ULEZ compliant diesel cars
A diesel car must have Euro 6 to use London's ULEZ for free. If a diesel car was first registered from September 2015, it usually meets the standard.
The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in London
Most diesel cars meet the rules if first registered fromSept 2015Type 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
Which diesels meet the ULEZ rules?
When a diesel's engine satisfies Euro 6, the car counts as compliant. From September 2014, many new models were already meeting it, and every diesel car sold new had to comply once September 2015 arrived. Almost every diesel first registered from September 2015 passes, and one first registered a year earlier may pass.
For diesel, the tighter rule concerns nitrogen oxides, gases that diesel engines release in larger amounts. Most diesels registered from 2011 to 2015 are Euro 5, which fails the ULEZ standard, so you pay £12.50 a day.
What the ULEZ requires by vehicle
| Vehicle | Standard it needs | Usually meets it |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel car | Euro 6 | Most diesel cars first registered in September 2015 or later |
| Diesel van | Euro 6 | Diesel vans sold new from September 2016 |
These figures come from TfL.
The numbers on your plate and what they say
A plate's two numbers tell you when the car first went on the road. For example, a car with 14 on its plate was first registered between March and August 2014, and a car with 64 between September 2014 and February 2015. Type your plate and the checker works this out for you. A private plate, or one moved over from another car, can be older or newer than the car itself, so use the year in the logbook instead.
Every plate number and its date since September 2001
| Year | March to August | September to February |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Old style plate | 51 |
| 2002 | 02 | 52 |
| 2003 | 03 | 53 |
| 2004 | 04 | 54 |
| 2005 | 05 | 55 |
| 2006 | 06 | 56 |
| 2007 | 07 | 57 |
| 2008 | 08 | 58 |
| 2009 | 09 | 59 |
| 2010 | 10 | 60 |
| 2011 | 11 | 61 |
| 2012 | 12 | 62 |
| 2013 | 13 | 63 |
| 2014 | 14 | 64 |
| 2015 | 15 | 65 |
| 2016 | 16 | 66 |
| 2017 | 17 | 67 |
| 2018 | 18 | 68 |
| 2019 | 19 | 69 |
| 2020 | 20 | 70 |
| 2021 | 21 | 71 |
| 2022 | 22 | 72 |
| 2023 | 23 | 73 |
| 2024 | 24 | 74 |
| 2025 | 25 | 75 |
| 2026 | 26 | 76 |
Older plates, from before September 2001, begin with a letter that gives the age instead, like Y for 2001. The checker understands those as well, so just type one in.
These figures come from the DVLA.
How to know for sure about your diesel
Check box D.2 in your V5C logbook. According to TfL, newer cars may list it there. Euro 6 is what you want to see, sometimes shown as EURO 6b or something similar. If it's there, your car meets the ULEZ standard no matter what year it was registered. If you don't find it, ask the manufacturer, or use TfL's vehicle checker to confirm.
Diesel car questions people often ask
Do Euro 5 diesel cars meet the ULEZ rules?
No. Diesel cars must meet Euro 6 for the ULEZ. Inside the zone, a Euro 5 diesel is charged £12.50 each day.
Does a 2015 diesel pass the ULEZ check?
Diesels first registered from September 2015 are almost always Euro 6, so they're compliant. One first registered earlier in 2015 might be either Euro 5 or Euro 6, and TfL's vehicle checker can confirm yours.
Is it possible to convert my diesel car to Euro 6?
No approved retrofit exists to bring a diesel car to Euro 6 for the ULEZ. Some buses, lorries and black cabs are covered by retrofits; private cars are not.