Does ULEZ apply 24 hours a day?

Yes. Unlike the Congestion Charge, the ULEZ operates every day of the year with no off-peak hours.

Do I need to do anything if my vehicle is compliant?

No action needed. No charge is applied and there is nothing to register if your vehicle meets the standard.

Does ULEZ apply to vehicles from outside the UK?

Yes. Non-UK registered vehicles are also subject to the ULEZ charge if they do not meet the emission standard.

Can I pay in advance?

Yes. You can pay the daily charge up to 90 days in advance through TfL's website.

My vehicle isn't compliant — what are my options?

You can pay the daily charge, upgrade to a compliant vehicle, or use TfL's ULEZ scrappage or retrofit schemes if eligible.

Free Tool · DVLA Data

ULEZ Checker

Enter a UK number plate to find out if the vehicle meets the Ultra Low Emission Zone standard. Free and instant.

What is the ULEZ?

The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is a scheme run by Transport for London (TfL) to improve air quality across Greater London. Vehicles that do not meet the required emission standard pay a daily charge to drive anywhere within the zone.

Since August 2023 the ULEZ covers all 32 London boroughs and the City of London — the same area as the Congestion Charge Outer London boundary. It operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year including Bank Holidays.

How compliance is decided

Compliance is based on the Euro emission standard of the vehicle, not its age. The standards differ by fuel type:

Vehicle type	Minimum standard	Typical from
Petrol cars & vans (≤3.5t)	Euro 4	2006
Diesel cars & vans (≤3.5t)	Euro 6	Sept 2015
Motorcycles & mopeds	Euro 3	2007
Electric vehicles	Exempt	—
Hydrogen fuel-cell	Exempt	—

Registration year is a guide only. Euro standard is what matters — some vehicles registered before the typical cut-off may already meet the standard, and vice versa.

Charges and penalties

Cars, vans and motorcycles — £12.50 per day
Heavy vehicles (lorries, buses, coaches) — £100 per day
Penalty charge notice — £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days

Exemptions

Zero-emission vehicles (battery electric, hydrogen)
Historic vehicles registered before 1 January 1979
Disabled Tax Class vehicles
Military vehicles
Agricultural vehicles

Common questions

Managing ULEZ compliance across a fleet

For a single vehicle, this tool does the job. For a fleet of ten, twenty or more, manual checks become a chore and it is easy to miss a vehicle that has gone off the road — or let a non-compliant car rack up daily charges. Traknova tracks the emissions status of every vehicle in your fleet alongside its live location, driver behaviour and compliance data, so you always know where you stand.

ULEZ is particularly relevant for taxi and private hire fleets operating in London, where non-compliant vehicles rack up £12.50 per day in charges. Our fleet management platform flags vehicles approaching compliance thresholds before the cost becomes a problem.

Taxi & PHV fleets

ULEZ compliance tracking for London operators.

Fleet management platform

One dashboard for tracking, compliance and security.

Always verify compliance using the official TfL ULEZ checker. This tool is indicative only.