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Guide to ULEZ

First announced in 2013 the zone’s aim is to improve London's air quality and reduce exhaust emissions from polluting vehicles.

What is ULEZ?

ULEZ stands for Ultra Low Emissions zone. Taking in a large area of London, the zone operates 24hours, everyday apart from Christmas Day.

  • Only vehicles with ultra low emissions can travel in the zone without charge. Vehicles which do not meet the standards are required to pay a £12.50 daily charge to travel anywhere in the zone.
  • This is in addition to the weekday London Congestion Charge and the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) charge.
  • The ULEZ aims to improve air quality—and, in turn, the health of Londoners—by reducing the number vehicles on the city’s roads that don't meet emissions standards.

The ULEZ Charge is in operation every day except for Christmas Day

Operating hours

24 hours

everyday

Operating days

7 days a week

excluding Christmas Day

Price

£12.50

per day for non-compliant vehicles

Why was ULEZ introduced?

Let's take a look at the purpose behind the initiative and its role in tackling air pollution

The impact of air pollution on the health of Londoners is devastating, silently contributing to thousands of premature deaths each year. From respiratory diseases to heart conditions, toxic air poses a severe and persistent threat, cutting lives short and placing an immense burden on healthcare services.

Impact of air pollution in London

  • Research by Imperial College London, a global leader in air quality studies, found that toxic air contributed to around 4,000 premature deaths in London in 2019, linked to respiratory diseases, lung cancer, and cardiovascular conditions.

  • Air pollution, like smoking, is a hidden killer. In a landmark case, a coroner ruled in 2020 that air pollution directly caused the death of a 9-year-old girl in South London—an unprecedented legal acknowledgment of its dangers.

  • The British Heart Foundation has compared the health impact of living in polluted areas of London to smoking 150 cigarettes a year.

  • By reducing harmful emissions, ULEZ is expected to prevent one million air pollution-related hospital admissions and save the NHS and social care sector £5 billion by 2050.

How ULEZ is making a difference

London-wide Ultra Low Emission Zone - 1 Year Report (March 2025) findings

The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was introduced as a vital measure to protect the future health of the capital’s citizens. By tackling harmful emissions, ULEZ is safeguarding lives, preventing illness, and ensuring a healthier London for generations to come. One year on the Greater London Authority published a report confirming that ULEZ has improved air quality in London since it's final expansion:

  • Around 97% of all vehicles seen driving in London are now ULEZ compliant,
  • and it is estimated that harmful roadside nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations are 27% lower across London, compared to a scenario without the ULEZ.
  • The latest ULEZ expansion (2023) has reduced harmful nitrogen oxides (NOX) emissions in outer London, which were estimated to be 14% lower in 2024 than they would have been without the ULEZ expansion.
  • Importantly, London’s more deprived communities living near London’s busiest roads are seeing greater benefits from the ULEZ; in terms of reduced exposure to levels of NO2 pollution exceeding the UK legal limit.
View report

When was London's ULEZ introduced?

ULEZ expansion 2019-2023

London's ULEZ expanded gradually to allow people and businesses time to switch to compliant vehicles:

  • Replacing the T-Charge, London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) came into action on 8th April 2019. Initially, the first phase operated in the same areas as the current Congestion Charge.
  • In October 2021 ULEZ expanded to the North and South Circular boundary.
  • ULEZ enlarged in August 2023, reaching from Enfield to the North, Purley and Biggin Hill to the South, Upminster to the East and Heathrow Airport to the West.
  • It now covers all London boroughs and does not include the M25.

Towns and locations inside the new ULEZ boundary include:

  • Croydon

  • Romford

  • Wimbledon

  • Twickenham

  • Hounslow

  • Hayes

  • Ruislip

  • Harrow

  • Enfield

  • Stanmore

  • Heathrow Airport

  • Kingston-upon-Thames

Towns and locations sitting outside the enlarged ULEZ boundary:

  • Caterham

  • Dartford

  • Brentwood

  • Chigwell

  • Cheshunt

  • Borehamwood

  • Rickmansworth

  • Staines

  • Epsom

The daily charge of £12.50 is remaining at the same rate and Transport For London has also confirmed plans to remove the £10 annual fee to register for Auto Pay.

London ULEZ original area 2019

Original ULEZ area from 2019 to October 2021

London ULEZ enlarged area 2021

ULEZ area 2021 onwards

London ULEZ 2023 expansion

Current ULEZ following 2023 Expansion

Penalty Charge Notices has increased.

Prior to 30th January 2023 the penalty charge for entering into the zone in an non-compliant vehicle was £80/£160 depending on how quickly you paid. This has now increased to £90/£180.

ULEZ Grace Periods

Given the huge increase in the size of the new ULEZ zone, Transport For London has also announced plans to operate an extended grace period for large groups of people impacted by the news.

These groups include Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles, Disabled Benefit registered people (or their nominated driver), Community not-for-profit minibus operators and showman's vehicles.

Some grace periods will be in operation until 25 October 2025 for the community transport vehicles, while most over grace periods will be in operation until 25 October 2027.

For a full listing of possible exemptions, take a look at the information on the TFL website.

Will I have to pay a ULEZ charge?

Most plug-in vehicles are ULEZ compliant and will not have to pay the charge. If your vehicle uses another type of fuel other than electric, it’s likely you will not meet the ULEZ standards, therefore you will have to pay the charge.

The ULEZ standards are:

  • Euro 3 for motorcycles and moped.
  • Euro 4 (NOx) for petrol cars, vans and minibuses
  • Euro 6 (NOx and PM) for diesel cars, vans and minibuses
  • Euro VI (NOx and PM) for lorries, buses and coaches and other specialist heavy vehicles (NOx and PM)

If you are unsure if your vehicle meets the new exhaust emission standards, you can check online using this TFL Vehicle Checker. If you are looking to avoid the charge by leasing an electric vehicle, take a look at the vehicles we offer which meet the ULEZ requirements.

How much does ULEZ cost per day?

If you are entering the charging zone and your vehicle does not meet the new exhaust emissions standards you will be required to pay a daily fee.

Most vehicles will pay a daily charge of £12.50. This includes motorcycles, vans and minibuses. Larger vehicles will be required to pay more.

London Bridge Sign ULEZ and Congestion Charge symbols

How to pay for ULEZ

  • If you are entering the charging zone on a regular basis you can register for Auto Pay (£10 admin charge per vehicle). If you already have Auto Pay, then you don’t need to do anything
  • Pay online at TFL website
  • Download the official TfL app
  • Pay by phone

If the charge is not paid a penalty will be issued of £160 (with a 50% reduction if paid within 14 days).

ULEZ discounts and exemptions

A small number of vehicle types which are currently exempt from the LEZ are also exempt from the ULEZ charge. These include:

  • London-licensed taxis are exempt from ULEZ, as emissions standards have already been introduced for them.
  • Agricultural vehicles
  • Military vehicles
  • Keepers of vehicles registered with a ‘disabled’ or ‘disabled passenger vehicles’ tax class will benefit from a sunset period after the ULEZ starts. They will be exempt from the ULEZ charge until 26 October 2025 as long as their vehicle doesn’t change tax class.

Cyclist Photo by Samuel Regan-Asante on Unsplash

Published: 2019

Last updated: March 2025

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