3 min read · Updated
The ULEZ now covers the whole of Greater London, so whether your car complies affects what it costs to run and what it's worth. The good news is that checking takes seconds.
This guide explains the standards TfL uses, how to check your exact car, and what your options are if it doesn't meet them. Figures and rules here are taken from TfL's own pages. Check them again before you make a decision, because TfL can change them.
What the ULEZ is
The Ultra Low Emission Zone is run by Transport for London. TfL says it operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year except Christmas Day, and covers all London boroughs. If your vehicle doesn't meet the emissions standard, you pay a £12.50 daily charge to drive within the zone (source: tfl.gov.uk, Ultra Low Emission Zone).
The charge is per day, not per journey. Drive in the zone once on a Tuesday or ten times, it's the same charge for that day.
The standards for cars
TfL sets the standard by Euro emissions rating. For cars, it says petrol cars need to meet Euro 4 for NOx, and diesel cars need to meet Euro 6 for NOx and particulate matter. TfL also gives a rough guide by registration date (source: tfl.gov.uk, ULEZ standards for cars):
| Fuel | Minimum standard | Generally compliant if first registered |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | Euro 4 (NOx) | As new with the DVLA after 2005 |
| Diesel | Euro 6 (NOx and PM) | As new with the DVLA after September 2015 |
| Fully electric | No tailpipe emissions | Meets the standard |
TfL is clear that the ULEZ is enforced on the declared emissions of the vehicle, not its age. Some older cars meet the standard and some newer ones don't, which is why the date guide is only a guide.
How to check your car
- Go to TfL's vehicle checker (search for 'TfL check your vehicle').
- Enter your registration number.
- Read the result. It tells you whether you need to pay the ULEZ charge.
- If the result looks wrong, for example your car has been modified or re-registered, follow TfL's guidance on contacting them with evidence of the car's emissions.
Hybrids, vans and other vehicles
Petrol hybrids are judged on the same petrol standard, so most hybrids from the last fifteen years or so comply. Diesel hybrids are judged on the diesel standard. Vans have their own standards, which TfL lists separately. If you have an older diesel van, check it on the vehicle checker and see our page on selling a van in London.
My car doesn't comply. What now?
You have three main options:
- Keep it and pay the daily charge on the days you drive it in London.
- Keep it and use it only outside the zone.
- Sell it. It will be worth less to London buyers, but it still has a market outside London and in the trade.
If the car is your daily driver inside the M25, the charge adds up fast. Work out how many days a year you'd drive it in the zone and multiply by the daily charge. If that number is a big part of the car's value, selling usually makes sense. Our page on selling a non-ULEZ car explains how we value them.
ULEZ and the Congestion Charge are different
The Congestion Charge is a separate charge for driving in central London at certain times. A car can meet the ULEZ standard and still pay the Congestion Charge. Electric cars used to be fully exempt from it, but TfL says that exemption has ended and that from 2 January 2026 electric cars registered with Auto Pay get a 25% discount instead. See our page on selling an electric car for more.
Where it matters most
The ULEZ covers every borough, but it hits hardest where people drive daily: the outer boroughs that came into the zone in August 2023, such as Harrow, Enfield, Bromley, Croydon, Hillingdon and Havering. Our regional pages for North, South, East and West London cover the local detail.
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rules and fees change, so check GOV.UK for the latest.