Request ID: FOI-2826-2223 Date published: 23 February 2023
You asked
Could you please clarify exactly where you are getting the emissions data from to determine which cars are and aren't ULEZ compliant? I am seeing many conflicting reports on this. Also which emissions exactly are you looking at when determining this and what levels do they need to be to be compliant for both petrol and diesel vehicles so as to not recieve a PCN when driving in the zone?
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2826-2223
Thank you for your request which we received on 31 January 2023.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked:
Could you please clarify exactly where you are getting the emissions data from to determine which cars are and aren't ULEZ compliant? I am seeing many conflicting reports on this. Also which emissions exactly are you looking at when determining this and what levels do they need to be to be compliant for both petrol and diesel vehicles so as to not receive a PCN when driving in the zone?
Our ULEZ compliance data is predominantly based on the vehicle information held by the DVLA. To determine whether a vehicle is compliant with ULEZ requirements, a number of vehicle attributes are taken into consideration including the vehicle type, year of manufacture, date of registration as well as whether the emissions (NOx & PMs) are recorded.
The ULEZ Vehicle Registration Mark (VRM) Checker utilises data from a variety of sources including the DVLA and VCA (Vehicle Certification Agency), supplemented on an ongoing basis with information provided to TfL by vehicle manufacturers and the owners / registered keepers of individual vehicles, to ascertain whether a vehicle is subject to the daily charge.
The ULEZ standard is based upon the exhaust emissions of each type of vehicle as declared by the vehicle manufacturer at the time of type-approval and documented on the vehicle’s V5C registration document. For light duty vehicles (cars and vans) the standard is 0.08g/km NOx for spark ignition (petrol) engines and 0.08 g/km NOx and 0.005g/km Particulate Matter for compression ignition (diesel) engines. This equates to Euro 4 for petrol and Euro 6 for diesel engines. For motorcycles the standard is 0.15 g/km NOx, which equates to Euro 3. Any vehicle meeting these standards does not need to pay to enter the ULEZ. These standards were selected because they are the lowest emissions standards currently available and, as such, will ensure we bring emissions within legal limits as soon as possible. In doing so we will significantly improve the health of all Londoners. These emissions standards, and the testing methodology bears no relationship to MOT testing, which is simply a ‘health check’ of the general function of the vehicle emissions controls.
If a vehicle owner believes their vehicle to be compliant with the ULEZ standard despite our online vehicle checker showing otherwise then they are able to submit evidence of compliance to us. This includes a letter from the vehicle manufacturer’s homologation department stating the vehicle’s Euro standard or a conformity certificate.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, 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
Eva Hextall FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
