£12.50
Daily charge for a non-compliant car
As of June 2026. Applies every day you drive in the zone, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Verify at TfL.
All 32
London boroughs now covered
Expanded to the full Greater London area in October 2023. The M25 is outside it.
£180
Penalty charge if you don't pay
Reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days. Verify at TfL for current figures.
What ULEZ is
ULEZ stands for Ultra Low Emission Zone. It is operated by Transport for London (TfL) and applies to vehicles driving in Greater London. The scheme exists to reduce air pollution by discouraging older, higher-emission vehicles from driving in the capital.
ULEZ runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. There are no off-peak windows. There is no overnight exemption. Christmas Day is not an exception. If you drive a non-compliant vehicle in the zone on any day at any time, the charge applies.
TfL uses a network of cameras across the boundary to read number plates automatically. There are no physical barriers or toll booths. Payment happens online, either after the fact or through Auto Pay, which registers your vehicle and charges you automatically when you drive in the zone.
The ULEZ boundary
Until October 2023, ULEZ covered an area roughly bounded by the North and South Circular roads, plus the original central London zone. In October 2023, TfL expanded ULEZ to cover all 32 London boroughs plus the City of London: the entire Greater London area.
The M25 is outside ULEZ. Major roads just inside the M25, such as parts of the A406 North Circular and parts of the South Circular, are within the zone. If you are not sure whether a particular road falls inside ULEZ, use TfL's journey checker at tfl.gov.uk.
The practical effect of the 2023 expansion: millions more vehicles are now affected on every journey into or across London, not just those travelling into the centre.
Which vehicles comply
Compliance is based on the vehicle's emission standard, not just its age. The year of registration is a guide, but it is not the definitive answer. Some vehicles registered in a compliant year do not meet the standard; some older vehicles do. Use TfL's checker.
The general rules:
Petrol cars and vans. Must meet Euro 4 standard. Most petrol cars registered from 2006 onwards are Euro 4. Some registered in 2005 may comply. Some pre-2006 vehicles will not.
Diesel cars and vans. Must meet Euro 6 standard. Most diesels registered from 2015 onwards are Euro 6. Many registered before 2015 are not, regardless of how the vehicle is presented or serviced.
Motorcycles and mopeds. Must meet Euro 3 standard. Most registered from 2007 onwards comply.
Larger vehicles. Lorries, buses, and coaches have different requirements. Check TfL for current standards by vehicle class.
If you are buying a used diesel and plan to drive it in London, checking TfL's tool before you buy is worth the 30 seconds it takes.
Check before you buy
If you are buying a used car and plan to drive it in London, run the TfL ULEZ check before you hand over any money. A non-compliant diesel could cost you £12.50 every day you drive it into any part of Greater London.
Registration year alone is not enough. Use TfL's free checker with the actual registration number.
What a non-compliant vehicle costs
If your vehicle does not meet the ULEZ standard and you drive in the zone, you pay £12.50 per day (verify at TfL for the current figure). This applies to cars, motorcycles, and vans up to 3.5 tonnes. Larger vehicles pay more.
The charge accumulates every day you drive in the zone. Driving into London twice in one day still counts as one charge for that day. Driving on consecutive days means paying each day.
If you do not pay by midnight the day after the charge day (or by midnight the next charging day for Auto Pay — check TfL for current rules), a Penalty Charge Notice is issued. The PCN is £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days. If ignored, the penalty escalates and can be pursued through the courts.
TfL's camera network reads every plate that crosses the boundary. Payment is not optional.
How payment works
There are two routes. If your vehicle is non-compliant, you pay after driving in the zone through TfL's online system. You have until midnight on the day of travel to pay, or the following charging day in some circumstances — check TfL's site for current rules.
Auto Pay is the simpler option if you drive in London regularly. Register your vehicle with TfL and a charge is collected automatically each day you drive in the zone. There is no risk of forgetting to pay and receiving a penalty notice.
Exemptions and exceptions
Not every vehicle pays. The main exemptions as of June 2026:
Vehicles taxed in the disabled tax class. Many but not all disabled tax class vehicles are exempt. The specific rules around Blue Badge holders and ULEZ have changed over time. Check TfL's current position before assuming an exemption applies.
Military vehicles. Certain vehicles used for the armed forces are exempt.
Historic vehicles. Vehicles manufactured before 1 January 1979 are currently exempt.
Electric vehicles. The ULEZ exemption for electric vehicles ended in December 2025. EVs registered before that date had been exempt during ULEZ's early years, but from December 2025 the exemption no longer applies. Verify the current position at TfL.
The ULEZ and the Congestion Charge are entirely separate schemes. Complying with ULEZ does not mean you avoid the Congestion Charge, and vice versa. They operate in overlapping but different areas, with different rules. You can owe both on the same journey into central London.
ULEZ and the Congestion Charge are separate
They are two different schemes run by the same organisation. ULEZ covers all London boroughs, operates 24/7, and depends on your vehicle's emission standard. The Congestion Charge covers a smaller central zone, operates during specific hours, and is a flat daily fee regardless of what you drive.
In the area where both apply, driving a non-compliant car could mean paying both on the same day.
Get updates on ULEZ rules and emissions zone changes — straight to your inbox.
Common questions about ULEZ
What is the ULEZ boundary?▾
Since October 2023, ULEZ covers the whole of Greater London: all 32 London boroughs plus the City of London. The M25 forms the approximate outer limit, though the boundary follows the administrative boundary of Greater London rather than the M25 itself. If you are unsure whether a specific road is inside the zone, check TfL's journey planner.
How do I know if my car is ULEZ compliant?▾
Use TfL's free vehicle checker at tfl.gov.uk. Enter your registration number and it tells you whether your vehicle meets the ULEZ standard. Registration year is a rough guide but not definitive — some vehicles registered in the same year as others do not meet the standard. Always check with the actual registration.
Does ULEZ apply 24 hours a day?▾
Yes. ULEZ operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including bank holidays and Christmas Day. There are no off-peak windows or time-restricted periods. This is different from the Congestion Charge, which only applies during specific hours.
What happens if I drive in ULEZ without paying?▾
A Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) is issued for £180. Pay within 14 days and it reduces to £90. Ignore it and the penalty escalates, with further enforcement action up to and including court proceedings. TfL's cameras cover the zone boundary and read every plate that crosses it.
My car is electric — do I pay ULEZ?▾
From December 2025, yes. The ULEZ exemption for electric vehicles ended in December 2025. EVs that previously drove free in ULEZ now need to check TfL's current position, as exemption rules may have been updated further since then. Verify at TfL before assuming you are exempt.
Does ULEZ apply to motorcycles?▾
Yes. Motorcycles and mopeds must meet Euro 3 standard. Most registered from 2007 onwards comply. Older motorcycles may not. Check TfL's vehicle checker with your registration.
I live outside London — does ULEZ affect me?▾
Yes, if you drive into Greater London. ULEZ does not care where you live. It applies to any vehicle that drives within the Greater London boundary, regardless of whether the registered keeper lives in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, or anywhere else in the UK.
Is ULEZ the same as the Congestion Charge?▾
No. They are separate schemes. ULEZ covers all of Greater London, runs 24/7, and charges you based on whether your vehicle meets an emission standard. The Congestion Charge covers a smaller central London area, operates during specific hours, and charges a flat daily fee for any vehicle regardless of emissions. Both are run by TfL. You can owe both on the same journey.
How do I pay if my car is non-compliant?▾
Pay online through TfL's website after driving in the zone. You can pay on the day of travel or by midnight the next charging day in some cases — check TfL for current payment deadlines. Setting up Auto Pay through TfL means charges are collected automatically each day you drive in the zone, removing the risk of forgetting.
Can I get an exemption?▾
Possibly. Vehicles taxed in the disabled tax class, certain military vehicles, and historic vehicles manufactured before 1979 may be exempt. The EV exemption ended December 2025. Check TfL's current list of exemptions at tfl.gov.uk, as the rules have changed several times and may change again.
Related pages
- →Congestion ChargeA separate TfL charge for central London. Often confused with ULEZ — different rules, different zone.
- →Road taxRoad tax is a separate obligation from ULEZ. Every vehicle on the road needs both.
- →Free DVLA vehicle checkCheck MOT status, tax status, and vehicle details free — useful when buying a used car.
- →Full MOT guideWhat the MOT covers, how to book, and what to do if you fail.