Small change to help with the congestion charge bill

Small change to help with the congestion charge bill

London mayor Ken Livingstone is currently considering a proposal to introduce a new emissions-based charging regime that could make a huge difference to those driving the smallest and least-polluting cars.

The plan, which is due to come into force in February, could see the drivers of cars emitting 120g of CO2 per km or less, exempted from the £8 a day congestion charge.

Owners of cars including the Citroen C1 and a number of other small cars would for the first time find themselves able to drive into central London for free.

Until now, only drivers of hybrid, electric and LPG cars have managed to avoid the charge.

Having consulted on the scheme for most of the year, Guardian Money understands that the proposal is about to land on the mayor's desk where it will be given the final yes or no.

Clearly, if it gets the go-ahead, there will be a huge incentive to switch to a smaller car - particularly if you regularly drive into the charging zone, which was extended westwards into Kensington and Chelsea this year.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, Mr Livingstone is also considering introducing a £25-a-day charge for cars that emit more than 225g of CO2 per km.

Drivers of high-polluting sports cars and SUVs that fall into the new Band G for road.....continued below

Advertisement starts

Advertisement ends

Drivers of all other cars are expected to continue to pay the congestion charge at the current rate of £8 a day.

A spokesman for the mayor said: "Transport for London is due to present its findings shortly, at which point it will be up to the mayor to make his final decision. It's our intention that it should be made before the end of the year." One option would be to go ahead and introduce the exemption for the least polluting cars, while staying the £25 charge on those driving Bentleys and Range Rover Sports.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders is understood to have opposed the proposals. Green groups are all in favour, as they argue that anything that gets drivers out of big polluting cars and into the most environmentally-friendly models has to be a good thing.

Another area that is yet to be ironed out is how the drivers of cars that have been converted to run on LPG are to be treated. The consultation proposed removing their exemption on the basis that there was no guarantee that the car was running on the gas while being driven in the centre of London. For a full list of cars which emit less than 120g of CO2 per km, go to vcacarfueldata.org.uk

Fuelling interest in 46p a litre

If the prospect of cutting your annual fuel bill in half is attractive, you may want to consider a car that runs on liquefied petroleum gas - LPG.

While big on the continent, it has never really grabbed UK motorists, though many will start to take a keener interest when they discover it is just 46p a litre.