LONDON — Driving an old diesel car in London has just gotten a lot more expensive.

Starting on Monday, drivers in the center of the British capital whose cars do not meet European Union emissions standards had to pay an additional daily penalty. The change comes amid a Europe-wide backlash against diesel in the wake of a scandal in which several major carmakers, particularly Volkswagen, secretly cut corners on environmental standards.

The new charge primarily affects drivers of older diesel-powered vehicles, and it is in addition to the city’s longstanding congestion charge in which most vehicles are assessed a daily fee to enter central London during busy weekday hours.

City officials said the toxicity levy, known as the T-Charge, was intended to improve air quality. But it may also hasten the already precipitous decline in the sale of cars powered by diesel, once the fuel of choice in Europe.

Affected drivers are charged 10 pounds, or $13.20, per day to drive in the city center. That is on top of the congestion charge, which was put in place in 2003 and is now £11.50 per day. That means it now costs £21.50, or almost $30, for them to drive in the city center.