Ultra Low Emission Zone ULEZ FAQs (2024)

FAQs

What questions to ask about ULEZ? ›

Top questions

Is there help available for people and organisations who may be affected by ULEZ? What evidence shows that air pollution is a problem in outer London? What will happen to the money raised by the ULEZ? Why have you expanded the ULEZ?

To prove your vehicle meets the ULEZ standards:

A letter from the vehicle manufacturer's hom*ologation department stating the vehicle's Euro standard or a conformity certificate.

The ULEZ is highly effective in taking the oldest, most polluting vehicles off the roads with nearly 80,000 fewer driving in London since this June alone, and a 56 percentage point increase in vehicles meeting the standards since 2017.

About the ULEZ

The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is improving London's air quality, benefiting public health and helping to combat climate change. The ULEZ is the largest clean air zone in the world. It covers every borough of London, helping the capital's nine million residents breathe cleaner air.

Disadvantages of the ULEZ expansion:

Lower-income individuals could be hit the hardest - Not everyone will be able to afford to buy a new vehicle, even with a grant, which may mean they can't switch to a ULEZ compliant car. Therefore, they will have to pay the daily fine.

If your vehicle was made after September 2015, there's a good chance it's Euro 6 compliant and therefore able to drive in London's ULEZ for free. You may also find this information in your registration details or, you can simply check your reg with our ULEZ check tool which will show whether it's Euro 6 compliant.

As a loose rule, that means all petrol cars built after 2006 (when Euro 4 was mandated) should be ULEZ compliant, all diesel cars built after September 2015 (when Euro 6 was mandated) should be ULEZ compliant and all vans built after September 2016 (Euro 6 came in a year later for LCVs) should be ULEZ compliant.

London road user charging

The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year, except Christmas Day (25 December). The Low Emission Zone (LEZ) operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including weekends and all public and bank holidays. Charging days run from midnight to midnight.

How many cars are affected by ULEZ? ›

Around 200,000 out of the around 2.3 million vehicles seen driving in London on an average day are non-compliant. In outer London, nine out of ten cars and eight out of ten vans seen driving on an average day already meet the ULEZ standards, so their drivers will not have to pay the charge.

The creation of the ULEZ was first announced by Boris Johnson in July 2014 when he was the Conservative Mayor of London, and was confirmed in March 2015 after a consultation . It was backed by the then Conservative Prime Minister, David Cameron, who also agreed to provide funding to help its implementation.

How the ULEZ helps clear London's air. The aim of the ULEZ is to help improve air quality by reducing the number of vehicles in London that don't meet emissions standards. The ULEZ has already helped to reduce harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 46% in central London and 21% in inner London.

ULEZ expansion in 2023

The Mayor of London and TfL expanded London's ULEZ on the 29th August 2023 in order to cut pollution around the capital. The expansion covers all 33 boroughs of Greater London – almost all of the area inside of the M25.

ULEZ expansion rakes in £26million in first month as more than 57,000 vehicles a day hit with charges. The Ulez expansion cut the number of older, more polluting vehicles being driven in Greater London by 45 per cent but has cost drivers about £26million in levies and fines in its first month, it has been revealed.

The report found that the Ulez and the pre-existing low-emission zone for HGVs reduced road traffic particulate matter (PM _2.5) emissions by 180 tonnes across London over three years, a cut exceeding the particulate pollution produced by rail and river transport and agriculture combined.

The ULEZ has already helped to reduce harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 46% in central London and 21% in inner London. This is compared to an estimated calculation if the ULEZ did not exist. See the Inner London ULEZ expansion 1 year report (February 2023).

In 2023, Bexley, Bromley, Harrow, Hillingdon and Surrey councils challenged TfL and the Mayor of London's decision to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to outer London boroughs with a Judicial Review.

To be ULEZ compliant, petrol cars must meet Euro 4 emissions standards. Most petrol cars registered after January 2006 meet these standards. Petrol cars that meet Euro 5 and Euro 6 standards are exempt from paying charges. To be ULEZ compliant, diesel cars must meet Euro 6 standards.