London ultra low emission zone

I have a 2003 diesel, so would be charged in this area. My question is - do I have to register the car first, and if so, how do I do it?

Have you checked the TFL site - I think they can answer all your questions.

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle/

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French or British registered?

UK & foreign vehicles need to be registered with TFL.

French registered.

Let us know how you get on as I’ve heard getting registered with a foreign vehicle and paying with a foreign bank account isn’t simple.

I believe that the expanded ULEZ (wef 29 Aug 2023) will include Heathrow.

Taken from “MyLondon”:
You WILL NOT have to pay the charge for:

  • Brockley Hill (Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital)
  • The A41 north of Spur Road roundabout
  • The M1 north of London Gateway services (You WILL have to pay it between Brent Cross and London Gateway)
  • A411 Barnet Road from Stirling Corner to Galley Lane plus Galley Lane
  • North of A1081/A1000 junction at top of Barnet town centre
  • North of Kings Head Hill, Chingford
  • The M11 (You WILL have to pay it to use the North Circular beyond the junction with the M11)
  • The M25
  • The A13 east of Ferry Lane, Rainham
  • The A2 east of Bexley
  • A22 Godstone Road, Kenley

Hi, thanks, but doesnt answer my questions. Frankly, the TFL site is confusing. Can I, as a foreign registered car that would attract the ULEZ charge, just simply drive into the zone, and then pay the charge online, even though the system does not know who I am (not registered at the British car registration centre)?

You register the vehicle if you think it complies with the LEZ.
Registering is in effect an exemption from the charges. So you don’t need to register - just pay the daily charges

I actually found it very easy and straightforward. I registered via EPC (I had to go there to pay a couple of fines… :slightly_frowning_face:).
Go to Euro Parking Collection plc
Fill in your details, provide evidence that your car meets compliance requirements - I attached a copy of my carte gris.
2 days later I received an email saying that my car met the compliance requirements and that I would not have to pay any fees.
Note, you have to do this twice - once for ULEZ and another one for LEZ.

Yogesh

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Thanks, chrisell, can I ask - is this your experience, or is it something you have been told/read. Thanks again, Peter

I registered my French registered EV (completely exempt) with TFL. It cost me nothing.

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Thanks for that. Did you think you had to register anyway, or just to get your exemption?

if you don’t register your vehicle it will be treated as a non conforming lorry, hence the fines. This is because they have no idea what type of vehicle it is.

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I wonder where TFL would send the fines arsing from foreign unregistered vehicles?

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To the registered keeper of the vehicle albeit three months later! I paid for Dartford crossing and have just received one routed through Germany. I have emailed receipt and am waiting for news. Seems I should have paid 50p more than I was asked for.

Information is now available to enable Fines to be sent to folk abroad… which is why some are receiving Fines going back several months…

might be best to check out where one will be driving in UK and register appropriately…

I knew I had to register anyway.

It’s clearly better to set up your vehicle (exempt or not) rather than fight a fine.

Yes, you do have to register in advance of driving within the ULEZ zone. I didn’t bother and got an £80 fine. That was about three months ago.

The recent UK by-election results indicate London ULEZ is a contentious issue. Amidst all the ire of incensed individual car owners, there is a bigger picture view.

As Mayor Khan says, "The Ulez has already reduced toxic nitrogen dioxide air pollution by nearly half in central London and a fifth in inner London. The coming expansion will see five million more Londoners being able to breathe cleaner air.” So perhaps cleaner air is a good thing?

Less Inner London traffic is surely better for residents. Smoother public transport for quicker journeys. Maybe trams can be introduced with free ride, as in Luxembourg. More pedestrianised areas, hopefully with trees, can create areas for people to socialise and stimulate individual retail. Existing carpark buildings may be converted into something else, such as loft residences or indoor markets for small traders. There are many more possibilities for a much reduced motor city. All of which will be better for health and better for the planet.

The difficulty in achieving the planet climate saving measures is that in the short term some members of the public will have to compromise on privileges and freedoms they have come to see as their rights. There is unfortunately for some, no way to preserve the future health of the planet and population without present sacrifices. Democracy, as the recent by-election demonstrates how difficult this is going to be.

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