Poor air quality is one of the biggest health threats for people worldwide, even more so in busy cities like London. Being a metropolitan city, London is home to countless vehicles and citizens see severe traffic congestion on a daily basis. Transport for London is constantly introducing initiatives to combat these issues and improve air quality in London, such as through the new emission standards. If you drive a PCO car in London or are planning to do so this year, the changes in TfL’s emission standards will affect you too.

The experts at PCO car hire in London have explained everything you need to know about these standards.

Ultra-Low Emission Zone—An Overview

Polluting vehicles are the primary cause of poor air quality and traffic congestion in London. Therefore, Transport for London introduced an Ultra Low Emission Zone in all areas with the most traffic and charged a daily fee to discourage people from using these areas. To enter this zone, drivers of non-emission-compliant cars pay a £12.50 fee, known as the ULEZ charge.

ULEZ charges apply 24/7, all year long, except on Christmas Day. You get three days to pay this charge, and failure to pay it results in a penalty of £160. The penalty charges are reduced by 50% if you pay within the first 14 days.

The ultimate goal behind ULEZ is to reduce emissions from London, which exceed safe levels due to increased traffic. Besides congestion and pollution, these emissions also contribute to health risks and climate change. 

ULEZ Expansion in 2024

Initially, ULEZ only covered central and inner London to reduce congestion from high-traffic areas and reduce the number of polluting vehicles. These changes brought many positive results, and the air quality was massively improved. Therefore, the London Mayor decided to expand ULEZ to outer London.

The initial proposals for this expansion were announced in early 2022, followed by five months of public consultation. These announcements brought many conflicts, especially from the private hire industry, as they are required to pay these charges. 60% of the respondents didn’t want the government to expand ULEZ. However, the Mayor still decided to go ahead with this decision due to the alarming consequences of pollution in London.

From November 29, 2023, all London boroughs will require a ULEZ charge for non-emission-compliant vehicles.

Emission Standards

Transport of London has defined emission standards for different vehicle categories. To enter a ULEZ, you don’t only need to pay the charge but also need to ensure your vehicle meets the minimum Euro emission standards. Those standards are listed below:

• Petrol vehicles, including minibusses, vans, etc., need to meet Euro 4 (NOx) emission standards to enter a ULEZ
• Diesel vehicles need to meet Euro 6 (NOx and PM) standards
• Hybrid petrol cars and diesel cars must meet Euro 4 and 6 standards, respectively

You can enter your car’s registration number into the TfL ULEZ Checker to check your vehicle’s compliance.

What Happens if Your Car Isn’t Compliant?

Most vehicles in London are already ULEZ-compliant, so it’s rare to own a car that doesn’t meet the Euro 4 or Euro 6 emission standards. However, if your vehicle isn’t compliant and you enter an ultra-low emission zone, TfL will send you a penalty charge notice (PCN) of £160, and you also have to pay the standard ULEZ charge.

Full electric vehicles are exempt from paying the ULEZ charge. This is why most PCO drivers are switching to electric cars to avoid paying the ULEZ charge and comply with increasing TfL regulations.

Other Emission Standards to Consider

From 1^st January 2023, and onwards, TfL will only offer a PHV licence if a car is ZEC and meets the Euro 6 emission standards. So if you’re planning to buy a car (new or used) for a rideshare platform, you need to make sure it is zero emission capable (ZEC) and meets the Euro 6 standards.

This rule only applies to vehicles that need a PHV licence for the first time in London. If your vehicle is already licenced, you don’t have to worry about these changes.

ZEC Vehicle

The zero-emission capable vehicles are the ones that:

• emit less than 50g/km carbon dioxide gases and can ride up to 10 miles without exhaust emissions
• or emit less than 75g/km carbon dioxide gases and can ride without emissions for at least 20 miles

You can also avoid this hassle by renting a PCO car instead of buying it. PCO rentals take care of all licence requirements and make sure their cars comply with the latest requirements.

Watch this: Best PCO Cars in London – A Car Comparison

Benefits of Renting an Electric Vehicle for PCO

Driving an electric car for PCO comes with many benefits. A fully electric vehicle poses no harm to the air quality in London. You don’t have to worry about the changing TfL policies because most of them are aimed at petrol and diesel vehicles. In addition, the government offers various incentives and grants to electric car drivers.

As a PCO driver, you also have to pay the Congestion Charge along with the ULEZ if your car is non-emission-compliant. With an EV, you can avoid paying both charges. Renting a car for PCO also liberates you from a long-term commitment, and you can swap your car with a newer model if required.

These cars are also technologically advanced and offer seamless rides. This attracts more passengers and ultimately boosts your earnings. Read more benefits here.

Rent a Brand New Electric Car from G&M Direct Hire

If you want to reduce your carbon footprint and comply with London’s environmental laws, rent an electric car from G&M Direct Hire. They offer brand-new, licenced cars that are approved by Uber and other rideshare platforms. Working with them allows you to get on the road and start earning within a few days.

With over 13 years of experience offering PCO car hire services, G&M Direct Hire has helped over 3,000 drivers in London. You can get the latest PCO cars for rent, like the Kia e Niro PCO and the Mustang Mach E. They also have hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius Plug-in. Contact them to get started.