Unexpected ULEZ Charge for imported cars
Discussion
Hi all, I have just received a letter from the DVLA informing me my car (2002 DC5 Integra Type R) is non-ULEZ compliant. Puzzled, I checked it and sure enough it comes up as non-compliant. This is because there isn't any EU emissions data at time of first registration due to it being an import. I've checked both a 2002 EP3 Civic Type R and S2000 and they are both compliant.
After a bit of digging , there is something on the ULEZ site that links me to 'register my car' with something called EPC Plc, Euro Parking company or something, looks dodgy but I'm guessing is legit. It asks you to fill in what your car is etc then asks to upload a photo of you logbook for emissions proof, but my logbook is blank where the emissions are. Has anyone else got a letter or checked their (I'm guessing mostly Jap or USA) imports for ULEZ compliance? I don't know how to rectify this, as the car should clearly meet the requirements to go into the ULEZ zone.
After a bit of digging , there is something on the ULEZ site that links me to 'register my car' with something called EPC Plc, Euro Parking company or something, looks dodgy but I'm guessing is legit. It asks you to fill in what your car is etc then asks to upload a photo of you logbook for emissions proof, but my logbook is blank where the emissions are. Has anyone else got a letter or checked their (I'm guessing mostly Jap or USA) imports for ULEZ compliance? I don't know how to rectify this, as the car should clearly meet the requirements to go into the ULEZ zone.
Hmm, it might be tricky for a car that has never had EU homologation. Were Type R Integras ever imported officially anywhere in Europe?
If not, you might be stuffed if Honda UK can't issue a certificate of conformity showing the NOx emissions figure. A CoC is the only way to get the ULEZ exemption.
If not, you might be stuffed if Honda UK can't issue a certificate of conformity showing the NOx emissions figure. A CoC is the only way to get the ULEZ exemption.
No, the DC5 was never officially imported to Europe. I've tried googling car emissions testing but it doesn't really come back with anything useful. I'm kind of at a loss with where to go with this, TFL website is beyond useless if you believe your car should pass the emissions, but doesn't due to being not originally registered in the UK.
TFL will do nothing unless you can get proof from Honda that your car meets the ULEZ requirements. You need to contact Honda to ask if they can provide anything about your vehicle's NOx emissions. But they might not be able to given that the car is an import.
From what I've heard the emissions testing path is for motorbikes only - no cars.
Just because other Hondas satisfy ULEZ doesn't mean DC5 Type Rs were tuned by Honda to meet the Euro 4 NOx limits (but there's a good chance they do).
From what I've heard the emissions testing path is for motorbikes only - no cars.
Just because other Hondas satisfy ULEZ doesn't mean DC5 Type Rs were tuned by Honda to meet the Euro 4 NOx limits (but there's a good chance they do).
Speed Badger said:
I don't know how to rectify this, as the car should clearly meet the requirements to go into the ULEZ zone.
The ULEZ requirement is <80 mg/km of NOx emitted. This became the legal limit for petrol cars in Europe from 1 Jan 2006.It's not obvious that a car sold four years prior to that on the other side of the world would 'clearly' meet the ULEZ requirements.
Although there are (and were in '02) emission standards in Japan, their test cycle was different from that used in Europe (with a lower average speed), so a value achieved in the JDM test doesn't mean it would emit the same amount in ours.
I guess that no DC5 Integra has ever been tested on the Euro 4 test cycle, so it's not possible to know its NOx emissions without doing so, at a cost which would far outweigh paying £12.50 a day.
The policy for Japanese imports is purely date-based, so petrol cars first registered from 1 Jan 2006 are exempt, those before have to pay.
NomduJour said:
Hoofy said:
You could also get the car tested for emissions. I gave up trying to find out how (plenty of centres for motorcycles but none for cars that I could find quickly). (MOT centres don't do this.)
You can’t, practically.Millbrook, Mahle, and MIRA should all be able to do it.
NomduJour said:
blank said:
You can, it's just expensive. Around £1k I'd guess.
Millbrook, Mahle, and MIRA should all be able to do it.
Let us know how you get on with TfL after spending your £1k. Millbrook, Mahle, and MIRA should all be able to do it.
Are you suggesting if you get a car tested and the V5 updated with Euro 4 compliance then TfL won't accept it?
You can order a CoC from Eurocert and forward it to TFL who should update the car’s record to show as ULEZ compliant.
Going by the above table it seems every petrol car built in Japan from 2000-2005 would have a NOx limit of 0.080g / km (same as the ULEZ threshold).
Going by the above table it seems every petrol car built in Japan from 2000-2005 would have a NOx limit of 0.080g / km (same as the ULEZ threshold).
Edited by FlammableTulip on Saturday 2nd September 04:38
FlammableTulip said:
You can order a CoC from Eurocert and forward it to TFL who should update the car’s record to show as ULEZ compliant.
Going by the above table it seems every petrol car built in Japan from 2000-2005 would have a NOx limit of 0.080g / km (same as the ULEZ threshold).
You would think so at first glance, yes. However the test cycle differs between the two standards, even if the emissions threshold is the same.Going by the above table it seems every petrol car built in Japan from 2000-2005 would have a NOx limit of 0.080g / km (same as the ULEZ threshold).
Japan's 10-15 mode cycle (speed/time):
https://dieselnet.com/standards/cycles/jp_10-15mod...
note the car never exceeds 45mph
EU's ECE and EUDC (extra-urban) cycles, which are combined for Euro testing:
https://dieselnet.com/standards/cycles/ece_eudc.ph...
note max speed 75mph
So the fact a car emits no more than 0.08 g/km of NOx in the Japanese cycle doesn't prove that it necessarily won't exceed that on the EUDC one, given higher engine loads and temperatures.
I suspect that if someone tested a 2002 Honda according to Euro 4 it would likely pass, but until someone documents doing so, it seems hard to construct an argument that it would certainly be compliant with the Euro 4 NOx limit and thus ULEZ.
samoht said:
FlammableTulip said:
You can order a CoC from Eurocert and forward it to TFL who should update the car’s record to show as ULEZ compliant.
Going by the above table it seems every petrol car built in Japan from 2000-2005 would have a NOx limit of 0.080g / km (same as the ULEZ threshold).
You would think so at first glance, yes. However the test cycle differs between the two standards, even if the emissions threshold is the same.Going by the above table it seems every petrol car built in Japan from 2000-2005 would have a NOx limit of 0.080g / km (same as the ULEZ threshold).
Japan's 10-15 mode cycle (speed/time):
https://dieselnet.com/standards/cycles/jp_10-15mod...
note the car never exceeds 45mph
EU's ECE and EUDC (extra-urban) cycles, which are combined for Euro testing:
https://dieselnet.com/standards/cycles/ece_eudc.ph...
note max speed 75mph
So the fact a car emits no more than 0.08 g/km of NOx in the Japanese cycle doesn't prove that it necessarily won't exceed that on the EUDC one, given higher engine loads and temperatures.
I suspect that if someone tested a 2002 Honda according to Euro 4 it would likely pass, but until someone documents doing so, it seems hard to construct an argument that it would certainly be compliant with the Euro 4 NOx limit and thus ULEZ.
Saleen836 said:
My American import is ULEZ complient so no charge for me to drive around the city in a V8 
Sorry to drag your quote up here from last month, but I found the below while browsing AT and did a search of Pistonheads to try and see how this was even possible (there is a letter from TFL at the end):https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307149...
I'm guessing yours is compliant for the same reason?
Not looking at buying this car, was just trying to find the most interesting ULEZ stuff i could
Berger 3rd said:
Saleen836 said:
My American import is ULEZ complient so no charge for me to drive around the city in a V8
Sorry to drag your quote up here from last month, but I found the below while browsing AT and did a search of Pistonheads to try and see how this was even possible (there is a letter from TFL at the end):https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307149...
I'm guessing yours is compliant for the same reason?
Not looking at buying this car, was just trying to find the most interesting ULEZ stuff i could
OK im new to this ULEZ stuff but I believe my petrol car may meet Euro 4 emissions which i think would make it exempt from ULEZ?
Car in question 2000 Dodge Viper (not Chrysler) import. Now on the Original V5 log book(blue and green) on the front cover is a section saying "special Notes" It said "Was registered overseas."
The vehicle had to have an approved SVA test when it arrived in the country and the emissions were registered as % CO 0.5; 0.3FI HC 0.02FI: LAMBDA 0.97-103.
Inside the cover of the log book there are no other details registered in the emissions area on page 2.
Then we were issued with the new log books Red and Blue, All is says is SVA cert issued 17/04/2008 and no mention of any of the C02 results!
I have asked Dodge USA for a cert of conformity but all they have sent me is a build sheet for my vin number stating it meets emissions in 50 states, but it does not tell me the figures?
Car in question 2000 Dodge Viper (not Chrysler) import. Now on the Original V5 log book(blue and green) on the front cover is a section saying "special Notes" It said "Was registered overseas."
The vehicle had to have an approved SVA test when it arrived in the country and the emissions were registered as % CO 0.5; 0.3FI HC 0.02FI: LAMBDA 0.97-103.
Inside the cover of the log book there are no other details registered in the emissions area on page 2.
Then we were issued with the new log books Red and Blue, All is says is SVA cert issued 17/04/2008 and no mention of any of the C02 results!
I have asked Dodge USA for a cert of conformity but all they have sent me is a build sheet for my vin number stating it meets emissions in 50 states, but it does not tell me the figures?
Edited by fatboy18 on Monday 25th March 19:55
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