Transport for London
Which vehicles are affected?
Which vehicles are affected?
Larger vans and minibuses need to meet the Euro 3 emissions standard for particulate matter and lorries, buses and coaches need to meet Euro IV.
- Lorries, buses, coaches & heavy specialist vehicles
- Larger vans, minibuses & specialist diesel vehicles
- Check if your vehicle is affected
- Exemptions and discounts
Lorries, buses & coaches and heavy specialist vehicles
If you want to drive a lorry, bus, coach or other specialist heavy diesel vehicle in the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) without paying a daily charge, it needs to meet certain emissions standards.
From 3 January 2012, these vehicles need to meet the Euro IV standard for particulate matter (PM), whether your vehicle is used for commercial or for private purposes.
What emissions standards will my vehicle need to meet?
The LEZ emissions standards are based on Euro standards for the emission of particulate matter (PM). PM is very fine particles of soot emitted by vehicles, which have an effect on health. This type of pollution can contribute to asthma, heart and lung disease, other respiratory illnesses and even early death.
The age and weight of a vehicle indicate the level of particulate matter (PM) it produces.
The table below shows those diesel vehicles which don't meet the LEZ emissions standards. If you own any of the vehicles listed, you will need to take action before driving within the LEZ, or pay a daily charge.
| Diesel vehicles that don't meet the LEZ emissions standards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle type | Weight | Does not meet the current LEZ standards (Euro IV for PM) |
|
- Lorries - And other specialist vehicles |
More than 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight | Vehicles registered as new before 1 October 2006 |
| - Buses - Coaches (with more than 8 passenger seats) |
More than 5 tonnes gross vehicle weight | |
If your vehicle isn't included in this table, use our our vehicle checker
If your vehicle is affected by the LEZ, find out what your options are
Early adopters
Some vehicles first registered shortly before 1 October 2006 will also meet the LEZ Euro IV standard as some manufacturers started producing and using engines which met the Euro IV standard before this date. These vehicles are known as 'early adopters'.
Find out if your vehicle is an early adopter and what you need to do (PDF 141KB)
Vehicles need to meet the Euro IV standard for PM. Vehicles registered as new on or after 1 October 2006 are assumed to meet these standards.
How do I know if my vehicle meets the standards?
The quickest way to check if your vehicle meets the standards is to enter your registration plate details into our vehicle checker
Alternatively, you can use the vehicle type tool
Your vehicle will meet the current emissions standards if:
- It was first registered as new on or after 1 October 2006
OR
- You have received a Low Emission Certificate (LEC) or a Reduced Pollution Certificate (RPC) for fitting an approved full filter or converting to an approved gas engine
Then you will be free to drive within the LEZ without taking any action.
Your vehicle will not meet the current emissions standards if:
- It was first registered as new any time before 1 October 2006
OR
- You currently hold a LEC or an RPC but you have only fitted a partial filter
OR
- You have received a LEC or an RPC for an Eligible Engine (these no longer meet the LEZ standards)
OR
- You have received an RPC which has box 'M' ticked (this can be found under the 'Particulate trap fitted or modification type used' section of the certificate)
Then you'll need to take action if you want to drive within the LEZ without paying the daily charge.
Find out more about vehicles with LECs and RPCs
Case studies
We've developed some case studies to show how vehicles can meet the requirements of the LEZ scheme:
Related links
Larger vans, minibuses & specialist diesel vehicles
Larger vans, minibuses and other specialist diesel vehicles are affected by the Low Emission Zone (LEZ). If you own this type of vehicle, it must meet certain emissions standards to be driven within the LEZ without paying a daily charge.
It doesn't matter whether your vehicle is used for commercial or private purposes - it will still need to meet the standards.
Vehicles affected
The age and weight of a vehicle indicate the level of emissions it produces.
The table below shows those vehicle types that won't meet the LEZ emissions standards from 3 January 2012. If you own any of the vehicles listed, you will need to take action before driving within the LEZ, or pay a daily charge.
| Vehicle types that don't meet the LEZ emissions standards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Type | Weight | Does not meet the current standards (Euro 3 for PM) |
| - Larger vans - Motorised horseboxes - 4x4 light utility vehicles - Pick-ups - Other specialist vehicles |
Between 1.205 tonnes unladen and 3.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Weight | Vehicles registered as new before 1 January 2002 |
| - Motor caravans - Ambulances |
2.5 - 3.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Weight | |
| - Minibuses (with more than 8 passenger seats) | 5 tonnes or less Gross Vehicle Weight | |
Early adopters
Some vehicles registered before 1 January 2002 will also meet the Euro 3 standard as some manufacturers started producing vehicles with engines which met the Euro 3 standard before this date. These vehicles are known as 'early adopters'.
Find out if your vehicle is an early adopter and what you need to do (PDF 141KB)
Why include private vehicles?
These are included because they emit the same levels of pollutants as commercial vehicles. Specifically, motor caravans and ambulances are included because they have similar emissions to vans and minibuses.
Motor caravans are defined as vehicles with living accommodation, comprised of the following as a minimum:
- Seats and a table
- Sleeping accommodation (which may be converted from the seats)
- Cooking and storage facilities, including an onboard or external water container
- At least one side window
To be classified as a motor caravan this equipment must be rigidly fixed to the living compartment. If you have converted your vehicle to operate as a motor caravan you will need to ensure that it is correctly classified as such by the DVLA.
Some examples of vehicles that might be used for private purposes but are still subject to the LEZ include:
- Light 4 x 4 utility vehicles weighing over 1.205 tonnes unladen
- Pick-ups weighing over 1.205 tonnes unladen
- Vehicles with a commercial vehicle body type (for example, vans) weighing over 1.205 tonnes unladen
- Minibuses with more than eight seats plus the driver's seat
- Motor Homes/Motorised Caravans weighing over 2.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Weight
- Ambulances weighing over 2.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Weight
If your vehicle doesn't appear in the list above, you can use the weight limit and age (date first registered) as a guide to whether you need to take action, or use our vehicle checker
Light 4x4 utility vehicles
There are many types of light 4x4 utility vehicle. It is their classification (decided by the manufacturer and the European Union) that determines whether they're affected by the LEZ or not.
Light 4x4 utility vehicles classed as cars are not affected by the LEZ. Those classed as commercial vehicles are subject to the LEZ.
Any vehicle designed to carry goods, or more than nine passengers, is classed as a commercial vehicle, even it's only used for recreational purposes. These include:
- All models of pick-up vehicles, including dual cab pick-ups
- Commercial or 'panel van' variants of light utility vehicles (these can be identified by having a goods-carrying capacity in place of seating and metal panels in place of windows)
- Light utility vehicles that have more than 8 passenger seats
If your light utility vehicle is subject to the LEZ, then you can find out about your options
If you think that your light 4x4 utility vehicle has been classified incorrectly, please check with the DVLA
If you have any queries, please contact us on 0845 607 0009.
Land Rovers
We have worked with Land Rover to establish which vehicles with the body type of 'Light 4x4 Utility Vehicle' are subject to the LEZ. Vehicles manufactured before 1973 are considered to be 'historic' vehicles and are exempt from the LEZ.
The vehicles listed below are subject to the LEZ standards:
- All Defenders; 88s, 90s, 109s,110s, 127 and 130s (except station wagon variants with up to 9 seats)
- Freelander Commercial
- Discovery or Discovery Series 2 Commercial
- Conversions (eg Ambulance, Motorhome)
The following vehicles are not subject to LEZ as these are classed as 'estates':
- Defender, 88, 90,109 and 110 station wagons up to 9 seats inc the drivers
Certain vehicles meet the Euro 3 standard because they are early adopters:
- All Defenders, 90s, 110s, 127s and 130s manufactured after 6 August 2001
- Freelander Commercial manufactured after 14 September 2000
- Discovery or Discovery Series 2 Commercial manufactured after 2 July 2001
- Conversions (e.g. Ambulance, Motorhome) manufactured after 2 January 2002
We've updated our database to reflect these vehicles' emissions standards.
A small number of Defenders, 90s and 110s may be a 'station wagon', but may not be classified as such by the DVLA. If your vehicle has side windows and fixed seats in the back of the vehicle, and up to 9 seats including the drivers seat, it will not be subject to the LEZ. In these circumstances you need to:
- For models registered from 1998 - correct the body type description, vehicle model details and/or number of seats with the DVLA
- For models registered before 1998 - register your vehicle with TfL with suitable photographic proofs if you intend to use the vehicle in the LEZ.
If you have a Land Rover which is not listed above, please contact us to find out if your vehicle is subject to LEZ.
What emissions standards will my vehicle need to meet?
The LEZ emissions standards are based on Euro standards for the emission of particulate matter (PM). PM is very fine particles of soot emitted by vehicles, which have an effect on health. This type of pollution can contribute to asthma, heart and lung disease, other respiratory illnesses and even early death.
Your vehicle needs to meet the Euro 3 standard for particulate matter.
How do I know if my vehicle meets the standards?
The quickest way to check if your vehicle meets the current or new standards is to enter your registration plate into our vehicle checker
Alternatively, you can use the vehicle type tool
If your vehicle was registered any time before 1 January 2002, it won't meet the Euro 3 emissions standards without modification, so you'll need to take action if you want to drive within the LEZ without paying a daily charge. Find out what your options are
If your vehicle was registered on or after 1 January 2002, it will meet the Euro 3 emissions standards and you can drive within the LEZ without taking any action.
Case studies
We've developed some case studies to show how vehicles can meet the requirements of the LEZ scheme:
Related links
Check your vehicle
Use our simple tool to check whether your vehicle meets LEZ emissions standards.
"Check by registration number plate" shows you how we classify your vehicle according to our database. If you believe that we have classified your vehicle incorrectly, please register it.
Related links
Exemptions and discounts
Exemptions
A small number of vehicles are entitled to an exemption from the Low Emission Zone (LEZ). These are:
- Specialist non-road going vehicles designed and built for mainly off-road use, but which may use the road for limited purposes (including agricultural and forestry tractors, mowing machines, agricultural and farm machinery and equipment, mobile cranes and road and building construction machinery)
- Historic vehicles built before 1 January 1973
- Vehicles operated by the Ministry of Defence
If your vehicle meets any of the above criteria and is registered in Great Britain, it is automatically exempt and you don't need to register with TfL.
If your vehicle meets any of the above criteria but is registered outside Great Britain (including Northern Ireland) you are also exempt, but will need to register with Transport for London (TfL)
Discounts
Some showman's vehicles are eligible for a 100 per cent discount from the LEZ daily charge if they are registered to a person following the business of a travelling showman and have been modified or specially constructed. Trailers and semi-trailers which have been modified or specially constructed are not eligible for the 100 percent discount.
For a vehicle to be eligible for the discount, modifications or special constructions for the purpose of the show must be either:
- Used during the performance, or
- Used for the purpose of providing the performance, or
- Used for carrying performance equipment, or
- Used for displaying animals to the public, or
- Below the chassis level, such that it isn't possible to fit emission abatement equipment
If your vehicle meets the above criteria, you'll need to register with TfL to qualify for the discount. This applies to both GB and non-GB vehicles.
