3. I’m all for green issues, but this is a ridiculous.

I can’t even begin to tell you guys how absolutely devastated I am to sell such a stunning, rare and beast of a car. But what hurts even more is the fact that my daughter was born in the car... and I her.

How often do you/will you drive into a ULEZ zone?

[red_slr]

CABC said:

I guess the oil burners have all been sold oop north?

The majority of big UK cities are going ULEZ so I suspect a lot will just be scrapped.

[saaby93]

A1ps said:

That sounded like an absurd reply to me so I pressed her politely. Her response to this was “ALL petrol cars registered before September 2005 will be charged. The other 2 cars you mentioned might have private plates and therefore our systems might not pick up on the Euro status”.

thats rubbish
Type in the reg number of say a 2001 elise and it comes up with ok

[A1ps]

saaby93 said:

hats rubbish
Type in the reg number of say a 2001 elise and it comes up with ok

Yup. I phoned again to speak to someone else. I explained the entire scenario of typing in details of other 2001 vehicles and how a lot of them came up as being valid and not chargeable to the ULEZ. But this guy too was absolutely adamant that if a car is pre September 2005 it will be chargeable.

I want to hit my head against something to knock me out from all this pain!!!

[swamp]

Gooly said:

Many Euro 3 cars seem to pass - I remember checking various early 2000 petrol cars and found some Euro 3 stuff like certain years of GS300s would pass. I think it's done based on actual emission figures - even if a car isn't certified as Euro 4, if it's low enough in certain emissions then it will pass. I think the oldest ULEZ exempt car I found was a 2000MY but can't remember what it was.

My 2012 Euro 5 diesel passes. Its emissions on V5C are within the Euro 6 levels.

[monarodom]

A1ps said:

Yup. I phoned again to speak to someone else. I explained the entire scenario of typing in details of other 2001 vehicles and how a lot of them came up as being valid and not chargeable to the ULEZ. But this guy too was absolutely adamant that if a car is pre September 2005 it will be chargeable.

I want to hit my head against something to knock me out from all this pain!!!

Mine is only Euro 2 it seems and makes the cut. Despite the 360g/km!