London ULEZ Checker

The primary goal of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is to improve London's air quality by reducing the number of older, more polluting vehicles on the road. It aims to cut harmful emissions like nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM), which are linked to serious health issues.

 

By applying a daily charge to non-compliant vehicles, the scheme encourages drivers and businesses to switch to cleaner cars, vans, and motorcycles.

The ULEZ operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with the only exception being Christmas Day. A network of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras scans vehicles driven within the zone.

 

If a vehicle does not meet the required emissions standard and is not exempt, a £12.50 daily charge is due for that calendar day (midnight to midnight). It is important to note this charge applies per day, not for a 24-hour period from when you enter.

To be compliant, petrol cars must meet the Euro 4 nitrogen oxides (NOx) standard.

 

Generally, this includes most petrol cars first registered with the DVLA from January 2006, as this is when the standard became mandatory. However, some manufacturers met these standards earlier, so some cars registered between 2001 and 2005 may also be compliant.

Diesel cars have stricter requirements and must meet the Euro 6 standard for both nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM).

 

This generally applies to most diesel cars first registered from September 2015. A limited number of earlier models may also meet the Euro 6 standard, but this is less common.

Battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are zero-emission at the tailpipe, making them fully compliant and exempt from the ULEZ charge.

 

Hybrid vehicles are not automatically compliant; their eligibility depends on the engine type. Petrol-hybrids must meet Euro 4 standards, and diesel-hybrids must meet Euro 6 standards. Most modern hybrids meet these requirements.

A vehicle "meets the ULEZ standard" if its certified exhaust emissions are recorded as meeting the minimum Euro standard for its fuel type.

 

For cars and small vans, this is Euro 4 for petrol and Euro 6 for diesel. For motorcycles, it is Euro 3. The classification is based on the official emissions data held by the DVLA.

Imported vehicles can be ULEZ compliant if the owner provides official documentation (like a Certificate of Conformity) to TfL that proves the vehicle meets the required Euro emissions standard. For vehicles registered outside the UK, TfL typically defaults to cars newer than 2005 for Petrol and 2015 for Diesel as being ULEZ compliant.

 

Similarly, a vehicle retrofitted with technology certified by the Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS) can be made compliant. The data must be correctly registered with TfL to avoid the charge.

Vehicles that have the "historic vehicle" tax class with the DVLA are exempt from the ULEZ charge. This tax class is available for vehicles that are over 40 years old, operating on a rolling basis.

 

Additionally, all vehicles constructed before 1 January 1973 are exempt, regardless of their tax class. It is crucial to ensure your vehicle's tax class is correctly updated with the DVLA to qualify automatically.

If your vehicle is not compliant, you must pay the £12.50 daily charge each day you drive within the zone. Failure to pay on time results in a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) of £180 (reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days).

 

To avoid these ongoing costs, many owners choose to sell their vehicle, upgrade to a compliant model, or explore TfL's scrappage schemes if eligible. You can sell your car on consignment with Apany here: Sell my car

Yes, absolutely. We can help you navigate the process of selling your non-compliant vehicle, which is a popular choice for those looking to avoid daily charges and move into a modern, compliant car.

 

You can start a smooth sale or upgrade path here: Sell my car.

No, a driver’s address does not grant an exemption from the ULEZ charge. When the zone first launched and expanded, there were temporary "sunset periods" for residents, but these have now ended.

 

Compliance is determined solely by the vehicle's emissions standard, meaning residents with non-compliant vehicles must pay the daily charge just like any other driver.

Yes, several other cities across the UK have introduced their own Clean Air Zones (CAZ) or Low Emission Zones (LEZ) to tackle air pollution.

 

While they share a similar goal, the specific rules, vehicle classes affected, and charges can vary by city. Examples include schemes in Birmingham CAZ, Bristol CAZ, Glasgow, and Bath.