In short, the existing ULEZ has proven to be so successful that the government have made the decision to expand the qualifying area to reach across all London boroughs. This means that vehicles that don’t qualify to travel for free within a ULEZ will now be charged for travelling any distance inside the new ULEZ boundary that circles nearly all of Greater London.
So, what does this mean for drivers? It means that now’s the time to make sure that your vehicle qualifies to enter the ULEZ without additional charges. And to consider whether you need to make the switch to a hybrid or electric vehicle to make sure you can still get around the areas you need to visit.
From travelling between jobs to deliveries with multiple stops, these day-to-day work tasks could do without interruptions – so having a compliant, efficient vehicle that gives you access to the ULEZ without bother is the ultimate goal.
The ULEZ is expanding on 29th August 2023.
The new ULEZ will cover all London boroughs – you can find out what areas the new ULEZ expansion includes and check if a specific postcode is affected. The M25 is not included and provides a route around the expanded zone for vehicles that don’t meet the emissions standards, even where the M25 crosses the Greater London Area boundary.
The ULEZ zone currently operates 24 hours a day, every single day (including weekends and public and bank holidays) apart from Christmas; this will continue post-expansion.
If your vehicle doesn’t meet the ULEZ emission standards, you need to pay a £12.50 daily charge to drive inside the zone. This applies to cars, motorcycles, vans and specialist vehicles (up to and including 3.5 tonnes) and minibuses (up to and including 5 tonnes).
Lorries, vans or specialist heavy vehicles (all over 3.5 tonnes) and buses, minibuses and coaches (all over 5 tonnes) do not need to pay the ULEZ charge. They will however need to pay the LEZ charge if they do not meet the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) emissions standard.
You can check your vehicle’s eligibility to enter the ULEZ on the government website. All you need is your vehicle’s number plate.
There will also be road signs in place at entry points along the boundaries of both the ULEZ and LEZ, as well as reminder signs within the zones and advance signage for those approaching the boundary.
• Exemptions to the ULEZ charges:
‘Disabled’ or ‘disabled passenger vehicle’ tax class registered vehicles – only until 24 October 2027.
• NHS patients that are too ill to use public transport (as assessed by a professional), who may be eligible to claim a reimbursement for journeys to and from the hospital.
• Community transport for not-for-profit organisations, such as minibuses, can register for a temporary 100% discount from the ULEZ daily charge – only until 26 October 2025.
Utilising public transport will help remove any major disruptions to your daily travel, and taking advantage of more opportunities to walk or cycle has further benefits, including better mental and physical health.
At Hendy Ford Transit Centre, we can make sure your van meets the requirements of this new scheme and support you in adjusting to this change. We have a range of vans that are able to enter any Ultra Low Emission Zone, including electric and hybrid models, with friendly staff that help reduce the stress of replacing your van.
Explore our Ford models today to see what’s available to you and contact us to speak to a member of our expert team.
Your local dealership is Hendy Ford Transit Centre Redhill, which is situated around six miles from the ULEZ boundary in the south of London. This dealership is only a five-minute drive from Redhill station and will remain outside of the ULEZ.
Visit us to explore our range of compliant Ultra Low Emission Zone Ford vans that can be yours today! Get in touch to book a test drive.
