London’s £10 T-Charge for drivers of the most polluting cars starts today to help clean up the lethal levels of air pollution afflicting the capital.

Motorists will pay a total of £21.50 per weekday to drive a pre-Euro 4 vehicle into central London. This charge is made up of the £10 Toxicity Charge (T-Charge) plus the £11.50 Congestion Charge (C-Charge).

Pre-Euro 4 vehicles are those registered before 2006 that are approximately over 12 years old, but Transport for London (TfL) advises anyone who has a car registered before 2008 to check if their vehicle is eligible for the charge.

It is estimated that up to 34,000 polluting vehicles every month could be liable for the T-Charge, which affects those that do not meet the Euro 4 standards for both PM and NOx emissions.

Filthy air is causing a public health crisis in the capital. Recent health data has shown 7.9 million Londoners — nearly 95% of the population – live in areas exceeding World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines on toxic air quality particles known as PM2.5.

PM2.5 causes 29,000 premature deaths in the UK every year.

Statistics from the British Heart Foundation reveal 81% of Londoners believe the current air pollution levels are putting their health at risk and over a third are put off running (37%) or cycling (38%) in the city because of the deadly air.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has launched the T-Charge in part to prepare Londoners for the early introduction of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone, which he is proposing to introduce as early as April 2019.

‘As Mayor I am determined to take urgent action to help clean up London’s lethal air,’ said Mayor Khan.

‘The shameful scale of the public health crisis London faces, with thousands of premature deaths caused by air pollution, must be addressed.’

‘This is the time to stand up and join the battle to clear the toxic air we are forced to breathe,’ the Mayor continued.

‘I am transforming our bus fleet, getting rid of the oldest polluting taxis and creating healthier streets that will leave a lasting legacy for our children.

‘But I can’t do this alone. I urgently need government to step up and face their responsibilities by delivering a diesel scrappage fund and a Cleaner Air Act that is fit for purpose.  

‘I also need Londoners to work with me so we can phase out the use of the dirtiest polluting vehicles from our roads.’