Is My Car ULEZ Compliant? How to Check and What It Costs

Is my car ULEZ compliant? It is if it meets the Euro 4 emissions standard for petrol or Euro 6 for diesel. As a rough guide, that covers most petrol cars first registered after 2005 and most diesels registered after September 2015, but the rule is based on the car's Euro standard, not its age. The quickest way to be sure is TfL's vehicle checker; our free ULEZ check also shows a car's Euro status when DVLA holds it.

ULEZ standards: Euro 4 petrol, Euro 6 diesel

The ULEZ sets minimum emissions standards rather than age limits. TfL's standards also apply to hybrids, which are judged on their fuel type.

The charge applies to cars, motorbikes, vans and specialist vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes, and minibuses up to 5 tonnes. Larger lorries, buses and coaches don't pay the ULEZ, but may need to pay London's separate Low Emission Zone charge.

TfL is clear that the ULEZ is enforced on a car's declared emissions rather than its age. That's why two cars of the same model and year can get different results.

Where and when does the ULEZ apply?

• Where: across all London boroughs. The M25 itself isn't part of the zone.
• When: 24 hours a day, every day of the year except Christmas Day.
• Who: anyone driving a non-compliant vehicle in the zone, whether or not they live in London.
• Foreign-registered vehicles: must meet the standards or pay, and need to be registered with TfL even if they comply.

The zone is enforced by number-plate cameras, so there's nothing to display in the car. If your UK-registered car complies, you don't need to do anything.

Is my car ULEZ compliant? A rough guide by registration year

Euro 4 became mandatory for all new cars from January 2006, and Euro 6 from September 2015. That's where the rules of thumb come from, but treat this table as a guide, not a rule:

Diesels need the most care. A diesel from early 2015 can look almost identical to one from late 2015 and still fail the standard.

How to check if your car is ULEZ compliant

1. Use TfL's official checker. Enter the registration in TfL's vehicle checker to see whether the car meets the ULEZ standards and which other London charges apply. Its result is based on emissions standard and vehicle type only, so discounts and exemptions are checked separately.
2. Run our free ULEZ check. Our ULEZ check shows the car's Euro status when DVLA provides it, plus its fuel type and first registration date. It's handy when you're comparing cars to buy, because our free car check puts this alongside the MOT history and tax status.
3. Look at the V5C logbook. TfL says the Euro standard may be listed on the V5C. If it isn't, the first registration date gives you a starting point.
4. Think the result is wrong? TfL can update a car's record when you send evidence of its Euro standard, such as a certificate of conformity or a letter from the manufacturer.

How much does the ULEZ cost?

Non-compliant cars pay £12.50 for each day they're driven in the zone. A charging day runs from midnight to midnight, so a single late-night journey that crosses midnight counts as two days.

You can pay up to 90 days in advance, or by midnight on the third day after your journey. Miss that and TfL issues a penalty charge notice of £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days. TfL's Auto Pay covers up to five vehicles with no registration fee and pays the charge automatically.

Here's what the daily charge adds up to:

The Congestion Charge is separate. If you drive a non-compliant car into central London during charging hours (7am to 6pm on weekdays, and midday to 6pm at weekends and on bank holidays), you pay both: £12.50 for the ULEZ plus £18 for the Congestion Charge if you pay in advance or on the day, or £21 if you pay by midnight on the third day after. That's £30.50 a day at the lower rate.

Other UK clean air zones that charge private cars

Most clean air zones in England only charge commercial vehicles such as buses, coaches, taxis, lorries and, in some cities, vans. These are the zones that affect private cars:

Birmingham, Bristol and the Scottish zones use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards as London. In Birmingham and Bristol you can pay up to six days before or after your visit; miss that window and the penalty is £120, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.

Bath, Bradford, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Tyneside (Newcastle and Gateshead) also have clean air zones, but they don't charge private cars. GOV.UK's guide to driving in a clean air zone lists every English zone and links to a charge checker.

Exemptions, discounts and grace periods

TfL offers a limited number of exemptions and temporary grace periods. The main ones:

• Historic vehicles: cars built before 1 January 1973 are exempt, as are vehicles over 40 years old in DVLA's historic vehicle tax class. Our guide Is my car taxed? explains the historic tax class.
• Disabled and disabled passenger vehicle tax classes: exempt until 24 October 2027. People over state pension age who receive Attendance Allowance can also apply.
• Wheelchair accessible vehicles: a grace period until 25 October 2027 for converted cars and vans, limited to one vehicle per applicant.
• Disability benefits: a grace period until 25 October 2027 for people receiving certain mobility-related benefits, such as PIP or DLA, and some other groups. Blue Badge holders still pay unless their car complies or one of the grace periods covers them.
• Others: London-licensed taxis, some showman's vehicles, specialist agricultural vehicles and military vehicles. NHS patients too ill to use public transport may be able to reclaim charges through their hospital.

Check the details and apply on TfL's discounts and exemptions page. Note that TfL's list doesn't include a discount simply for living inside the zone.

Is there a ULEZ scrappage scheme?

Not any more. TfL's scrappage scheme closed to new applicants on 8 September 2024, and TfL says final grant payments were made by the end of July 2025. It doesn't list a replacement scheme. In Scotland, the government's LEZ pages say support may be available to help people meet the standards, so check mygov.scot for anything currently open.

Replacing a car that isn't ULEZ compliant

If you drive into the zone regularly, the charge can soon outweigh the cost of changing cars: commuting five days a week costs £2,875 a year. Start by finding out what your current car is worth with a free car valuation, or read our guide to how much your car is worth. When you're ready, you can sell your car to put towards the next one.

When you shop for a replacement, check the ULEZ status of every car you consider, then check its history. A compliant car with outstanding finance or a hidden write-off is no bargain, and our used car buying checklist covers everything else to look at.

Next steps: check before you drive in

If you're not sure about your car, check it on TfL's checker before your next trip into London, or before you buy anything you plan to drive there. If it's not compliant, set up Auto Pay so you never miss a payment, or look at whether an exemption, a grace period or a newer car makes more sense. The same goes for Birmingham, Bristol, Oxford and the Scottish cities: a quick check now is cheaper than a penalty later.