A second round of consultation has suggested that historic vehicles may win exemption from London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s proposed Emissions Surcharge or ’T-charge’.
The latest stage of the consultation – influenced by the views of more than 15,000 people from the first round of discussion – has proposed adopting the same discounts and exemptions as currently apply to the Congestion Charge, which would see historic vehicles – those 40 years and older – spared from the £10 levy.
Residents living within the charging zone or in a designated area next to the zone would be granted a 90% discount, as well as a three-year ‘sunset period’ with a 100% discount.
The T-charge will operate within the area of the current Congestion Charge Zone and will affect pre-Euro 4-standard petrol and diesel vehicles – broadly those built before 2005. Non-compliant vehicles will be charged £10 in addition to the existing £11.50 Congestion Charge, leading to affected owners being billed £21.50 to drive through the capital between the hours of 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday.
Currently, 26% of petrol cars, 15% of diesel cars and 10% of vans fail to meet the T-charge requirements. This jumps to 86% of diesel cars and 82% of vans when the more stringent Ultra Low Emissions Zone regulations come into force, which the Mayor has proposed bringing in a year early in 2019, while extending its borders to the North and South Circulars by 2020.
A final decision on the T-charge will be taken in February 2017 with a view to implementing the plans on 23 October 2017.
