Find the emission standards that lorries, buses, coaches and some other heavy vehicles need to meet when travelling within the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).

Vehicles included are:

  • Lorries
  • Buses and coaches (more than 8 passenger seats, over 5 tonnes gross vehicle weight)
  • Motorised horse boxes (over 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight)
  • Breakdown and recovery vehicles
  • Snow ploughs
  • Gritters
  • Refuse collection vehicles
  • Road sweepers
  • Concrete mixers
  • Fire engines
  • Tippers
  • Removals lorries (over 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight)

Buses operated under contract to TfL are not exempt from the ULEZ. Every bus in the ULEZ now meets at minimum Euro VI emissions standards. Find out what we're doing to reduce emissions from buses.

Minimum emission standards

All vehicles in this category will need to meet Euro VI standards.

The ULEZ will be enforced based on the manufacturer declared emissions of the vehicle rather than the age - but Euro VI engines are generally those registered with the DVLA after 2014.

From 25 October 2021, ULEZ is expanding from central London to create a single, larger zone up to the North Circular Road (A406) and South Circular Road (A205). The North and South Circular Roads themselves are not in the zone. Find out how to prepare for the ULEZ expansion.

Charges (if ULEZ standards not met)

We would prefer vehicle owners to use vehicles that meet the emissions standards rather than pay a daily charge.

A daily charge runs from midnight to midnight. If you drive within the ULEZ area across two days, for example before midnight and after midnight, you will have to pay two daily charges.

  • Daily ULEZ charge: £100
  • Penalty charge: £1,000 (reduced to £500 if paid within 14 days)

These are in addition to any Congestion Charge or Low Emission Zone (LEZ) charges that apply.

How to pay

  • Set up Auto Pay (£10 annual charge per vehicle). Already have Auto Pay? Then you don't need to do anything
  • Pay online
  • Download the official TfL Pay to drive in London app for free from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store
  • Pay by phone
    UK: 0343 222 2222 (TfL call charges)
    International: +44 343 222 2222
    Textphone: 020 7649 9123 (if you have impaired hearing)

Your options

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

Pay the daily charge

Fit emissions reduction technology

The ULEZ (and LEZ) schemes allow for some vehicles to retrofit emissions reduction technology to meet the standards.

Retrofit technologies need to be certified by the government's Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS). The CVRAS currently only has emissions reduction technologies certified for buses, coaches and refuse vehicles, although equipment suppliers can test and certify equipment.

Any HGV, bus, coach or refuse vehicle with emissions reduction technology fitted needs to have this certified by the CVRAS. Once certified, the owner should notify TfL directly.

More details on the retrofit accreditation process and suppliers are available on the Energy Savings Trust website.

Questions about ULEZ?

If you need more advice about the ULEZ, you can make an enquiry.

Changes to the LEZ

LEZ emissions standards are due to become tougher for heavier diesel vehicles to match the ULEZ Euro VI standard. These vehicles will no longer need to pay a separate ULEZ charge.

These vehicles will need to meet Euro VI emissions standards within the LEZ boundary or pay a daily charge.

Find out about planned changes to the LEZ from 1 March 2021.