ULEZ hours
London's ULEZ operates 24 hours a day, every day except Christmas Day (25 December). When your car, van or motorbike falls short of the standard, each day you drive in costs £12.50. Nights, weekends and bank holidays all count.
Is ULEZ 24 hours?
Yes. ULEZ stands for Ultra Low Emission Zone, and it's a charge aimed at older vehicles that produce more pollution. TfL's own page confirms the zone runs nonstop, with 25 December the only day off.
So waiting until late at night won't save you anything, because the charge is the same £12.50 whatever time you drive.
ULEZ hours and Congestion Charge hours
| ULEZ | Congestion Charge | |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | 24 hours | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Saturday and Sunday | 24 hours | 12:00 to 18:00 |
| Bank holidays | 24 hours | 12:00 to 18:00 |
| Christmas Day | No charge | No charge |
| 26 December to New Year's Day | 24 hours | No charge |
These figures come from TfL.
ULEZ times compared with the Congestion Charge
The ULEZ and the Congestion Charge often get confused with each other. The Congestion Charge is a different daily fee for driving in central London, and it runs only during fixed hours. You might have to pay both on the same trip, so it helps to know when each one applies.
| Day | ULEZ | Congestion Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | All day and night | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Weekends | All day and night | 12:00 to 18:00 |
| Bank holidays | All day and night | 12:00 to 18:00 |
| Christmas Day | Free | Free |
| Boxing Day through to the New Year's Day bank holiday | All day and night | Free |
The Congestion Charge costs £18 a day when you pay on the day or in advance, or £21 when you pay up to three days later. Meeting the ULEZ standard does not mean you avoid the separate Congestion Charge.
ULEZ at weekends
Weekend days work just like weekdays, and a vehicle below the standard still pays £12.50 a day.
There are no free hours at weekends.
Is ULEZ charged on bank holidays?
Yes, ULEZ runs for 24 hours on bank holidays too, except Christmas Day. That covers the Easter break, the May bank holidays, the late summer holiday in August, plus Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
ULEZ on Christmas Day
There's no ULEZ charge at all on 25 December. That day you can take a non-compliant vehicle anywhere inside the zone for free.
The charge resumes on Boxing Day, 26 December, and applies every day until the next Christmas Day.
How do daily payments work?
The charge is per day, not per journey. Driving in and out a few times on one day still counts as a single £12.50.
Payment is due by midnight on the third day after you travel.
Questions people ask
What happens if I pay ULEZ late?
If you miss the deadline, TfL will send you a fine, called a penalty charge notice. TfL sets it at £180, halved to £90 when you pay within 14 days. You're given 28 days to pay or contest it, and beyond that it climbs to £270.
Can I pay ULEZ in advance?
You can. Payment can be made up to 90 days ahead, which helps when you already know which days you'll be driving in.
Where does the ULEZ cover?
The zone takes in every one of the 32 London boroughs plus the City of London, though the M25 itself isn't included. London-wide coverage began on 29 August 2023.
Will my car be charged ULEZ?
You normally need to pay if your car does not meet the emissions standard, unless it qualifies for an exemption. Petrol cars first registered from 2006 mostly pass, and plenty from 2001 pass as well. Diesel cars first registered from September 2015 mostly pass, while fully electric cars always comply. To be sure, use the official TfL checker, which looks up your vehicle's record and gives you a clear answer.
Do other clean air zones run the same hours?
Most of them do. Cities such as Birmingham, Bristol, Bath, Bradford, Sheffield, Portsmouth, and Newcastle with Gateshead each operate around the clock, all year. Oxford's zero emission zone works differently, charging only between 7am and 7pm.