ULEZ charges

[richardw]

I have been looking into this today, as it looks like these zones are expanding across the country. It appears that if you have a car introduced before the introduction of Euro emissions standards it is exempt from ULEZ charges. Euro 1 was introduced in July 1992 I believe, which means that nearly all Excels (as well as all Elites and Eclats and many Esprits) should not be subject to the charge, as it is only levied on vehicles which have a Euro emissions standard.

One way to find out is to visit https://www.checkcardetails.co.uk/ and enter your registration number. The page that you see shows on the right hand panel that your vehicle is not ULEZ compliant. However if you click on ‘more chargeability check’ it should show that while the vehicle is liable for congestion charges, it is not liable for ULEZ charges.

Try it out with your car and see what you find!

Cheers, Richard

[MetBlue]

I suspect all Excels and earlier will show as not liable for ULEZ.
My Excel shows as 1992 build, but returns same results as Richard found. Lotus only built 15 cars after mine rolled off the line.
Tony

[Alan_M]

If I check my 87 SA on the site you list then it’s ULEZ free, but on TFL’s own site it is chargeable, and they’re the ones who control the charges.
The question is, why is there a discrepancy and who’s correct?

[Dcplug]

Interesting point for those of us in Scotland.

All Excels /Elites are now over 30 years old and are classed as “historic vehicles” and thus have national (Scottish) exemption from ULEZ fines. I checked this directly with the ULEZ introduction team and have an e mail to confirm.

In England your vehicle needs to be 40 yrs old to qualify as an historic vehicle. I’m guessing the difference is just part of the present Scottish regimes insistence on being different ( hence also ridiculous levels of fines for going into a ULEZ , rather than charging ).

[richardw]

If I check my 87 SA on the site you list then it’s ULEZ free, but on TFL’s own site it is chargeable, and they’re the ones who control the charges.
The question is, why is there a discrepancy and who’s correct?

I think the legalese is ‘legal but non conforming’ or some such…

Didn’t get much time to do more investigation at the weekend but will try this week.

Cheers, Richard

[rbgosling]

If I check my 87 SA on the site you list then it’s ULEZ free, but on TFL’s own site it is chargeable, and they’re the ones who control the charges.
The question is, why is there a discrepancy and who’s correct?

I've just done the same check, again my '90 Excel SE shows as chargeable for ULEZ, which doesn't surprise and, to be fair, makes sense (if you accept the basic premise of ULEZ!). That's why I use my wife's electric car when I visit my sister in Hampstead. As Alan said, I'd say gospel truth is defined by the organisation that levies, enforces and collects the payment!

[AndrewWebber]

My Elite comes up as 'exempt ULEZ'.

Andy

[Alan_M]

My Elite comes up as 'exempt ULEZ'.

Andy

It should do as historic vehicle over 40 years old.

All Elites and Eclat are exempt and very early Excels.

[chrisw2811]

I checked the site in the link and the TFL site. TFL says my 1986 'Eclat' (Eclat Excel) is ULEZ chargeable. It's not yet a historic vehicle but my 1980 Honda moped is and TFL claims it is ULEZ chargeable.

[AndrewWebber]

My Elite comes up as 'exempt ULEZ'.

Andy

It should do as historic vehicle over 40 years old.

All Elites and Eclat are exempt and very early Excels.

Yes all appears to work for my 'fleet', +2 and 'Europa' V8 also come up as exempt. 2005 S Type Jag V8 comes up as chargeable, so Elite will be getting some extra use for any future 'city runs' I think. Not sure which is actually cleanest.

[MalcolmH]

Just to put in my two-penn'th, I think in the original post Richard was mistaking - after clicking 'Further Chargeability' - the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) for the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).

The Low Emission Zone already exists in many areas of Greater London and parts of the inner Home Counties, and Excels are compliant. But for the Ultra (ULEZ) zone, which from 29th August expands to include these areas - including mine - our Excels won't be compliant. Until such time as they reach 40 years old, unless that legislation changes in the meantime.

I'm torn between selling, and keeping garaged except for runs out a couple of days a month (at £12.50 a time).

I paid ULEZ earlier this year. Was going, with my nephew, to the London Classic Car Show at Olympia. From my area, normally a no-brainer 30-minute train trip. But decided (the tickets having been a pressie from my daughters) to splash out and drive - as a sort of last hurrah - to the classic show in my classic! So I paid £27 to park at Olympia & the £12.50 ULEZ, Olympia already being in the zone. Plus, to make a day of it, decided to also pay the £15 Congestion charge, for a nostalgic drive home through the West End and the nighttime lights.

The last bit wasn't needed, as I discovered (which I hadn't known) that the Congestion charge only goes till 6pm at weekends. So we had a fantastic sunny morning drive in in the Excel, nice stop-off for breakfast, straightforward parking at Olympia, great day at the show, then at 6pm crossed into the Congestion zone. And have to say, that at 6-7pm on a Saturday evening, I've never SEEN so much congestion in London!! Everywhere was bumper-to-bumper, Olympia to Marble Arch (even using back-doubles to escape the stationary main routes) took 45 minutes, so many roads were closed-off to all but buses & cabs, and delivery bikes & mopeds were coming out of nowhere in every direction. So although years ago I loved driving through London, the West End part of this particular plan - the nighttime lights apart - was a NIGHTMARE! As well as a reminder how pathetic the Excel's horn sounds!!

So the congestion, they can keep it!! But sadly, we'll still be paying the charge for it in much less congested north Kent.

[TonyL]

You're not wrong about the horn. I've only had reason to use mine four or five times since I bought my Excel, in November, but each time it has resulted in a feeling if disappointment. It's a bit annoying that the button is recessed in the wheel, as well, so it requires some precision, rather than a quick-draw lean on the steering wheel, which is what I'm used to.

I hope you decide to keep your Excel, while it matures to 40 years old. It's better to have money in a beautiful car than the bank, even if you're not driving it.

[MalcolmH]

Thanks, Tony... am taking it to the Bromley Pageant this Sunday (massive one-day classic show, if you don't know it) & putting a detailed For Sale notice in the window. So will let the fates decide!

Win-win in my book. If someone expresses interest & ultimately buys it, I get a chunk of much-needed funds. If they don't, I get to keep the car! For continued & very pleasurable occasional use.

But yes, the fiddly, amusing barely-audible squeak of a horn is a foible. This Excel's my 6th since the mid-80's (albeit with a 20-year gap in between) and it's been the same on each - smile & cringe in equal measure. But you'll definitely need it these days if you venture into what I see as London!

Which isn't Bromley or Orpington. Despite what the London Mayor & messed-with boundaries through the years would have us think