The London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) means some older cars need to pay a fee to enter the capital. Here are all the details.
The London ULEZ was introduced in 2019, affecting hundreds of thousands of vehicles driving on the streets of the capital. Other cities, such as Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester and Oxford, are set to follow suit.
It was designed by London mayor Sadiq Khan to improve air quality, with older, more polluting vehicles charged to enter the city. It replaced a previous measure called the T-Charge, which started in 2017.
If you frequently drive in London or are just planning a single visit, this ULEZ guide will tell you everything you need to know and whether or not your car incurs the charge.
How does the ULEZ work?
Initially, the ULEZ covered the same area as the familiar Congestion Charge Zone.
On the 25 October 2021, the whole area was expanded to include the whole area inside the North Circular and South Circular roads.
Khan has asked Transport for London (TfL) to consult on an expansion currently covering the area occupied by the Low Emissions Zone - effectively tightening restrictions - by 29 August 2023.
This would mean most of the area inside the M25 would be covered, as far west as Longford, north as Waltham Cross, east as North Ockendon and south as Biggin Hill.
Can my vehicle enter London's ULEZ?
You will be charged if your petrol vehicle doesn't comply with Euro 4 standards or if your diesel vehicle doesn't comply with Euro 6 standards. You can check if your vehicle is compliant through the TfL website.
The zone operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This includes cars, motorcycles, vans and other specialist vehicles and if you live inside the zone.
Vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes don't need to pay, as they’re instead covered by the LEZ charge.
How much do I have to pay for London's ULEZ?
A daily charge of £12.50 is expected to arrive within the expanded ULEZ. However, if your car is parked within the area and you don't drive it all day, you're exempt from the charge. Click here to view a map of the expansion.
Road signs at every entry point along the boundary will tell you that you’re crossing into the ULEZ, sitting alongside or below existing Congestion Charge signs. Click to see the map of the current zone.
This charge is in addition to the Congestion Charge, which costs £12.50 per day and is inn operation all day, every day. (including weekends and public bank holidays)
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There is no joined up thinking going in government whatsoever.
I was in Luton a few days ago buying a car with a pal who works there, lots of old offices being converted into accommodation, loads of people on the streets with no prospects. The place is packed.
On a lighter note, as he knows the area very well we parked for free !
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C6? What the hell are you on Nellie?
The government wanted to scrap petrol so they made it cheaper to own a diesel car (and took a lot of cheaper starter cars off the market) that was then wildly and I mean wildly abused by a big member of the SMMT, TFL then get a bit broke from people not using TFL so frequently so what they really want is a big pool of cars that cannot come into London so they can will have to use TFL services, or pay up to use their own car and it's spun it as doing it for health reasons, that may be true but it's really the cash they want and they know a number of people who will simply say goodbye to cars, maybe that too is a good thing. But don't worry the younger generation doesn't want to own a car from most that I have spoken to.