Request ID: FOI-2386-2324 Date published: 23 October 2023
You asked
Under FOI, I would like to know how often does the TFL ULEZ database is updated? This is in particular when transferring a private plate from one vehicle to another.
Do you keep a record for a every processing activity? If so please provide how often this happens.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2386-2324
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 4th October 2023 asking for information about the ULEZ scheme.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“I would like to know how often does the TFL ULEZ database is updated? This is in particular when transferring a private plate from one vehicle to another.
Do you keep a record for a every processing activity? If so please provide how often this happens.”
I can confirm that we hold the information you require.
In order to establish whether a vehicle is compliant with the ULEZ emission standards we predominantly use the vehicle data held by the DVLA linked to a vehicle’s VRM (Vehicle Registration Mark). In most cases we can establish a vehicle’s compliance status by the date it was first registered as new. We know that all diesel cars first registered as new after 1 September 2015, and all petrol cars first registered as new after 1 January 2006 are automatically compliant with the ULEZ standards.
A number of other vehicle attributes are taken into consideration including the vehicle type, fuel type, year of manufacture, Euro status (if recorded) and its NOx & PM emissions (if recorded). We use data from additional sources including, the VCA (Vehicle Certification Agency) and information sourced from vehicle manufacturers, supplemented on an ongoing basis by information provided to us by owners / registered keepers of individual vehicles.
Using this data we have developed a compliance database which lists the compliance status of all UK registered vehicles. This is not a live link to the DVLA data – rather, it is a static list of vehicles which is refreshed with new updated DVLA data every month. By updating the list regularly it ensures any update to vehicle information held by the DVLA is reflected on our database soon afterwards.
If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
