Sadiq Khan's ULEZ expansion is 'appalling' says Norris
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Gary Wilson, head of the Historic and Classic Vehicle Alliance (HCVA) said owners would “not hugely contribute to negative air quality” if they used their classic cars at certain times of the day. He said London ULEZ charges should be looked at on a “time-constraint basis” to ensure some leeway was given to motorists.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, he said: “There are several things, there is a lot of confusion.
“If it is about particulates and the general air quality issue, clearly focussing on the heavy diesel vehicles is the most critical.
“Therefore, it is not about revenue generation, it is really focussed on emissions.
“Then, surely, these people can drive their vehicles in the evenings and on weekends.
“If you’ve got a 1989 MG Montego and you want to drive it to a club meeting in the evening, after say 7 o’clock or at the weekend, why should you be getting [charged].
“There’s no kids in schools, you’re not hugely contributing to the negative air quality.
“An immediate thing that could be done is looking at it on a time constraint basis.”
Classic cars older than 40 years are exempt from paying any ULEZ or Congestion Charge fees.
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Head – Classic car owners should not face ULEZ fees in the evenings and weekends, urges campaigners
Head 2 – Car tax changes: Classic car owners should not pay ULEZ fees in evenings and weekends
Head 3 – Classic car owners should not pay some car tax fees as they are ‘not contributing to negative air quality’
Meta – Car tax changes: Classic car owners should not pay London ULEZ fees in evenings and weekends
Short – Classic car owners should not face some car tax fees
Url – car tax changes classic car owners london ulez
CLASSIC CAR owners should not be issued London Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) car tax fees in the evenings and weekends, according to campaigners.
Gary Wilson, head of the Historic and Classic Vehicle Alliance (HCVA) said owners would “not hugely contribute to negative air quality” if they used their cars at certain times of the day.
He said charges should be looked at on a “time-constraint basis” to ensure some leeway was given to motorists.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, he said: “There are several things, there is a lot of confusion.
“If it is about particulates and the general air quality issue, clearly focussing on the heavy diesel vehicles is the most critical.
“Therefore, it is not about revenue generation, it is really focussed on emissions.
“Then, surely, these people can drive their vehicles in the evenings and on weekends.
“If you’ve got a 1989 MG Montego and you want to drive it to a club meeting in the evening, after say 7 o’clock or at the weekend, why should you be getting [punished].
“There’s no kids in schools, you’re not hugely contributing to the negative air quality.
“An immediate thing that could be done is looking at it on a time constraint basis.”
Classic cars older than 40 years are exempt from paying any ULEZ or Congestion Charge fees.
However, vehicles manufactured after 1982 still need to pay the charges.
Unlike the Congestion Zone which has set end times in the evenings, London’s ULEZ runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Even drivers who make a short trip inside the charging area must pay a £12.50 per day fee.
This includes residents of those who live inside the charging zone which stretches between the North and South Circular.
Data from a report for the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) has previously shown classic car owners only travel around 1,200 miles per year.
In comparison, the average UK car mileage stands at around 7,200.
The report also found classic cars are driven just 16 times a year.
A CEBR report for HERO-ERA found classic cars produce around 563kg CO2 per annum.
In comparison, they warn computers use around 1,400kg of CO2 per annum, while mobile phones generate 1,250kg CO2 per annum.
The HCVA says this means driving a classic is around 20 percent of the emissions of using a mobile phone and a computer for a year.
Classic car insurance experts at Hagerty have previously warned driving a non-compliant car just once a week could see drivers face a bill of £650.
Using a vehicle for five days a week means total fees will rise above £3,000.
Some Londoners have previously admitted to Hagerty they were looking at selling their vehicles as a result of the changes.
Michael Griffin was just one resident who was looking at selling his car last year despite meticulously maintaining the model for years.
He said: “Many people like me are in a real predicament because it doesn’t matter how well you service your car, it doesn’t matter how many thousands of pounds you might have spent on it.
“No matter how poor you are, or if you’re disabled, the green agenda is all that matters.”
However, vehicles manufactured after 1982 still need to pay the charges.
Unlike the Congestion Zone which has set end times in the evenings, London’s ULEZ runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Even drivers who make a short trip inside the charging area must pay a £12.50 per day fee.
This includes residents of those who live inside the charging zone which stretches between the North and South Circular.
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