Can I change my motorhome’s ULEZ category?
The ULEZ charge for my 2012, 3.65-tonne, Auto-Trail Apache, Euro 5, 2.3 diesel, in London, is £100 for the day, with lower charges in other low emission zones. I think this charge is due to the ’van being rated as a Private Heavy Goods Vehicle, and has little to do with emissions.
I know that motorhomes with the same engine but that weigh 3.5 tonnes are charged the same as a car, irrespective of the age of the vehicle (I’ve checked a 2009, 3.5-tonne vehicle and that is £12.50).
In the brochure for my vehicle it shows vehicle weight as 3.5 tonnes/3.65 tonnes, so I assumed the lower weight can be registered, with the obvious restriction on load. I have checked an Auto-Trail Apache registered as 3.5 tonnes, and the charge is £12.50, so it seems that the charges are nothing to do with emissions, but weights.
Can I request to have a lower ULEZ charge rating? As the vehicle can only have one purpose, for pleasure, is that grounds for an appeal?
Tony Cutt
AAs you will have seen in the press, there has been much controversy over the enlargement of the clean air policy in London. Despite this, the authority is adamant that the scheme is necessary to improve the air quality and the health of local residents.
My own experience with TfL during the introduction of the first LEZ scheme when trying to engage with it about the problems being experienced by motorhomers resident within the LEZ area was one of total indifference.
I appreciate how unfair the pricing scheme appears to you because, as you say, your vehicle in its 3.5-tonne format gets charged as a car at £12.50, but once over 3.5 tonnes is charged £100.
Clearly all the clean air schemes throughout the country work on this type of broad brush approach to make the schemes easy to manage. Hence, in general, Euro 6 or Euro VI are the qualifying requirements for entering many of the areas. Euro 5 and Euro V are not directly comparable as the emission standards are defined in a different way.
TfL does state on its website: “You need to register your vehicle with us if you believe it meets the required standards for ULEZ or LEZ.” Obviously, you are not going to meet the standard, but it may be worth trying to explain you have an engine meeting Euro 5 rather than one complying with Euro V. I do not expect TfL to budge from its stated rules.
Sorry I have not been able to offer any encouragement, but my communications with TfL and some other authorities have not generally been helpful.
Alternatively, if you do not require the payload provided by your 3.65-tonne GVW you can downrate to 3.5 tonnes and change to a private light goods vehicle (PLGV), but this will of course increase your road tax.
Barry Norris