The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is an area within which most vehicles will need to meet exhaust emission standards (ULEZ standards) or pay a daily charge to travel.
ULEZ boundary map Click for a large view of the map

The ULEZ will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week within the same area as the current Congestion Charging Zone (CCZ), and comes into force on 8 April 2019.

The ULEZ standards are in addition to the Congestion Charge and the Low Emission Zone requirements.

The vehicles affected by ULEZ include motorcycles, mopeds, motorised tricycles, quadricycles, cars, small vans, large vans, 4X4 light utility vehicles, motorised horseboxes, pickups, ambulances, motorcaravans , minibuses, lorries, breakdown & recovery vehicles, snow ploughs, gritters, refuse collection vehicles, road sweepers, concrete mixers, fire engines, tippers, removals lorries, buses and coaches.

Check your vehicle

Vehicle requirements, charges and exemptions

Postcode checker

You can check which locations fall within the charging zone using our postcode checker. The ULEZ covers the same area as the Congestion Charge Zone, indicated in red on the interactive map below.

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What is the ULEZ?

From 8 April 2019, most vehicles will need to meet exhaust emission standards (ULEZ standards) or pay a daily charge, when travelling in central London.

The area covered by the ULEZ is the same area as the Congestion Charging Zone and will be clearly signposted with road signs showing where it applies. There will be no barriers or toll booths. Cameras will read vehicle number plates as they are driven within the zone to check against our database. The ULEZ will operate 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including weekends and public holidays.

If the vehicle does not meet the ULEZ emissions standards and the daily charge is not paid, a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) will be issued to the registered keeper. This penalty is in addition to any CC or LEZ penalties received.

Find out more about ULEZ emission standards, daily charges and penalty charges.

The ULEZ standards are:

  • Euro 3 for motorcycles, mopeds, motorised tricycles and quadricycles (L category)
  • Euro 4 for petrol cars, vans, minibuses and other specialist vehicles
  • Euro 6 for diesel cars, vans and minibuses and other specialist vehicles
  • Euro VI for lorries, buses and coaches and other specialist heavy vehicles

Further details of the type of vehicles affected

Your vehicle registration document (also known as the V5C) will help identify your vehicle's Euro emission standard. For newer vehicles, the Euro emission standard may be listed on the V5C in section D.2.

What are my options?

If your vehicle does not meet the required ULEZ standards you can:

Why we need the ULEZ

Air pollution is one of the most significant challenges facing London, affecting the health of all Londoners. Transport is the biggest source of the emissions damaging to health in London.

Around half of emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), which contribute to illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and particulate matter (PM) come from transport. These pollutants are collectively estimated to cause around 9,400 equivalent deaths every year in Greater London and impose an economic cost between £1.4bn and £3.7bn a year.

The communities suffering most from poor air quality are often the most vulnerable and at least 360 primary schools are in areas exceeding safe legal pollution levels.

We're introducing measures to promote more walking, cycling, use of public transport and to encourage sustainable freight deliveries. ULEZ is another way to further reduce the most harmful emissions generated by road transport in central London and across the Capital.

See what else we're doing to improve the environment in London

Benefits of the ULEZ

The introduction of the ULEZ will reduce exhaust NOx and PM emissions, making central London a safer and more pleasant place to live, work and visit.

These positive effects will be especially beneficial to the young, older people and those who have respiratory problems, as well as residents of high pollution areas.

The majority of traffic entering the ULEZ will be from outside the zone, so the benefits of cleaner, greener vehicles in the form of reduced emissions will be delivered right across Greater London, even to areas not in the zone.

PLEASE NOTE - If you need urgent advice about the Ultra Low Emission Zone, you can make an enquiry and attach supporting evidence.