How do I check if my car is ULEZ compliant?

Use the official TfL checker or the AI Pocket Mechanic app — both check your reg plate against the DVLA database in seconds. As a rule, petrol from 2006+ and diesel from late 2015+ are usually compliant.

How much is the ULEZ daily charge in 2026?

£12.50 per day for non-compliant cars, vans, and motorcycles. £100/day for non-compliant lorries, buses, and coaches (under the LEZ scheme).

Is there a grace period after I drive in the zone?

You have until midnight on the third day after your journey to pay the £12.50. Miss that and it's a £180 fine (£90 if paid within 14 days).

Do I pay ULEZ if my car is parked in the zone?

Yes — even if the car doesn't move, if it's seen by the cameras within the 24-hour window, you owe the charge. Plan accordingly.

ULEZ Charges Explained 2026: Is Your Car Compliant?

London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) covers the entire Greater London area — that's all 32 boroughs plus the City of London. If your vehicle doesn't meet the emissions standards, you'll be charged £12.50 every single day you drive in the zone. Miss the payment? That's a £180 fine (reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days).

Is your car ULEZ compliant?

The simplest rule of thumb:

Petrol cars: Must meet Euro 4 standards — generally registered from January 2006 onwards
Diesel cars: Must meet Euro 6 standards — generally registered from September 2015 onwards
Motorcycles & mopeds: Must meet Euro 3 — generally registered from July 2007

You can check your exact vehicle status free in 10 seconds using the official TfL postcode checker, or instantly in the AI Pocket Mechanic app.

When and where do you pay?

ULEZ runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year — including Christmas Day. The only exception was scrapped in 2023. The zone is enforced by ANPR cameras that read your number plate and automatically check it against the TfL database.

Payment can be made:

Online via tfl.gov.uk
Through the official TfL Pay to drive app
By phone on 0343 222 2222
Auto Pay — links to your bank account and pays automatically (£10 annual fee, never miss a payment again)

You can pay up to 90 days in advance, on the day, or by midnight three days after. After that, it's a fine.

Who's exempt from ULEZ?

Several exemptions and discounts exist:

Disabled tax class vehicles (Blue Badge holders may also qualify)
Historic vehicles — 40+ years old with a historic tax class
Showman's vehicles
Wheelchair-accessible vehicles with certain tax classifications
NHS patient/transport vehicles (specific criteria apply)

What about the Congestion Charge?

ULEZ is separate from the Congestion Charge. If you drive into central London on a weekday, you may have to pay both — that's £12.50 (ULEZ) + £15 (Congestion Charge) = £27.50 per day. Worth knowing if you're planning a trip into town.

How to avoid the charge

Check before you drive — a 10-second postcode check can save you £180
Use park-and-ride — leave the car at an outer-zone tube station and take the train in
Consider an upgrade — there's no government scrappage scheme any more, but used compliant diesels (post-2015) are now very affordable
Set up Auto Pay — if you drive in occasionally, this stops you ever missing a payment

ULEZ isn't going away, and other UK cities are following suit (Bristol, Sheffield, Birmingham, Bradford, Bath, Tyneside all have Clean Air Zones in some form). The cheapest move is to check your vehicle's status today and plan around it.