Request ID: FOI-0260-2324 Date published: 23 May 2023
You asked
Can you please supply me with the information TFL has on the Fuel Type and Euro Status of cars within the following L.B. Hillingdon Postcode Districts HA4, HA5, HA6, UB3, UB4, UB7, UB8, UB9 and UB10?
It is widely believed that the DVLA is the TFL source for this data.
I quote from FOI request to TFL: FOI-1137-2223
Date published: 08 September 2022
‘For UK registered vehicles we predominantly use the information held by the DVLA to establish if a vehicle is compliant with the ULEZ emission standards.’
Unfortunately, when I contacted DVLA they reported that they have No Euro Status recorded for the majority of cars within these postcode areas.
If this is not the case, are there other databases that TFL uses?
Which database(s) do TFL use when checking the Fuel Type and Euro Status of vehicles travelling in the Congestion Charge, Low Emission Zone (LEZ) and Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) zones?
Which database(s) do TFL use when checking the Fuel Type and Euro Status of vehicles for the vehicle checker service?
Thank you
We answered
TfL Ref: 0260-2324
Thank you for your request received by us on 24 April 2023 asking for information about vehicle fuel types.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. You asked:
Can you please supply me with the information TFL has on the Fuel Type and Euro Status of cars within the following L.B. Hillingdon Postcode Districts HA4, HA5, HA6, UB3, UB4, UB7, UB8, UB9 and UB10?
It is widely believed that the DVLA is the TFL source for this data.
‘For UK registered vehicles we predominantly use the information held by the DVLA to establish if a vehicle is compliant with the ULEZ emission standards.’
Unfortunately, when I contacted DVLA they reported that they have No Euro Status recorded for the majority of cars within these postcode areas.
If this is not the case, are there other databases that TFL uses?
Which database(s) do TFL use when checking the Fuel Type and Euro Status of vehicles travelling in the Congestion Charge, Low Emission Zone (LEZ) and Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) zones?
Which database(s) do TFL use when checking the Fuel Type and Euro Status of vehicles for the vehicle checker service?
Petrol cars must be Euro 4 or have NOx emissions equal to, or less than, 0.08 grams per kilometre.
Diesel cars must be Euro 6 or have NOx emissions equal to, or less than, 0.08 grams per kilometre and Particulate Matter emissions equal to, or less than, 0.005 grams per kilometre
In order to establish whether a vehicle is compliant with the ULEZ or LEZ emission standards, we predominantly use the vehicle data held by the DVLA. In most cases we can establish a vehicle’s compliance status by the date it was first registered as new. For ULEZ, we know that all diesel cars first registered as new after 1 September 2015, and all petrol cars first registered as new after 1 January 2006 are automatically compliant with the ULEZ standards. This is because there was a legal requirement on manufacturers to produce vehicles to Euro 4 (petrol) and Euro 6 (diesel) standards as of those dates. Therefore, irrespective of whether the DVLA record emissions data or Euro standard, we can establish compliance status for most vehicles based on the date of first registration with the DVLA.
Using the data provided by the DVLA, we have developed a compliance database. This is not a live link to the DVLA data, rather a static list of vehicles which is refreshed with new updated DVLA data every month. By updating the list regularly, it ensures that any update to vehicle information held by the DVLA is reflected on our database. This information feeds into our online compliance checker and allows motorists to check the status of their vehicle.
We acknowledge that the information held by the DVLA may not always allow us to establish whether a vehicle is compliant, not least because there is no requirement for them to record a vehicle’s emissions. We therefore supplement the DVLA data with information from the Vehicle Certification Agency and information sourced from vehicle manufacturers.
We have also set up an enquiry service which allows motorists to contact us if they believe that the compliance details we hold are incorrect. This service allows them to provide information to us on their vehicle confirming it is complaint. Once received and verified, we update our records and mark the vehicle compliant. Such evidence could include a Certificate of Conformity from the vehicle manufacturer which specifically details the NOx and PM emissions of the vehicle.
The data we receive from the DVLA for the compliance checker does not include details of the keeper of the vehicle, or where it is registered. Therefore we do not hold any information on vehicles registered in Hillingdon.
The administration of the Congestion Charge is not based on vehicle emissions and therefore the database is not used to administer Congestion Charging.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely
Jasmine Howard FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
