Birmingham ULEZ - Anyone waiting on appeal?

[Gooly]

Hi all,

I have skim read this thread and seen the dismal reply from the DVLA regarding the CAZ.

I have managed to get several cars ULEZ compliant and have now managed to get an E39 540i (Euro 3 V-reg with compliant NOX for Euro 4) CAZ compliant as well. In order to do this I submitted the COC, V5C and a detailed cover letter explaining that the vehicle has a compliant NOX figure, the VIN in the COC corresponds with the VIN in the V5C, and the CAZ consolidated scheme order states that the emissions standard is taken upon the NOX value from the Euro 4 standards.

If your car is compliant in ULEZ, it can 100% be compliant for CAZ. There are no clean air zones in the UK that presently have stricter restrictions on private cars than ULEZ, which is Euro 4 NOX (0.08)

The difficulty is convincing the relevant authority of this. It took me 6 weeks and several emails to the DVLA to get the 540i approved. TFL were markedly easier. Do not give up, and do note that in the whole of the DVLA, there are only a handful of people who genuinely understand how CAZ works. Most are just admin jockeys who skim read their own website and fire off a generic email based on those results. If you receive this sort of email, its essential you go straight to the actual consolidated scheme order - not the guidance on the website, and use this in your favour.

To summarise, if your car meets Euro 4 NOX standards, it can be registered as compliant for ULEZ and all CAZ schemes currently active or proposed with the submission of your COC, a V5C and a detailed cover letter. Do not expect competency from the person dealing with your application.

[ATM]

That's useful to know thanks. I still don't know if the car has to be compliant on all 3 metrics or just NOx. I have been asked this a few times. Its just so annoying that a car can be exempt on TFL but not on CAZ. I bought 2 cars last year and both were ULEZ I thought because both were exempt on TFL. Then I found out about CAZ. I live nowhere near London so TFL doesn't interest Me. I just want to buy ULEZ cars for obvious reasons.

[FiF]

Yes that is a useful post highlighting the issues. Mostly academic for me as don't drive into Birmingham these days but you never know as these schemes pop up.

It does open a wider question about the competency and attitude of those tasked with enforcing this.

[anonymous-user]

Mrs Spoon had a PCN come through for the 20th June, but paid the CAZ charge on the 24th. Sent the appeal off with the details and now waiting time.

[Vanity Projects]

Since there’s been a thread revival and I was the OP, just popping in to say that I’ve still to hear of my appeal since last September.

Back to sleep everyone.

[poo at Paul's]

Vanity Projects said:

Since there’s been a thread revival and I was the OP, just popping in to say that I’ve still to hear of my appeal since last September.

Back to sleep everyone.

I have not heard from my appeal in April when i paid same day as i went in, but paid for the wrong car. The website defaulted to the one i took in a few times before and i didnt notice. So paid, on time, but for my wrong car!

[anonymous-user]

poo at Paul's said:

Vanity Projects said:

Since there’s been a thread revival and I was the OP, just popping in to say that I’ve still to hear of my appeal since last September.

Back to sleep everyone.

I have not heard from my appeal in April when i paid same day as i went in, but paid for the wrong car. The website defaulted to the one i took in a few times before and i didnt notice. So paid, on time, but for my wrong car!

I predict this not going in your favour.

[geordiepingu]

Gooly said:

Hi all,

I have skim read this thread and seen the dismal reply from the DVLA regarding the CAZ.

I have managed to get several cars ULEZ compliant and have now managed to get an E39 540i (Euro 3 V-reg with compliant NOX for Euro 4) CAZ compliant as well. In order to do this I submitted the COC, V5C and a detailed cover letter explaining that the vehicle has a compliant NOX figure, the VIN in the COC corresponds with the VIN in the V5C, and the CAZ consolidated scheme order states that the emissions standard is taken upon the NOX value from the Euro 4 standards.

If your car is compliant in ULEZ, it can 100% be compliant for CAZ. There are no clean air zones in the UK that presently have stricter restrictions on private cars than ULEZ, which is Euro 4 NOX (0.08)

The difficulty is convincing the relevant authority of this. It took me 6 weeks and several emails to the DVLA to get the 540i approved. TFL were markedly easier. Do not give up, and do note that in the whole of the DVLA, there are only a handful of people who genuinely understand how CAZ works. Most are just admin jockeys who skim read their own website and fire off a generic email based on those results. If you receive this sort of email, its essential you go straight to the actual consolidated scheme order - not the guidance on the website, and use this in your favour.

To summarise, if your car meets Euro 4 NOX standards, it can be registered as compliant for ULEZ and all CAZ schemes currently active or proposed with the submission of your COC, a V5C and a detailed cover letter. Do not expect competency from the person dealing with your application.

Interesting... Now on the note of restomodded modern classics that perhaps have more modern emissions equipment or even engines from newer (and compliant) vehicles. Are there particular recognised bodies one could take an altered vehicle to, perhaps without enough points to class as a radically altered vehicle, and test for emissions compliance? I would assume on cars that have been engine swapped that a letter from the engine manufacturer would not be enough to comply, as you could fit whatever emissions equipment and exhaust configuration to fit the vehicle and stray away from those initial figures.

On a personal note, one of these days I am looking forward to dropping one of my spare V8s in a rescued 40+ year old Morgan Plus 4/8, straight piping it with no emissions equipment and going past Westminister with my fingers up, flying goggles on, speedster screen fitted

[FiF]

geordiepingu said:

On a personal note, one of these days I am looking forward to dropping one of my spare V8s in a rescued 40+ year old Morgan Plus 4/8, straight piping it with no emissions equipment and going past Westminister with my fingers up, flying goggles on, speedster screen fitted

Award that man maximum PH points on the day of the above being executed.

[poo at Paul's]

Mr Spoon said:

I predict this not going in your favour.

I dont know. I sent them the V5 for the car I paid for in my name, the emissions and charge are the same, I have a receipt for the day in question, and the car i paid for never entered the zone.

So there is clearly no intention not to pay, infact there is a clear intention TO pay, a receipt to show payment for a car registered to me and used in the zone previously, on that day, and that car did not use the zone that day.

It would seem to me if that is not a valid appeal, there is no such thing as a valid appeal. You may be right, but if they dont accept it, I'll take it to court.

[anonymous-user]

poo at Paul's said:

Mr Spoon said:

I predict this not going in your favour.

I dont know. I sent them the V5 for the car I paid for in my name, the emissions and charge are the same, I have a receipt for the day in question, and the car i paid for never entered the zone.

So there is clearly no intention not to pay, infact there is a clear intention TO pay, a receipt to show payment for a car registered to me and used in the zone previously, on that day, and that car did not use the zone that day.

It would seem to me if that is not a valid appeal, there is no such thing as a valid appeal. You may be right, but if they dont accept it, I'll take it to court.

They will get you on the terms and conditions. I'd caution going to court as it might not work out for you.

[poo at Paul's]

Mr Spoon said:

They will get you on the terms and conditions. I'd caution going to court as it might not work out for you.

What terms and conditions?
The ones posted on the zone signage? Or on the Gov.co.uk site that you pay on?

As I say, I’ve paid, I paid on the same day, the correct amount for a car I own of the same emissions category, which did not enter the zone.
It seems valid grounds to make an appeal, if it is not successful I see no grounds that would be valid to actually appeal successfully.
And if I do take it to court, what is the worst that can happen, realistically. It won’t be a vexatious action, it will be a genuine appeal,for some common sense and reason. But I am pretty sure it won’t come to that, they can see I’ve paid, on time, the right amount , so I am sure if there is anyone actually looking at the appeals, they will agree it.

[poo at Paul's]

Well an update and a positive one at that.
I received an email back yesterday in respect of my appeal from April, the letter apologised for the slow response and said they found in my favour and the PCN was cancelled!

Hurrah for common sense and decency!

So my appeal took just shy of 6 months! But I won!