Low Emission Zones: what you need to know

Low Emission Zones (LEZs) have been identified by the UK government – as part of its air quality plan – as one way that local authorities can reduce harmful emissions in specific areas.

A Low Emission Zone already exists in London and they have also been implemented in many cities across Europe, although many people remain confused about what they mean in practice.

Here, we will tackle the issue head on, explaining everything you need to know about LEZs – from what they are to how they will affect you.

Contents

• What is a Low Emission Zone?
• Where are the UK's Low Emission Zones?
• The London Low Emission Zone
  • What vehicles are affected by the London Low Emission Zone?
  • What will it cost me to enter the London Low Emission Zone?
• Clean Air Zone vehicle checker
• What is the Ultra Low Emission Zone?
• Where are Europe’s Low Emission Zones?

What is a Low Emission Zone?

Low Emission Zones are schemes that cover specific areas (typically in cities) to tackle pollution and that discourage certain types of vehicles from entering a specified zone.

Typically, this will consist of a charge forthe vehicle should it not reach a minimum standard for emissions to enter this zone.

The idea is to encourage the use of cleaner vehicles and thus improve air quality.

LEZs are becoming increasingly popular across Europe.In the UK, the London Low Emission Zone is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive.

LEZs do not actually forbid higher-emission vehicles from entering, but daily charges to enter the zone are enforced – and failure to paymay result in heavy financial penalties.

To find out if your vehicle makes you liable for a charge, read our daily charges section below.

READ MORE: Engine idling - why it's so harmful and what's being done

Where are the UK's Low Emission Zones?

There are Low Emission Zones in:

• London
• Brighton
• Norwich
• Nottingham
• Oxford
• Glasgow
• Leeds
• Birmingham

Except for London, these currently only affect local buses, so members of the public do not have to pay to enter them presently..

Many believe that, as inner-city pollution levels worsen, more cities will bring in LEZs that include a wider range of vehicles – including cars.

The government’s air quality plan pledges to ‘be the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than we inherited it’.

It has a particular focus on roadside nitrogen oxide (NO2) concentrations, which are linked to cancer and respiratory diseases.

Local authorities can propose and implement LEZs – along with other schemes such as congestion charging – to help reduce NO2.

Each authority will have details on its website about the specifications used to implement a Low Emission Zone.

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The London Low Emission Zone

The London LEZ was introduced in late 2008 and covers most of Greater London, including parts of the M1 and M4 motorways (but not the M25).

Unlike the London Congestion Charge, it operates 24 hours a day.

As the London Low Emission Zone is a separate scheme to the London Congestion Charge, drivers of vehicles affected by the London LEZ who enter the central Congestion Charge zone must pay both charges during the daytime on a weekday.

Vehicle owners should check where the boundaries of each zone are before entering London.

Here is a map to show you exactly where the Low Emission Zone covers.

The zone is automatically enforced by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, as opposed to barriers or toll booths.

Entry points for the London Low Emission Zone are well marked by clear signage as shown below.

There are additional reminder signs within the zone, too – plus signs before the zone offering diverted routes in case you do not wish to enter.

What vehicles are affected by the London Low Emission Zone?

At the moment, it is only larger vehicles that are affected by the London Low Emission Zone: pre-October 2006 lorries over 3.5 tonnes, coaches over five tonnes, larger vans, minibuses and motorised caravans.

Light 4x4s and pick-ups registered new before 1 January 2002 are also required to pay it.

You can use the Transport for London guide and enter your reg to see if your vehicle is affected and if you will have to pay to enter.

What will it cost me to enter the London Low Emission Zone?

That depends on what you are driving and where you are.

This table should give a clear indication on how much you are likely to pay.

Should you wish to avoid paying the charge altogether, you can have an approved filter fitted – or choose to buy a cleaner vehicle.

The Low Emission Zone operates every day of the year, including weekends and public holidays.

Daily charges should be paid by midnight on the next working day after the first day of travel.

Charging days run from midnight to midnight, so if you were to drive within the LEZ between 23:30 and 01:00 the next day, you would need to pay for two days.

Vehicles parked in the zone but not driving are not subject to  LEZ charges for that day.

Clean Air Zone vehicle checker

The Government’s Joint Air Quality Unit have an online vehicle checker to help drivers prepare for Clean Air Zones.

Just enter your vehicle’s registration number and this free tool will tell you if there will be a daily charge to drive your vehicle in a specific Clean Air Zone. More cities will be added as final plans become approved.

To check whether you’ll be charged for driving in the London ULEZ or LEZ, use the TfL vehicle checker instead.

What is the Ultra Low Emission Zone?

As inner-city pollution worsens, Low Emission Zones may become a key tool in helping authorities to control emissions without the need for an outright ban on certain vehicles entering city areas.They are predicted to become much more commonplace than today.

An Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was due to come into force in London in September 2020, under proposals drawn up by the previous Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.

However, current Mayor Sadiq Khan is seeking to bring this forward to 2019 and expand the boundaries of the original ULEZ.

Originally designed for the same area as the Congestion Charge Zone, it is likely the expanded area will cover up to the north and south circular boundaries. The ULEZ will replace the current T-Charge.

READ MORE: Ultra Low Emission Zones: what you need to know

Where are Europe’s Low Emission Zones?

Fifteen European countries operate LEZs, with more than 200 cities and towns having schemes in place.

The list is likely to grow over time, so if you’re planning a trip abroad this summer, we advise using this useful site to check if the area you’re driving in has a Low Emission Zone in place. It offers all the advice and information you need.

An LEZ in Europe, just like in the UK, means certain vehicles will be restricted from driving into these areas, which are usually well marked out by signs.

In Germany, LEZs are called Umweltzone and there are 75 schemes in operation, in both major cities and smaller towns.

For more advice on driving in Germany and German LEZs visit our driving in Germany guide.

They are also commonplace in Italy, with more than 100 schemes covering cities, countries and whole regions (for example, the whole of Lombardia).

Three cities in the Netherlands now have car and van LEZs, in addition to schemes affecting only lorries.

Sweden, Austria, Finland and Denmark operate LEZs for larger heavy goods vehicles. Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Norway, Portugal and Spain all have at least one LEZ that affects, or will soon affect, cars too.

Many towns and cities also have traffic restrictions. For example, more than 200 Italian cities have areas where traffic is very restricted, often to residents only, called ‘ZTLs’ (Zona a traffico limitato). These regularly result in expensive fines.  Find out where ZTLs are and how to avoid the fines here.

READ NEXT: Find out more about France's LEZs in our driving in France guide