London congestion zone - big changes, please read

Evilm

zagubov wrote: »

I'd recommend anyone thinking of converting should check this out before handing over their hard earned cash, particularly if avoiding the cc is a main aim of the switch.
Put me off the whole idea.

I think hubby looked into this and said it wouldn't be exempt either due to the engine size even though its now LPG.

For point of argument though LPG on his vehicle is saving us enough per month that we will have earned back the cost of the conversion within about 14 months so it can be worth doing if you have a good local supplier (who is currently about 10p/litre cheaper than shell etc) and drive a large number of miles a year. Just make sure you have a reliable car that you intend to keep for a long time to reap the benefits.

bigjl

Doozergirl wrote: »

Yes. Most of us don't live in London but I will buy the world's ugliest car so I can save about £30 a year on the CC. Some of us don't need to drive there often and the reduction for me now means we don't need to do it at all, I don't think.

Thanks OP for the heads up.

But if you don't live in London then why are you worried about the CC, which is in LONDON.

In a thread that is focussing purely on something that happens in London then I think you will find it will be more relevant to those that live in London and that most comments will be biased towards this outlook.

Though I can understand your frustration in being £6 worse off next year, what with all your trips to London, I am sure Boris is losing sleep over this, it was nothing more than traffic tax on a persons individual freedom, unusual for Red Ken, not.

It was never meant to reduce traffic, which is why when it actually reduced traffic at the beginning they made it more expensive and then made it cover bigger area.

Was there any reason, apart from being rude, to post this drivel, if you don't live in London and never want to drive in London then your opinion is not really relevant, I am sure the economy of London and TFL will survive without you.

bigjl

Evilm wrote: »

I think hubby looked into this and said it wouldn't be exempt either due to the engine size even though its now LPG.

For point of argument though LPG on his vehicle is saving us enough per month that we will have earned back the cost of the conversion within about 14 months so it can be worth doing if you have a good local supplier (who is currently about 10p/litre cheaper than shell etc) and drive a large number of miles a year. Just make sure you have a reliable car that you intend to keep for a long time to reap the benefits.

Yes that is correct there where a lot of rules regarding free CC for LPG cars, only certain cars qualified after conversion.

Most people just had their car licenced as a minicab, as that made it CC free, at one point there where several Porches and a few Aston Martins and Ferraris being used as "minicabs".

dacouch

I often drive an LPG conversion van for work, it's congestion charge free which saves the boss the congestion charge as he is London based and the LPG is about 60p a litre. It uses petrol to start up and for the first mile and then you switch to LPG, the vans are great to drive

Comstock

Just to make it clear, the LPG conversion discount is now closed to new entrants. Exisiting discount holders will keep their discount for two years, unless they sell their car.

Some older Priuses or other hybrids won't be exempt anymore either, again existing discount holders will keep their discount for two years.

The only cars now exempt are those emitting under 100g/km of CO2 and hitting Euro 5. Pretty much nothing pre 2009 hits that.


Bottom line: Don't convert your car to LPG or buy an already converted car with the hope of being C-charge exempt-you will be out of luck!

bigjl

I have looked into this, and I think the only Prius that used to be non exempt are some of the older Jap Import Prius, as the Prius was only granted examption from the date they started to sell it in the UK.

I am certain I read somewhere that an importer of jap cars got into hot water for advertising they where CC free when they were refused exemption when the new owner applied.

Thanks for reminded me of this as I may have inadvertently cost somebody money when suggesting a Prius and they bought one that was too old, though I am sure there is a specific date regarding exemption. I will try and find out and post it up, though I am sure it is either sometime in '99 or '00.

Comstock

bigjl wrote: »

I am sure there is a specific date regarding exemption. I will try and find out and post it up, though I am sure it is either sometime in '99 or '00.

It will be much later than that now. There is now no automatic exempt for hybrids. The only grounds for exemption are emitting less than 100g/km and hitting Euro 5 emission standards, which new Priuses happen to do- so new Toyota Priuses will be exempt for this reason.

The second to last page of this PDF http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/greener-vehicle-discount-application-form.pdf would appear to suggest no cars before September 2009 will qualify for C-charge exempt status, but it doesn't make clear exactly which models from late 2009 and 2010 qualify.


EDIT: after much playing with the VED calculator, the cut off date for the prius would appear to be May 2010- but I wouldn't place any faith at all on that.


Bottom line: Don't buy a second hand Prius hoping to gain congestion charge exempt status- you will almost certainly be out of luck, unless it is a very recent model. Brand new Priuses-if you are lucky enough to afford one- should be fine

bigjl

Ah, so they are actually changing the limit, they must have been fed up with all those people buying a Prius to get exemption, which reinforces my belief that is just a revenue raising exercise, as a Prius will do 50/55mpg round London all day long, will definately look into this closely, i know some people that have 7 or 8 yr old Pruis just to gain the exemption to drive to work in central london.

Comstock

By the way, I've got a long standing interest in transport and the environment, and in particular London Transport issues and even I find this confusing. I think it seems to be the case that...


If you are buying a new car, and it is exempt from road tax it is a good 'rule of thumb' to assume it will also be charge exempt. If you have an older car, you will keep your discount for two years then you will have to pay full whack.

Comstock

bigjl wrote: »

, i know some people that have 7 or 8 yr old Pruis just to gain the exemption to drive to work in central london.

And I think they have a nasty shock coming, although they should be OK for two years.