Is your car ULEZ-compliant?

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If you’ve been browsing cars to buy,you might have seen references to the acronym ‘ULEZ’ and wondered what it’s all about. ULEZ stands for the ‘Ultra-Low Emissions Zone’, and it was unveiled in London in 2019 as a way of improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions n the city with both public health and the environment in mind. 

To drive within this zone, cars that don’t meet the criteria for lower emissions must pay a daily charge. In this article, we’ll explore the scope and implications of ULEZ and how to find out whether or not your vehicle is ULEZ-compliant. We’ll then look at Drive Fuze’s ULEZ-compliant car subscription options for hassle-free city driving.

Unveiling ULEZ: the low emission zone in London

London’s ULEZ scheme is designed to help give Londoners cleaner air. Its aim is to reduce air pollution by encouraging the adoption of sustainable transport through the use of more environmentally friendly vehicles, such as hybrid and electric cars. First introduced in 2019, it achieved a reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels of 44%in its first year, resulting in a healthier environment that a King’s College London study predicts could prevent 300 premature deaths a year.

So how does it work? ULEZ compliance is based on the Euro emissions standard, and it requires Euro 4 for petrol vehicles and Euro 6 for diesel. You can read about this standard in more detail in the RAC’s guide if you’re interested in the specifics of the emissions levels required by each of these.

If you have a vehicle that meets the required emissions standards, you can essentially forget about ULEZ, as you won’t need to pay anything. Hybrid and electric vehicles are currently exempt from the scheme. If, on the other hand, your vehicle isn’t ULEZ compliant,you’ll need to pay a daily charge.

The scheme is in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and for most vehicles, it’s a fee of £12.50 a day. Larger vehicles, such as lorries and buses, pay more. Importantly, this charge is in addition to the London Congestion Charge, so if you’re in an area covered by both ULEZ and the Congestion Charge, it’s a double whammy.

In terms of the geographical area covered by the ULEZ scheme, it covers the same area as the Congestion Charge zone in central London, spanning areas including Westminster, the City of London and parts of Southwark, Camden and Lambeth. As of 2021, the scheme was widened out to cover a greater area, from the North Circular (A406) to the South Circular (A205), and from 29 August 2023, it will apply to every London borough.

At Drive Fuze, we want to make it easy for you to choose a car that’s ULEZ-compliant. Our range of subscription cars has a great selection of ULEZ-compliant vehicles for you, allowing you to drive freely within the ULEZ without incurring additional charges. Simply select the ‘ULEZ compliant’ filter in the right-hand bar when browsing our vehicles and you’ll only see cars that meet the criteria.

Understanding ULEZ compliance and its importance

Clearly, not complying with ULEZ will add significantly to the cost of getting around London, whether you’re commuting or just going about your day-to-day life by car. To avoid charges and restrictions, it’s therefore important to choose a vehicle that’s ULEZ compliant.

As we’ve already noted, hybrid and electric vehicles are currently exempt from the scheme. What’s more, most petrol vehicles aged 16 or less and diesel vehicles aged 6 years or less already comply. They must meet the Euro 4 emission standard for petrol engines and Euro 6 for diesel engines, and you’ll be able to find this information in your V5C vehicle logbook.

If you’re in any doubt, Transport for London provides a handy tool for checking whether your vehicle is ULEZ compliant, and it will also tell you whether you need to pay the Congestion Charge or other fees to drive in London. Simply pop your registration into the box and it will do the rest.

It’s worth remembering that there are benefits to driving a ULEZ-compliant vehicle that goes beyond simply avoiding the charges. By driving a more environmentally friendly vehicle,you’re lowering your personal carbon footprint as well as contributing to cleaner air in the capital and doing your bit for the city’s sustainability efforts.

Not only that but by contributing towards cleaner air and thereby lowering pollution, you’re helping to create a greener city where pollution-related health risks are lower. This helps cut the rate of poor cardiovascular and respiratory health, which has a knock-on effect on the economy, as it reduces the number of sick days taken (thereby improving productivity) and reduces the burden on the NHS.

At Drive Fuze, we have a wide selection of ULEZ-compliant vehicles available on subscription, meaning you can drive confidently within the ULEZ without worrying about being charged. Browse our cars with the ULEZ-compliant filter selected in the right-hand bar to choose from vehicles that meet the required emissions standards.

Sustainable driving practices for a cleaner future

ULEZ-compliant vehicles have a big role to play in sustainability, but sustainability is about more than just choosing an ULEZ-compliant vehicle. It’s important to remember that there are also other sustainable driving practices that can help to minimise the impact of your driving on the planet.

These include driving smoothly,reducing the amount of time you spend with the engine idling and avoiding unnecessary trips. This has the added benefit of saving you money on fuel!Public transport, cycling and carpooling are all great alternatives for the times when you don’t need a car, as they help reduce congestion and emissions as well.

You can also improve the fuel efficiency of your vehicle, and thereby reduce its fuel costs and environmental impact, by ensuring your tyres are the correct pressure and getting it serviced regularly. Reducing its weight helps, too, so don’t use the boot as a storage space and carry around things you don’t need.

If you’re looking to make your driving more sustainable and make more environmentally conscious choices,choosing a ULEZ-compliant vehicle is a great start in coming up with a more eco-friendly transport solution. You can find a vehicle that aligns with your eco-conscious values, while enjoying the convenience of a car subscription,with Drive Fuze’s sustainable selection of ULEZ-compliant cars.

Drive Fuze: ULEZ-compliant car subscription services

With Drive Fuze’s innovative car subscription services, you won’t ever need to worry about finding a ULEZ-compliant vehicle for hassle-free and convenient city driving in London. As well as enjoying the benefits of driving an ULEZ-compliant car, you’ll also have the flexibility and convenience of being able to choose the duration, mileage and vehicle options that best suit your needs.

Our ULEZ-compliant subscription fleet includes the compact Tesla Model 3, widely considered the shining star in the EV market. Or perhaps you’re looking for something a bit more family friendly, in which case you can opt for the Kia Niro EV. Use the filter bar on the right of our browse vehicles page to show only ULEZ-compliant vehicles, knowing we’ve done the hard work of checking they’re compliant for you and that the cars you see all meet the necessary emission standards for driving within the ULEZ.

As well as being able to relax in the knowledge that you won’t be charged for entering the ULEZ, you’ll also enjoy hassle-free vehicle management with a Drive Fuze subscription, with no other unexpected charges. Your monthly subscription payment includes all your ongoing running costs, including maintenance, insurance, tax, tyres and roadside assistance, giving you a seamless and worry-free car subscription experience.

Making sure you’re ULEZ-compliant

Whether you’re a private individual or a business, ULEZ compliance is something you can’t afford to ignore. To avoid hefty daily charges, choose a vehicle that meets the required emissions standards and know that as well as reducing your own environmental impact, you’re also contributing to cleaner, healthier air quality for everyone – and all the benefits that come with that.

For an easy way to guarantee ULEZ compliance and enjoy a range of other great benefits, a flexible and convenient Drive Fuze car subscription is the way forward. For just a single monthly payment, you can look forward to hassle-free driving around London with no unexpected charges to contend with and all your running costs are taken care of.

Browse our ULEZ-compliant vehicles to get started, and feel free to reach out to us if you’re in need of any advice. You could have an ULEZ-compliant vehicle outside your house in as little as seven days!