Transport & travel
Pay the ULEZ charge
Drive a non-compliant vehicle anywhere in London and you pay £12.50 for the day. Check your vehicle first — most newer cars pay nothing — then pay for the day or set up Auto Pay with TfL.
Ref · TfL-ULEZ · Updated 2026-07-19
The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is a Transport for London scheme that charges the most polluting vehicles to drive in London. Since 29 August 2023 the zone has covered all London boroughs, reaching every part of Greater London but stopping short of the M25 itself. The purpose is straightforward: cleaner air for the roughly nine million people who live here, by pricing older, dirtier vehicles off the road or nudging owners to upgrade. Unlike the Congestion Charge, ULEZ is about how clean your vehicle is, not how busy the roads are — which is why the first thing to do is always to check your vehicle.
The zone operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year except Christmas Day. If your vehicle meets the emissions standards you pay nothing, and most drivers are in that position: the majority of petrol cars registered from 2005 and diesel cars registered from September 2015 already comply. If your vehicle does not meet the standard, a single daily charge covers driving anywhere inside the zone from midnight to midnight.
Check your vehicle first
Do not assume — check. TfL runs a free vehicle checker: enter your registration mark and it tells you immediately whether your vehicle is compliant or needs to pay. Two vehicles that look identical can fall on opposite sides of the line depending on their exact engine and registration date, so the checker is the only reliable way to know. Registered keepers can also see their vehicle's status through a TfL account.
Emissions standards
ULEZ is built around the European emissions standards your vehicle was designed to. In broad terms: petrol cars and vans need to meet Euro 4, which covers most petrol vehicles first registered from 2005; diesel cars and vans need to meet Euro 6, which covers most diesels first registered from September 2015; and motorcycles need to meet Euro 3. These are guides to the typical registration dates — the checker confirms the position for your specific vehicle, which is what matters.
Who has to pay
You pay if you drive a non-compliant vehicle within the zone, regardless of where you live. Residents inside the zone pay the same as anyone driving in from outside. The daily charge applies to cars, vans, motorcycles, minibuses and specialist vehicles up to the weight limits; heavier lorries, buses and coaches pay the separate, higher Low Emission Zone charge instead.
How to pay, step by step
- Check your vehicle on the free TfL vehicle checker using your registration mark.
- If it is non-compliant, note the days you have driven or will drive inside the zone.
- Pay the daily charge on the official TfL service — in advance, on the day, or up to midnight on the third day after.
- Set up Auto Pay so TfL records your driving days and bills your card automatically each month.
What you need
- Your vehicle registration mark (number plate)
- A debit or credit card
- The dates you drove, or will drive, inside the zone
What it costs
| Vehicle or item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Cars, vans and specialist vehicles (up to 3.5 tonnes) | £12.50 / day |
| Motorcycles, mopeds and motorised tricycles | £12.50 / day |
| Minibuses (up to 5 tonnes) | £12.50 / day |
| Lorries, buses and coaches (heavier vehicles) | £100 / day (LEZ) |
| Penalty charge notice | £180 (£90 within 14 days) |
Scrappage and upgrading
To help drivers move to compliant vehicles, TfL ran a scrappage scheme offering grants to scrap or retrofit older cars, vans and motorcycles. The main grant scheme has now closed to new applications, but the underlying aim continues: if your vehicle is non-compliant and you drive often, the daily charges can add up quickly, so it is worth weighing the cost of upgrading against a year of charges. The official ULEZ pages carry the latest position on any support that is open.
Auto Pay
Register once and TfL records the days you drive inside the zone and bills your card monthly. It can cover the Congestion Charge too, so you never miss a payment or a deadline.
Pay on time
You can pay up to midnight on the third day after you drive. Miss the deadline and TfL can issue a penalty charge notice of £180 — reduced to £90 if you pay within 14 days, but far more than the daily charge either way.
Note: This portal links to the official service. government.london does not take ULEZ payments or hold your card details.
Common questions
Where does the ULEZ apply?
Since 29 August 2023 the Ultra Low Emission Zone has covered all London boroughs. It reaches every part of Greater London but does not include the M25 itself. The charge is about your vehicle's emissions, not where you live.
How do I check whether my vehicle is compliant?
Use the free vehicle checker on the Transport for London website. Enter your registration mark and it will confirm whether your vehicle meets the ULEZ emissions standards or needs to pay the daily charge.
How much is the ULEZ charge and when does it apply?
The charge is £12.50 a day for non-compliant cars, vans, motorcycles and minibuses. It applies 24 hours a day, every day of the year except Christmas Day. One payment covers driving anywhere in the zone from midnight to midnight.
What are the ULEZ emissions standards?
In broad terms, petrol cars need to meet Euro 4 (most registered from 2005), diesel cars need to meet Euro 6 (most registered from September 2015), and motorcycles need to meet Euro 3. Always confirm your own vehicle with the TfL checker.
What is the penalty if I do not pay?
You can pay in advance or up to midnight on the third day after you drive. Miss that window and TfL can issue a penalty charge notice of £180, reduced to £90 if you pay within 14 days.
This is an information page. Vehicle checks, payments and Auto Pay all happen on the official Transport for London service.
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