APH.COM SIGNPOSTS NEW RULES FOR DRIVING THROUGH ‘LOW EMISSION ZONES’ (LEZs) IN POPULAR EUROPEAN CITIES

• 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)
• Fines or penalty charges for driving through low emission zones range from €45 (£38) in Spain to €2,180 (£1,863) in Austria
• 11 new low emission zones planned for the UK in 2022 including Manchester, Oxford and Bristol

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 is available at www.aph.com/lowemissionzones and 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 (£38) in Madrid to a hefty €1,800 (£1,540) in Barcelona and €2,180 (£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 (£128) for the first offence, €250 (£213) for the second offence and €350 (£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 (£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.”

For further information on Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) visit www.aph.com
or call 01342 859515.

ENDS
Notes to Editors:
• * https://www.confused.com/car-insurance/guides/low-emission-z... (February 2022)
• ** Larger vans and minibuses
• *** Buses, coaches over 5t; lorries and specialist heavy vehicles over 3.5t
• Exchange rate taken on 17 June 2020

About Airport Parking and Hotels (APH)
Established in 1980, Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) is an award-winning airport parking operator and retailer, winning the ‘Best Airport Parking Company’ award at the British Travel Awards 2020 for the eleventh year running. In addition to APH’s own car parks serving Gatwick and Manchester Airports, APH also offers parking at all major UK airports as well as airport hotels, airport lounges and via trusted partners other extras such as car hire and travel insurance. APH is a carbon-balanced company having worked closely with the World Land Trust for many years to off-set their carbon emissions and to help support rainforest conservation by protecting threatened forest habitats.

Media Enquiries
GEC PR|Sarah Salord|aph@gecpr.co.uk