Motorcycles need to meet minimum emission standards when travelling within the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) or be subject to a charge.

Vehicles included are:

  • Motorcycles
  • Mopeds
  • Motorised tricycles
  • Quadricycles (L category)

Minimum emission standards

All vehicles need to meet Euro 3 emissions standards for NOx.

The ULEZ is enforced based on the declared emissions of the vehicle rather than the age - but generally speaking Euro 3 engines as those registered with the DVLA after July 2007.

Check your vehicle to see if it meets the standards. If the checker says your vehicle is subject to ULEZ but you think it does meet the standards, follow the steps on the results page to send us proof.

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.

Contact your vehicle's manufacturer if you're not sure about its emissions - we will accept supporting evidence from them.

Motorbike emissions testing

We will also accept evidence from test facilities approved by us for measuring NOx emissions. If successful, the test facility will contact us with the results.

Test centres that believe they can offer motorcycle emissions testing to the required standards should email their contact details to ruculezenquiries@tfl.gov.uk.

Approved centres for motorcycle emissions testing

Riverbank Motorcycles Ltd
Unit 12, Riverbank Business Park
Dye House Lane, Bow
London E3 2TB

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: £12.50
  • Penalty charge: £160 (reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days)

These are in addition to any Congestion Charges that may apply to some motorbikes. (Motorcycles etc are not subject to the Low Emission Zone (LEZ).)

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)

Motorbikes and mopeds are exempt from both the Congestion Charge and T-Charge.

Customers living in the ULEZ and Congestion Charge zone, that have an active Residents' Congestion Charge discount, will continue to receive a 100% discount from the ULEZ charge until 24 October 2021. This discount is now closed to new applicants.

Your options

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

Walk or cycle wherever possible, or use public transport

  • This includes our Night Bus services
  • We regularly clean our services using hospital grade antiviral disinfectant. Please plan ahead and travel at quiet times for more space. To help you plan a public transport journey, use the TfL journey planner.
  • If you are travelling on public transport, you must follow our safer travel guidance.

Take advantage of our fares freeze and off-peak fares

Upgrade to a second-hand vehicle that meets ULEZ standards

  • Nearly all motorcycles produced since 2007 meet the ULEZ standards
  • Check your vehicle registration document to find your vehicle's Euro emission standard or NOx emissions. If these are not listed on the vehicle registration document then check with the original manufacturer or use our vehicle checker

The date when your vehicle was first registered with the DVLA is in section B of the document. You can check the date with Gov.uk's vehicle enquiry service.

In February 2019 the Mayor of London announced additional funding to help low income vehicle Londoners upgrade to cleaner vehicles.

Pay the daily charge

Go electric

  • Electric motorcycles emit no NOx or CO2 from the tailpipe. More information about electric vehicles, including a list of those eligible for a grant, is on Gov.uk's page on plug-in grants

Cars, motorcycles and mopeds

The Mayor of London has launched the ULEZ car and motorcycle scrappage scheme to help low income and disabled Londoners scrap these older, more polluting vehicles in favour of cleaner ones and promote greener forms of transport to help clean the city's toxic air.

See if you qualify for a discount or exemption

Questions about ULEZ?

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

ULEZ boundary expansion

From October 2021 the ULEZ will expand to the North and South Circular Roads. All motorcycles within the expanded zone will need to meet the ULEZ emissions standards or pay a daily charge.