London.
Half of countries researched operate the low emission zone (LEZ) all year-round including Austria, Belgium, Germany and UK (where they are known as ULEZ).
Airport Parking & Hotels (APH.com), award-winning airport parking operator, is helping travellers planning a European road trip this Summer avoid unwanted fines or penalty charges by comparing the new rules for driving in Low Emission Zones across eight of the most popular European cities. More than 200 cities across 15 countries now operate low emission zones (LEZ)*, restricting vehicles with higher emissions from entering unless a fee is paid, or the vehicle is pre-registered with the necessary authority.
APH.com’s research compares the rules, costs and paperwork required for driving in major European cities popular with UK holidaymakers, including Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Milan, Madrid and London.
Half of the countries research operate LEZ’s all year round, so drivers are advised to plan ahead and check the driving rules and regulations for their holiday destination or risk a fine, which can range from 45 euros (£38) in Madrid to a hefty 1,800 euros (£1,540) in Barcelona and 2,180 euros (£1,853) in Austria. Each of the eight cities researched regulate different vehicles with the environmental ‘Pickerl’ sticker in Austria currently only obligatory for N-category vehicles (such as vans, trucks and heavy trucks) whereas the Crit’air vignette in France can be divided into six categories and colours, depending on the year of registration, energy efficiency and vehicle emissions.
For those visiting Belgium, drivers are required to have a valid registration which is available free of charge for all cities. However, if the vehicle does not meet the access requirements for entering the low emission zone, motorists must also purchase a LEZ Day Pass or pay an admission fee with costs dependant on the city and type of vehicle. For those visiting Antwerp by car, the fines increase for each offence including 150 euros (£128) for the first offence, 250 euros (£213) for the second offence and 350 euros (£299) for further offences within 12 months so having the correct paperwork is a must.
In Germany, there is a national framework of low emission zones affecting all vehicles (except motorcycles), 24 hours a day with some cities, including Berlin, Stuttgart and Hamburg, imposing a zonal diving ban on vehicles not reaching a minimum diesel Euro 6 standard. A sticker must be purchased and displayed in the windscreen before driving into the zone, costing approximately 6 euros (£5).
For summer staycationers, the UK has 11 cities planning to introduce LEZ’s in 2022, including Manchester, Oxford, Bristol and Birmingham. Greater London also expanded its low emission zone in March 2021 beyond the city centre, requiring vehicles that don’t meet the emissions standards of Diesel Euro 3 and Diesel Euro 6 to pay a daily fee of £12.50.
Nick Caunter, Managing Director of Airport Parking and Hotels (APH.com) said, “An increasing number of European countries are introducing low emission zones across cities and towns in a bid to reduce congestion and air pollution. With more destinations joining the list, it’s important drivers are aware of the rules and regulations before arriving on holiday and we hope the APH research will help savvy drivers ensure they have the correct fees, certificate or sticker displayed for their vehicle.”
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
