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Motorhome and campervan owners may be slapped with £2,000 fines for breaking a simple rule, according to a leading expert.
Max Schmidt, head of CamperDays, warns owners travelling around London could be in breach of emissions rules and hit with heavy fines.
Although caravans and motorhomes do not need to pay any ULEZ fees, many models will be liable under the Low Emissions Zone (LEZ) rules.
This scheme charges the most polluting heavy vehicles driving in London and is in operation 24 hours a day.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Schmidt said that motorists unaware of the scheme will be liable to pay heavy fees.
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He said: “Most vehicle types over 3.5 tonnes GVW (gross vehicle weight), including motorcaravans and campervans, do not need to pay the ULEZ charge, but will need to pay the separate London-wide LEZ charge if they do not meet the LEZ emissions standard.
“The LEZ emissions standard is based on the Euro 6 standard for Nitrous Oxide (NOx) and Particulate Matter (PM). Do ensure to check whether your vehicle or motorised caravan takes diesel or petrol, as petrol vans must meet the Euro 4 standard for NOx.
“Should you drive within the LEZ without meeting emissions standards or paying the appropriate daily charge, you run the risk of being issued a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) which could be as high as £2,000.”
According to Transport for London (TfL), drivers will need to pay £100 per day to enter the zone if their vehicle is over 3.5 tonnes. This rises to £300 if their model is weighed at over five tonnes. Motorists must pay the fees before midnight of the third charging day following the journey.
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Failure to pay a charge before the cut-off will result in motorists getting slapped with a Penalty Charge Notice.
This stands at a whopping £2,000 but drivers will only need to pay £1,000 if they cough up the money within 14 days.
Schmidt added: “Should your vehicle not be ULEZ compliant, there are caravan and motorhome storage facilities across the UK where you can house your vehicle from just £1.18 per day, with 24-hour CCTV and controlled access.
“And if campervan owners aren’t sure whether their van meets the emissions standards, they can input their vehicle’s registration number on Transport for London’s website to find out.”
Clean Air Zones have also been installed across other major cities such as Bath, Birmingham, Bristol and Sheffield but experts warn emissions standards and charges will dramatically vary.
According to the Camping and Caravanning Club, drivers without compatible vehicles may need a “degree off of travel planning”.
They said: “Not all CAZs are the same as the restrictions depend on the appropriate local authority’s requirements.
“The charges often vary depending on your vehicle and the enforcement method is automated via automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), charged by the day.”
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