ULEZ compliant cars
Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually pass ULEZ, and diesels registered from September 2015 usually do too. Electric cars always pass, and hybrids pass based on the engine they use.
The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in London
Most cars meet the rules if first registered from2006 (petrol) or Sept 2015 (diesel)Plenty of petrol cars built between 2001 and 2005 also meet the rules. Type your car's number plate, or the year it was first registered, to get your own answer. Any that don't meet the rules are charged £12.50 a day.
TfL's official vehicle checker reads the record held for your vehicle and gives the final answer.
Compare your vehicle across the UK's other zones
- London ULEZ£12.50 a day unless it meets the rules
- London lorry and large van zone (LEZ)Cars don't pay
- Birmingham£8 a day unless it meets the rules
- Bristol£9 a day unless it meets the rules
- BathCars don't pay
- BradfordCars don't pay
- SheffieldCars don't pay
- PortsmouthCars don't pay
- Newcastle and GatesheadCars don't pay
- Oxford£2 to £10 a day (electric cars don't pay)
- Glasgow£60 fine unless it meets the rules
- Edinburgh£60 fine unless it meets the rules
- Aberdeen£60 fine unless it meets the rules
- Dundee£60 fine unless it meets the rules
What does a car need to be ULEZ compliant?
A car's Euro standard decides it: that's the legal limit on exhaust pollution the engine was approved to. Petrol cars must have Euro 4 for London's ULEZ, and diesel cars must have Euro 6. Diesels release more nitrogen oxides, the gas the zone aims to cut, so Euro 6 is stricter for them.
A car's age is just a shortcut. The date a car was first registered shows the standard new cars had to meet then. That's why a 2007 petrol car is nearly always Euro 4. A few years early, some manufacturers were already meeting the next standard, which is why 2001 petrol cars often pass too.
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 |
| Electric car | None: no exhaust | Always meets the rules |
These figures come from TfL.
Petrol and diesel: the years that pass
Every row stands for a car first registered that year, in March. When a row says "Check the V5C", some cars of that year pass and others don't. Newer cars may list the Euro standard in the V5C logbook, section D.2, according to TfL. The final answer comes from TfL's vehicle checker.
| First registered | Petrol car | Diesel car |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 to 2000 | Usually fails | Usually fails |
| 2001 to 2005 | Check the V5C | Usually fails |
| 2006 to 2014 | Usually passes | Usually fails |
| 2015 | Usually passes | Check the V5C |
| 2016 onwards | Usually passes | Usually passes |
These figures come from TfL.
Cheap ULEZ compliant cars
Euro 4 petrol rules are much older than Euro 6 diesel ones, so the cheapest compliant cars are usually petrol models from the mid 2000s. For a fraction of the price of a 2016 diesel, you can get a small petrol hatchback built between 2006 and 2010 that meets it. A diesel you're buying should have a first registration from September 2015 onwards. Use TfL's vehicle checker on its plate before you hand over any money.
Compliant cars: common questions
Is a Vauxhall Corsa ULEZ compliant?
Nearly every petrol Corsa with first registration from 2006 is compliant, and so are many from 2001. Diesel Corsas need Euro 6, which usually means a first registration from September 2015 or later. To see your own answer, type its plate into the checker.
Do hybrid cars meet the ULEZ rules?
Hybrids are judged by their engine. Petrol hybrids need Euro 4, the same as any petrol car, while diesel hybrids need Euro 6.