London ULEZ Explained

London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is set to expand on the 29th of August 2023, encompassing almost all of Greater London.

But what exactly is the ULEZ and why is it expanding? In this article, we’ll cover all the essential questions.

What is the ULEZ?

First introduced in April 2019, London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) aims to improve air quality in central London by reducing the number of older, polluting vehicles that travel through the city.

To achieve this, there is a daily £12.50 charge for non-compliant cars, motorcycles and vans that enter the region.

At first, the ULEZ covered the same limited central area as the London Congestion Charge zone. However, in October 2021, it underwent a significant expansion, to include all areas within the North and South Circular ring roads.

On the 29th of August 2023, the ULEZ will undergo another expansion which will include nearly all areas inside the M25.

The ULEZ is in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week except Christmas Day.

What is the LEZ?

The Low Emission Zone (LEZ) applies to lorries, vans and trucks over 3.5 tonnes as well as buses, minibuses and coaches over 5 tonnes.

These vehicles will not need to pay a ULEZ charge but will need to pay a LEZ charge if they do not meet the LEZ emissions standards.

Be careful not to confuse the LEZ with the ULEZ, as the LEZ does not apply to cars and vans under 3.5 tonnes or minibuses under 5 tonnes. The LEZ covers most of Greater London and incurs a cost of £100 per day.

Is my vehicle compliant with ULEZ regulations?

The ULEZ specifically targets older vehicles that have high emissions. Compliance with the ULEZ regulations is determined based on a set of standards known as "Euro standards".

Euro standards are emission regulations that apply across Europe and are required for all new cars. These standards are periodically tightened, reducing the allowable pollutant emissions for newly manufactured vehicles.

Petrol cars that fail to meet Euro 4 emission standards and diesel cars that fail to meet Euro 6 emission standards will be subject to the daily £12.50 charge for entering the ULEZ.

As a general rule of thumb, this means petrol cars manufactured before 2005 and diesel cars built before 2015 will be non-compliant. You can check the compliance of your vehicle using the Transport for London ULEZ checker here.

Transport for London (TfL) has established specific standards for ULEZ compliance:

• Motorcycles, mopeds, motorised tricycles, and quadricycles must meet Euro 3 (NOx) standards.
• Petrol cars, vans, and other specialist vehicles weighing up to and including 3.5 tonnes, as well as minibuses up to and including 5 tonnes, must meet Euro 4 (NOx) standards.
• Diesel cars, vans, and other specialist vehicles weighing up to and including 3.5 tonnes, as well as minibuses up to and including 5 tonnes, must meet Euro 6 (NOx and PM) standards.

Where is the ULEZ?

Initially, the ULEZ and the Congestion Charge operated in the same area. However, since the 25th of October 2021, the zone has expanded to include the North and South Circular roads within London.

On the 29^th of August 2023, the ULEZ will undergo another expansion which will encompass nearly all areas inside the M25, a vast region with a large population.

To determine whether your vehicle is compliant and falls within the ULEZ boundary, you can use the Transport for London postcode and map search here.

What is the purpose of the ULEZ?

The ULEZ aims to improve air quality in London by reducing the amount of polluting vehicles that travel through it. This helps to mitigate the adverse health effects caused by harmful pollutants such as particulate matter, NO2 and CO2 emissions.

As a result the ULEZ also helps to promote the use of public transport and the adoption of cleaner vehicles which is beneficial for the environment.

There are more deaths connected to air pollution in the outer London region than in central London which is why the ULEZ will further expand on the 29^th of August 2023 to bring cleaner air to the millions of people living in the outer boroughs.

How is the ULEZ monitored and enforced?

There are no physical barriers preventing entry into the ULEZ. Instead, the zone is well signposted, and numerous number-plate reading cameras monitor compliance.

If your vehicle is non-compliant and you do not pay the entry fee, you can expect to receive a penalty notice.

How do I pay the ULEZ charge?

Non-compliant vehicles entering the ULEZ must pay a charge of £12.50 within three days. This £12.50 charge allows vehicles to drive within the ULEZ for 24 hours, requiring payment for each day of entry in a non-compliant vehicle.

Payment can also be made 90 days in advance. The ULEZ system will know that you’ve made this payment when your vehicle is caught on camera so you don’t need to worry about getting charged a second time.

There are several ways you can pay the charge. The official TfL website allows online payment either as a guest or by creating an account. Creating an account will allow you to track your payments if you plan on entering the ULEZ more than once.

You can also pay using TfL’s AutoPay. Setting up an account that’s registered for your vehicle means that you will be automatically billed every month for each of the times you entered the ULEZ. This automatic payment will prevent you from missing a charge.

The official TfL Pay to Drive in London app also allows drivers to pay the ULEZ, Congestion Charge and Low Emission Zone (LEZ) charges in one place.

Payment doesn’t have to be completed online though. If you're in the UK, you can phone TfL on 0343 222 2222 and pay for your charge that way.

What happens if I enter the ULEZ without paying?

If you enter the ULEZ with a non-compliant vehicle and fail to pay the £12.50 charge within three days, you will receive a fine in the post. The fine for non-payment of the ULEZ charge is £160, which is reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days. If you believe the fine has been wrongly issued, you have the option to challenge it.

What is the difference between ULEZ and the Congestion Charge?

The ULEZ and the Congestion Charge (CC) are not the same and cover different areas with different criteria.

The Congestion Charge is in operation from 7am-6pm Monday-Friday and 12pm-6pm on weekends. If you drive into the Congestion Charge zone during its operating hours, you are required to pay both the CC and ULEZ charges. However, if you enter the ULEZ in a non-compliant vehicle but do not enter the CC zone, you only need to pay the ULEZ charge.

Which other UK cities have a ULEZ?

No other towns or cities in the UK have implemented schemes as extensive as London's ULEZ. However, some cities have introduced Clean Air Zones (CAZ).

Clean Air Zones can currently be seen in Birmingham, Bristol, Bradford, Portsmouth and Bath with more planned for Sheffield, Newcastle and Manchester.

Each CAZ has its own set of rules and regulations that are worth checking online if you’re planning on driving to a city you’re unfamiliar with.