Motorhome and campervan owners are being reminded that they could be in breach of emissions rules and hit with heavy fines while travelling around London.
The warning comes from Max Schmidt, head of CamperDays, who says while some may not need to pay any ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) fees, many models will be liable under the Low Emissions Zone (LEZ) rules.
This scheme charges the most polluting heavy vehicles driving in London and is in operation 24 hours a day.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Schmidt said: “Most vehicle types over 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight (GVW), including motorcaravans and campervans, do not need to pay the ULEZ charge, but will need to pay the separate London-wide LEZ charge if they do not meet the LEZ emissions standard.
“The LEZ emissions standard is based on the Euro 6 standard for Nitrous Oxide (NOx) and Particulate Matter (PM).
“Do ensure to check whether your vehicle or motorised caravan takes diesel or petrol, as petrol vans must meet the Euro 4 standard for NOx.
“Should you drive within the LEZ without meeting emissions standards or paying the appropriate daily charge, you run the risk of being issued a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) which could be as high as £2,000.”
According to Transport for London (TfL), drivers will need to pay £100 per day to enter the zone if their vehicle is over 3.5 tonnes.
This rises to £300 if their model is weighed at over five tonnes. Motorists must pay the fees before midnight of the third charging day following the journey.
Failure to pay a charge before the cut-off will result in motorists getting slapped with a Penalty Charge Notice.
This stands at a whopping £2,000 but drivers will only need to pay £1,000 if they cough up the money within 14 days.
Schmidt said: “Should your vehicle not be ULEZ compliant, there are caravan and motorhome storage facilities across the UK where you can house your vehicle from just £1.18 per day, with 24-hour CCTV and controlled access.
“And if campervan owners aren’t sure whether their van meets the emissions standards, they can input their vehicle’s registration number on Transport for London’s website to find out.”
Clean Air Zones have also been rolled-out across other major cities including Bath, Birmingham, Bristol and Sheffield but emissions standards and charges vary dramatically.
According to the Camping and Caravanning Club, drivers without a compliant vehicle may need a “degree of travel planning”.
They said: “Not all CAZs are the same as the restrictions depend on the appropriate local authority’s requirements.
“The charges often vary depending on your vehicle and the enforcement method is automated via automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), charged by the day.”
Don’t forget to subscribe to the Van Life Matters newsletter or download the Van Life Matters App to stay up-to-date with the latest UK Van Life news, tips and advice.
Motorhome enthusiasts seeking eco-friendly travel options now have a new player in the game as…
Highland Council’s motorhome pass scheme has come under fire once again, with MSP Edward Mountain…
A proposed trial allowing overnight parking for motorhomes and campervans in several Pembrokeshire car parks…
The National Trust asking visitors appropriately dispose of their litter, use designated campsites, not to…
Dometic has launched a new mobile cooking stove: The CADAC Dometic 2 Cook 3 Turbo.…
A British national who attempted to smuggle 5 migrants, including a 5-year-old child, has been…
View Comments
Interesting that my 2.2 liter peugot boxer is OK in the ulez but my 2.0 liter skoda yeti is not even though they are both 2013 plates, I guess if I ever go to London I'll go in the 6 meter long van. Crazy.