BVRLA calls for vans to be exempt from Congestion Charge
Last week, The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association - the UK trade body for companies engaged in the leasing and rental of cars and commercial vehicles, welcomed news that Transport for London wants to make its emissions-based Congestion Charge discount technology neutral and available to vans. However, it believes that the new emissions threshold of 75g/km CO2 has been set too low and is merely a revenue-raising exercise.
For those who do not drive greener low emissions vehicles and are not eligible for a discount or exemption will have to pay the £10 daily Congestion Charge, which was introduced in February 2003 and is a fee charged on all applicable motor vehicles operating within the Congestion Charge Zone (CCZ) in central London. Currently, light commercial vehicles under 3500kg gross vehicle weight (category N1) are not eligible for the greener vehicle discount.
“Adopting a technology neutral stance will bring the Congestion Charge in line with the Plug-in Car Grant and other fiscal incentives like Benefit-in-Kind Tax,” said BVRLA chief executive, John Lewis. A technology neutral approach is something we have been lobbying on for some time, in addition to the need to offer van operators a low-carbon incentive.”
The changes are introduced as part of TfL’s plans for a new Ultra-Low Emission Discount, which would come into effect on 1st July 2013, replacing the old Electric and Greener Vehicle Discounts. The emissions threshold for the discount will be tightened from 100 to 75g/km CO2, with affected drivers given a two-year ‘sunset period’ before losing their entitlement. TfL’s plans were outlined in a new consultation document which is open until 8th February.
The BVRLA will be responding with the points listed above, and will also re-iterate its calls for rental cars and vans to be exempted from the Congestion Charge.
For more information on this and other BVRLA campaigns, please click here.
For those who do not drive greener low emissions vehicles and are not eligible for a discount or exemption will have to pay the £10 daily Congestion Charge, which was introduced in February 2003 and is a fee charged on all applicable motor vehicles operating within the Congestion Charge Zone (CCZ) in central London. Currently, light commercial vehicles under 3500kg gross vehicle weight (category N1) are not eligible for the greener vehicle discount.
“Adopting a technology neutral stance will bring the Congestion Charge in line with the Plug-in Car Grant and other fiscal incentives like Benefit-in-Kind Tax,” said BVRLA chief executive, John Lewis. A technology neutral approach is something we have been lobbying on for some time, in addition to the need to offer van operators a low-carbon incentive.”
The changes are introduced as part of TfL’s plans for a new Ultra-Low Emission Discount, which would come into effect on 1st July 2013, replacing the old Electric and Greener Vehicle Discounts. The emissions threshold for the discount will be tightened from 100 to 75g/km CO2, with affected drivers given a two-year ‘sunset period’ before losing their entitlement. TfL’s plans were outlined in a new consultation document which is open until 8th February.
The BVRLA will be responding with the points listed above, and will also re-iterate its calls for rental cars and vans to be exempted from the Congestion Charge.
For more information on this and other BVRLA campaigns, please click here.
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