London ULEZ
The ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) runs across all of London, 24 hours a day. If your car, van or motorbike misses the standard, you pay £12.50 a day.
What's the ULEZ?
The ULEZ is an area where your vehicle has to meet an emission standard, or pay a charge each day. Vehicles give off fine particles and nitrogen oxides, and the zone aims to cut them. Since 29 August 2023, every London borough has been inside it; it began in central London on 8 April 2019.
- £12.50a day to drive in, unless your vehicle meets the rules
- 24 hoursit runs every day, but not on Christmas Day
- All of Londonevery borough, though the M25 itself is outside
- £180penalty if the day goes unpaid, or £90 when settled within 14 days
What the ULEZ requires by vehicle
| Vehicle | Standard it needs | Usually meets it |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol car | Euro 4 | Most petrol cars first registered in 2006 or later (many from 2001) |
| Diesel car | Euro 6 | Most diesel cars first registered in September 2015 or later |
| Hybrid car | Euro 4 if it's a petrol hybrid, Euro 6 for a diesel hybrid | A hybrid uses the same years as whichever engine it has, petrol or diesel |
| Petrol van | Euro 4 | Petrol vans registered from January 2006 |
| Diesel van | Euro 6 | Diesel vans sold new from September 2016 |
| Motorbike or moped | Euro 3 | Most motorbikes registered from July 2007 |
| Electric car | None: no exhaust | Always meets the rules |
These figures come from TfL.
Three dates for the ULEZ
| Date | Area covered |
|---|---|
| 8 April 2019 | Central London (the Congestion Charge zone) |
| 25 October 2021 | Inside the North and South Circular roads |
| 29 August 2023 | All of London |
These figures come from the London Datastore.
Who gets charged
Motorbikes below Euro 3, diesels below Euro 6 and petrol vehicles below Euro 4. Most diesels from September 2015 and most petrol cars from 2006 meet the standard, so those vehicles don't pay.
London ULEZ questions people often ask
What is ULEZ short for?
Ultra Low Emission Zone: a zone that charges vehicles daily unless an emission standard is met.
Where does the ULEZ apply in London?
All of them: every one of the 32 boroughs, plus the City of London.