Now while this will not affect modern VW California owners in the UK, it may affect you if you are travelling in Europe or have an older vehicle. In some areas it may even apply to passenger cars.
Therefore, if you are planning a motoring holiday in Europe it’s important to know where these Low Emission Zones are and what kinds of vehicle are affected, what emissions standards are required and whether registration is required or not.
Most zones affect only vans and lorries but some, including those in Germany and Italy, affect passenger cars too.
Low Emission Zones are also known as Environment Zones:
Umweltzonen (Germany)
Milieuzones (Netherlands)
Lavutslippssone (Norway)
Miljozone (Denmark)
Miljözon (Sweden)
Please check with the following website for updates and information
http://www.lowemissionzones.eu/
London
The London Low Emission Zone (LEZ) applies to an area (predominantly) inside the M25 motorway and is designed to improve air quality in the city by deterring the most polluting vehicles from entering. The LEZ came into force in 2008 and applies to many vehicles over 3.5 tonnes.
Vehicles most affected are large diesel vehicles, namely lorries, vans buses and anything derived from such vehicles, EG horseboxes, showman’s vehicles and motorhomes
LEZ is enforced using fixed and mobile cameras which read a vehicle’s number plate as it enters the zone. This is then be checked against a database of registered vehicles which meet the LEZ emissions standards, are exempt from the charge or are registered for a 100 per cent discount.
If your vehicle doesn’t meet the LEZ emission standards or qualify for an exemption or discount, you will have to pay the daily charge.
For vehicles registered in Great Britain (excluding Northern Ireland), this database is compiled using data from The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The Vehicle Operator Services agency (VOSA), The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and Drivers and operators who register directly with Transport for London.
If you are planning on living or entering London then it is a good idea to check that any vehicle is LEZ compliant.
