London ULEZ checker: Is my car compliant? Do I have to pay a charge? How do I check?

The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expanded to cover all of greater London on August 29 2023. Since that date, most drivers of vehicles in the capital which do not meet the zone’s emission standardschave been liable to pay the £12.50 daily charge.

For those unsure of whether their vehicle is compliant or not, Transport for London (TfL) has its own checker online, enabling drivers to put in their number plate and see if it meets the ULEZ standards.

Introduced in central London in 2017, the zone was first extended in 2021 to incorporate the city up to the North and South Circular roads.

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, then announced in November 2022 that he would be expanding it again to incorporate all London boroughs.

Mr Khan and TfL say the extension is necessary to help clean up London’s air, though critics have pushed back against the move in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis.

A scrappage scheme has been launched, and expanded, by the mayor to support those having to trade in or upgrade their non-compliant vehicle.

But what are the emissions standards for the ULEZ? And how do you check?

What vehicles are ULEZ-compliant?

Whether your vehicle is compliant or not depends on whether it meets the required Euro emissions standards.

For the ULEZ, they are:

• Euro 3 for motorcycles, mopeds, motorised tricycles and quadricycles,
• Euro 4 (NOx) for petrol cars, vans, minibuses and other specialist vehicles,
• and Euro 6 (NOx and PM) for diesel cars, vans and minibuses and other specialist vehicles.

TfL says most petrol vehicles under 16 years old or diesel vehicles under six years old already meet the standards.

There are also exemptions for some vehicles, including lorries, vans and specialist heavy vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, and buses, minibuses and coaches, over five tonnes.

TfL and Mr Khan have said more than 90% of cars seen driven in outer London on an average day are already compliant, meaning the vast majority are not likely to be impacted by the scheme’s expansion.

How do I check if my vehicle is ULEZ-compliant?

For anyone unsure whether their vehicle meets the ULEZ standards, TfL has an online tool enabling Londoners to check.

It also lets you know if the vehicle is compliant with a range of other schemes in the capital, including the Congestion Charge and Low Emission Zone.

Take a look at the tool here.

What if my vehicle does not meet the ULEZ standards?

If your vehicle is non-compliant, you may be able to receive support via the ULEZ scrappage scheme.

This has recently been expanded to provide greater funding for groups including charities and small businesses, and all Londoners with a non-compliant car or motorcycle.

To read more about the ULEZ scrappage scheme, see our article on how to apply and who is eligible here.

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