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The London ULEZ Expansion
If your vehicle doesn’t meet ULEZ emissions standards and isn’t exempt, you will need to pay the £12.50 daily charge to drive in the ULEZ zone. The ULEZ scheme operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year except Christmas day.
Which roads will the London ULEZ cover from 29th August?
The ULEZ currently covers all areas within the North and South Circular roads although the North Circular (A406) and South Circular (A205) are NOT included in the ULEZ zone at present.
From 29th August 2023 the ULEZ will expand to cover all London Boroughs. The following map can be found on the Transport for London (TfL) website.
Which vehicles need to pay the London ULEZ charge?
All cars, motorcycles, vans and specialist vehicles (up to and including 3.5 tonnes) and minibuses (up to and including 5 tonnes) that don’t meet emissions standards must pay the daily ULEZ charge of £12.50 to use roads within the ULEZ zone.
Do HGVs need to pay the London ULEZ charge?
No! Lorries, vans and specialist heavy vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and buses, minibuses and coaches over 5 tonnes do not need to pay ULEZ charges. Instead they must pay the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) charge if they do not meet the LEZ emissions standard.
My vehicle is registered outside the UK. Do I need to pay the ULEZ charge?
Yes. Owners of vehicles that are registered outside the UK do need to meet ULEZ emissions standards or pay the daily charge to drive within the ULEZ zone. Foreign vehicles must be registered with the TfL partner organisation “EPC plc” even if they meet the emissions standards before being driven on roads within the ULEZ zone.
How much is the ULEZ daily charge?
The ULEZ daily charge is £12.50 per day.
How do I pay the ULEZ daily charge?
You can pay for up to three previous days, the current day, the next day or for a custom date range online. Visit the TfL website to find out how to pay.
You will also need to pay the congestion charge, which is also payable online as per the ULEZ.
What is a Low Emission Zone (LEZ)?
Low Emission Zones have been introduced in a number of cities in the UK and Europe and are designed to tackle air pollution by discouraging certain vehicles (the most polluting) from being driven in inner-city areas.
The theory behind low emission zones is that by reducing the number of journeys made in the most polluting vehicles, air quality will improve.
The London LEZ is the largest and most comprehensive in the UK. It operates independently from the ULEZ though both are Government-based schemes. The criteria, areas of coverage and days of operation differ.
Unlike the ULEZ, the London LEZ applies to all vehicles that do not meeting the Euro 4 or Euro 6 criteria for both petrol and diesel vehicles.
What is the London LEZ charge?
The London LEZ was introduced in late 2008, separate to the congestion charge. Both schemes apply and drivers are responsible for checking the boundaries for each scheme.
The London LEZ charge varies according to the vehicle in question. The table below sets out the different categories and charges.
TfL operates a LEZ vehicle checker, which can be found here
Where does the London LEZ operate?
The London LEZ operates in the area highlighted in the map below, within the M25. It is enforced by ANPR, which identifies vehicles that enter the zone, and is clearly signed.
How do I pay the London LEZ charge?
You can pay for up to three previous days, the current day, the next day or for up to 90 days. Drivers can also set up an Auto Pay account. Full details are available here.
If you pay for a journey made in the last three days you must pay by midnight of the third day to avoid being issued with a PCN.
What other charges apply?
Drivers should remember that the LEZ is not the same as the Congestion Charge zone in central London and the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).
- The Congestion Charge operates 07:00-18:00 Mon-Fri, 12:00-18:00 Sat-Sun and bank holidays. There is no charge between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day bank holiday (inclusive).
- The ULEZ operates 24 hours a day, every day except Christmas Day (25 December).
If you drive within either of these charging zones during these times, you need to pay them even if you meet the LEZ standards or have already paid the LEZ daily charge.
Heavy goods vehicles, vans and other specialist vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight (GVW), as well as buses, minibuses and coaches over 5 tonnes GVW that meet the new Euro VI (NOx and PM) standards already in operation in the ULEZ, will not have to pay an additional ULEZ charge. The Euro VI (NOx and PM) LEZ emissions standard will be a London-wide requirement.
If you drive an HGV over 12 tonnes in Greater London at any time you will also need to apply for an HGV Safety Permit. Vehicles that don’t hold a permit will be issued with a PCN.
An interactive map detailing the ULEZ, LEZ and Congestion Zone areas is available here.
