ULEZ – Sadiq Khan announces expansion to London-wide areas from August 2023

Today 25th November 2022 the following was announced…

ULEZ to be expanded London-wide, Sadiq Khan announces
From 29 August 2023, drivers of the most polluting cars (Figaro) will have to pay £12.50 a day to enter the Greater London Authority boundary. The expansion of the zone has been strongly opposed by campaigners. But Sadiq Khan says it will mean five million more people will benefit from cleaner air. “The ULEZ so far has been transformational, reducing harmful pollution levels by almost a half in central London,” Mr Khan said. “But there is still far too much toxic air pollution permanently damaging the health of young Londoners and leading to thousands of early deaths every year, with the greatest number of deaths in the outer London boroughs.”

Under the current scheme, drivers are charged to enter London’s north and south-circular orbital roads but the charge is not applied across the capital.

This will be an additional cost of £4,562 a year if they use their Figaro every day. Even for those lucky enough to own a Figaro as a second car, this could work out at an additional cost of £1300 a year if they use the car on a Saturday or Sunday.

The introduction of the expansion has seen both a cancelling of club membership and a higher than normal level of cars go up for sale on our Figaro Trader site. We understand that many owners are holding on to their cars in the hope that something can be done further down the line.

It’s not just London
The push for low emissions zones & clean air zones is being reviewed by many cities around the UK including Leeds, Birmingham, bath and Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen. A good website to learn more about is the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs. Click here

What can be done?
According to Tobyn Brooks from The Figaro Shop, to make the Figaro there are two things that need to be addressed;

1 – The mechanical issue of emission compliance, requires an exhaust/catalytic converter to be fitted. That will bring the car into the correct emission bracket.

2 – The certification to ensure the car is tested and approved. We have managed to secure the manufacture of the parts. The testing is where the issues lie, although The Figaro Shop can be certified as an ‘approved fitter’ the car still has to be tested after the new parts are fitted.

There is also no standard report currently existing for Figaro. This means the first car tested has to have an extensive WLTP cycle examination in order for a report to be written.

Even after that, each car would require a detailed test. Costs from the official WLTP Cycle Test Run at Millbrook Test Station are currently very high with the first car tested costing circa £30,000 and tests after that running at around £500 per car, plus the specialist exhaust system.

How do I apply to Register my Figaro for ULEZ Exemption?
According to the government website. you can register a car for exemption but you will need to upload documents proving that your vehicle meets the required emissions standards (see above). Documents you need for proof are:

• A copy of the vehicle’s V5C or non-UK equivalent
• *Proof your vehicle meets the ULEZ standards: A letter from the vehicle manufacturer’s homologation department stating the vehicle’s Euro standard or a conformity certificate.*WE DO NOT FEEL THIS IS A VIABLE OPTION AS NISSAN WOULD NEED TO SEND A LETTER Read more

The club’s view
The bottom line is there appears to be a high up-front cost to make the car compliant which even at the time of writing could change. This cost would have to be spread across the owners affected who wish to contribute. Just how many owners would be willing to enter such a program without knowing the outcome cost is questionable? The reality is this type of problem can only be resolved with an economy of scale which unfortunately due to the size of the club and membership we do not have.

Figaro will be exempt by 2031!
To rub salt into the wound, cars built before 1 January 1980 will be unaffected by the new rules, and tax-exempt vehicles will be excluded on a rolling annual basis. However, it has been agreed that vehicles will be exempt on a 40-year rolling vehicle tax exemption, so by 2031 you can apply that the Figaro is 40 years old.

What is the ULEZ?
It stands for the Ultra Low Emission Zone and is currently in force in London UK

When was it introduced?
8th of April 2019 (Phase 1) and 25th October 2021 (Phase 2 – below)

What will it cost?
£12.50 per day 360 days of the year. Penalty charge: £160 (reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days).

Are there any exclusions?
Cars built before the 1st January 1978 are excluded so the vintage London to Brighton run will not be affected.

What are the criteria?
Generally speaking, petrol cars that meet the emissions standards are those registered after 2005 and of course, the Figaro was manufactured in 1991! However, some cars do meet the ULEZ standards which were made in 2000.

Will I receive a letter?
The letter below is a copy of what one of our members received in the summer of 2021

Is it possible to modify the Nissan Figaro so it is compliant with the new standards?
We have been working with UK Figaro Specialist The Figaro Shop on a possible modification to the car however because the Nissan Figaro has no standard report the cost is going to be very high. On the 6th February 2019, Founder Toby Brooks provided the following statement.

Where can I find out more
https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone
https://www.fbhvc.co.uk/emissions

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