From 3 January 2012, the Low Emission Zone will be revised to tighten standards for existing vehicles and to cover more vehicle types to include larger vans, minibuses and specialist diesel vehicles.

The move, which is intended to help improve air quality, will quadruple the number of vehicles impacted by the Low Emission Zone from approximately 200,000 to nearly 800,000, including around 72,000 larger vans and minibuses.

Operators of such vehicles that do not meet the required emissions standards by 3 January 2012, and are driven within Greater London will have to pay a £100 daily charge or risk a £500 penalty.  

As part of the information campaign a new LEZ website has been launched – www.tfl.gov.uk/lezlondon – which includes a vehicle checker to enable owners to check whether their vehicle meets the emissions standards and provides advice on what steps they can take to do so. 

TfL says that in many cases, operators whose vehicles do not meet the new emissions standards will not need to purchase a new vehicle, but can fit an approved filter at a much lower cost to reduce polluting exhaust emissions. 

Nick Fairholme, TfL’s acting director of Congestion Charging and Traffic Enforcement, said: 'With the forthcoming changes to the Low Emission Zone taking effect from January 2012, operators have a year to take action to ensure they meet the new standards.

'TfL is working with operators and owners to make sure their vehicles meet the emissions standards rather than pay the daily charge.  Including these vehicles in the Low Emission Zone will deliver a significant reduction in the polluting emissions from vans and minibuses and forms part of a broader package of measures to further clean up the Capital’s air.'