How our ULEZ checker works it out
ULEZ comes down to one thing: the car's Euro emissions standard. Petrol cars need to meet Euro 4, and diesel cars need to meet Euro 6. Manufacturers had to hit each standard by a set date, so the fuel type and the date a car was first registered tell you a lot.
We read both from the car's DVSA record and give you one of three results:
| Result | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Likely to meet the standard | The car is well past the date its fuel type had to meet the rules | Drive as normal. If you're buying, confirm it once on TfL |
| Could go either way | The car came out while the standard was still coming in | Check the exact standard on TfL before you drive or buy |
| Unlikely to meet the standard | The car is older than the cut off for its fuel type | Budget £12.50 a day, or plan your trips around the zone |
A few quick examples
| Car | First registered | Likely result |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | March 2009 | Meets the standard |
| Petrol | June 2003 | Could go either way |
| Petrol | May 1999 | Doesn't meet it |
| Diesel | October 2016 | Meets the standard |
| Diesel | January 2015 | Could go either way |
| Diesel | April 2012 | Doesn't meet it |
Notice the gap between petrol and diesel. A ten year old diesel can fail where a twenty year old petrol passes, because the diesel rules are much tighter on the fumes that harm air quality.
Our result and the TfL ULEZ checker
Transport for London runs the official checker, and its answer is the one that counts when it comes to charges. It works from each model's emissions data, so it can tell two cars from the same year apart.
Any free ULEZ compliance checker, ours included, works from the age and fuel type instead. That's right for the vast majority of cars, and it's quick. But it pays to double check on the TfL vehicle checker if:
- Your result says it could go either way
- The car is an import, as its age may not match its emissions standard
- Someone has changed the engine or converted the car to run on LPG
- You're about to buy, and the answer would change what you'd pay
What if TfL's answer surprises you?
Go with TfL, as its answer decides whether you pay. That said, its records aren't perfect. If TfL says your car doesn't comply but you think it does, get proof of the Euro standard first. A certificate of conformity from the manufacturer usually does the job. You can then send it to TfL and ask it to update the record for your car. It's worth doing before you pay for any trips, rather than chasing refunds afterwards.
VehicleMonkey is an independent site. We aren't part of TfL, and we never ask you to pay a charge through us.
ULEZ rules for each type of vehicle
Our tool covers cars. If you drive something else, here's the standard it needs and roughly when that kicked in:
| Vehicle | Standard needed | Usually compliant if first registered |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol car | Euro 4 | From 2006, and many from 2001 |
| Diesel car | Euro 6 | From September 2015 |
| Hybrid car | Same as its engine | As petrol or diesel above |
| Electric car | None | Always |
| Motorbike | Euro 3 | From July 2007 |
| Petrol van | Euro 4 | From 2006 |
| Diesel van | Euro 6 | From September 2016 |
What it costs if your car doesn't comply
Since August 2023, the ULEZ has covered every London borough, right out towards the M25. It runs 24 hours a day, every day except Christmas Day, and cameras read every number plate that passes.
- The daily charge is £12.50 for cars, vans and motorbikes. One payment covers you from midnight to midnight.
- The deadline is midnight on the third day after your trip. You can also pay up to 90 days ahead, or set up Auto Pay.
- The penalty for not paying is £180, cut to £90 if you pay within 14 days.
A few vehicles don't pay at all. These include cars in the historic vehicle tax class, any vehicle built before 1973 and London black cabs.
How to pay the ULEZ charge
If your car doesn't comply and you need to drive in the zone, pay on TfL's own website or through its Pay to drive in London app. If you drive in often, Auto Pay is the safest option. It logs each day your car enters the zone and takes the money once a month, so you can't forget.
Remember that the ULEZ and the Congestion Charge are separate. If you drive into central London on a weekday daytime, you may owe both, even in a car that meets the ULEZ standard.
Buying a used car to drive in London
Older diesels are cheap in and around London for a reason. A 2013 diesel that looks like a bargain could cost you more than £3,000 a year if you drove it into the zone on every working day.
So run any car through a ULEZ vehicle checker before you go to see it, not after you've fallen for it. A few things we'd always check:
- Know the exact age. A car first registered in August 2015 and one from October 2015 can get different answers. Check its exact registration date if the plate looks close to the cut off.
- Look at the logbook. Newer V5C logbooks have a box for the Euro status. It's often blank, but when it's filled in, it settles the question.
- Ask for proof. A dealer selling a borderline car should be able to show you the Euro standard. Manufacturers can also supply a certificate of conformity, usually for a fee.
The rest of your used car checks still matter too, as a compliant car with a dodgy history is no bargain.
Clean air zones outside London
A London ULEZ checker only tells you about London. Several other cities run their own zones with their own rules. Birmingham and Bristol charge older cars a daily fee, while Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee ban them and fine drivers who enter. Other zones, such as those in Bath and Sheffield, only charge vans, buses, taxis and lorries.
The standards are much the same as London's in most places, so a car that passes our check will usually pass theirs too. Check the council's website before you travel, though, as the rules can change.
Frequently asked questions
Do hybrid cars pay the ULEZ charge?
A hybrid follows the rules for its engine. Almost every hybrid sold in the UK has a petrol engine and meets Euro 4, so it drives free. A diesel hybrid needs to meet Euro 6, like any other diesel.
Do I pay ULEZ if my car is just parked in the zone?
No. You only pay on days you drive the car inside the zone. A car that stays parked on a London street all day doesn't owe anything for that day.
Is the ULEZ charge the same at weekends?
Yes. The zone runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year except Christmas Day. Weekends and bank holidays cost the same £12.50.
Is a 2005 petrol car ULEZ compliant?
Often, yes. Euro 4 became the rule for all new petrol cars from January 2006, but plenty of models met it a few years earlier. A 2005 petrol car is borderline, so check its exact standard on the TfL checker.
Can I make my car ULEZ compliant?
For most cars, no. There are approved upgrades for some buses and lorries, but very few for cars, and they rarely make sense on cost. Most drivers either pay on the days they need to, avoid the zone or change to a newer car.
