New LEZ standards could create surge in van rental

The government's new London Low Emission Zone (LEZ) standards, implemented from next year, could result in a surge in contract van hire, thefuelcardpeople.co.uk reports.

The new standards mean that older, polluting vehicles, vans, minibuses and some 4x4s could be slapped with high penalties when entering the capital.

The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) suggests that the most cost efficient way for businesses to continue to make occasional visits to London would be to hire a van or commercial vehicle.

It assumes that businesses that regularly make trips into the city will have been forced to either buy new vehicles or upgrade existing ones to meet the new standards, thus avoiding fines. It's those firms who make only occasional journeys that need to be careful.

"It might not make economic sense for them to buy a new vehicle or spend thousands of pounds on fitting a filter because of one or two trips to London," BVRLA chief executive, John Lewis told Fleet World.

"But they could hire a modern, Low Emission Zone-compliant van or truck for a fraction of the cost of paying the LEZ fee."

Transport for London has launched a national advertising campaign to ensure that affected businesses are aware of the changes and the charges. Owners of eligible vehicles will be required to meet the appropriate European standards for "particulate matter" or face daily fines of up to £200.