- ULEZ at a glance
- Which vehicles pay the ULEZ charge
- How to check your vehicle and pay
- Foreign-registered cars must be registered, even if they're clean
- Lorries, coaches and the Low Emission Zone
- ULEZ and the Congestion Charge on the same trip
- Discounts, exemptions, penalties and fraud
- My advice on the ULEZ charge
- Frequently asked questions
The ULEZ charge is a daily charge for driving inside London's Ultra Low Emission Zone in a vehicle that doesn't meet the ULEZ emissions standards and isn't exempt. The zone runs 24 hours a day, every day except Christmas Day, across all London boroughs, and Transport for London lists the charge at 12.50 pounds a day.
Since the zone now covers every London borough, the ULEZ isn't just a central London issue any more. If you live on the edge of the city, visit family there or drive in for work, it's worth knowing in two minutes whether your car pays. This guide is built from Transport for London's Ultra Low Emission Zone pages, with the charge as TfL shows it as of Nov 2026.
ULEZ at a glance
| Question | What Transport for London says |
|---|---|
| Daily charge | 12.50 pounds, if your vehicle doesn't meet the standards and isn't exempt |
| Operating hours | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year except Christmas Day (25 December) |
| Where | Across all London boroughs, not including the M25 |
| Vehicles in scope | Cars, motorcycles, vans and specialist vehicles up to and including 3.5 tonnes, and minibuses up to and including 5 tonnes |
| Heavier vehicles | Don't pay ULEZ, but pay the LEZ charge if they miss the Low Emission Zone standard |
| Non-UK registered vehicles | Must meet the standards or pay, and must be registered with TfL |
| Regular drivers | Auto Pay pays your ULEZ charges automatically |
Which vehicles pay the ULEZ charge
The ULEZ is about emissions, not about where you're going or why. TfL's rule is that if your vehicle doesn't meet the ULEZ emissions standards and isn't exempt, you pay the daily charge to drive within the zone. That applies to cars, motorcycles, vans and specialist vehicles up to and including 3.5 tonnes, and to minibuses up to and including 5 tonnes.
TfL breaks its guidance into separate sections for cars, for vans and minibuses, for motorcycles and mopeds, and for lorries and larger vehicles, plus its ULEZ standards page, which explains the emissions standard your vehicle must reach. If you're unsure which group your vehicle falls into, start with the section that matches it.
How to check your vehicle and pay
- Use TfL's vehicle checker. It's the quickest way to find out whether you need to pay.
- Use TfL's postcode checker to see whether the places you're driving to are inside the zone.
- If you think your vehicle meets the standards but the checker disagrees, or you drive a non-UK vehicle, use TfL's 'Register your vehicle' page to tell TfL your UK or non-UK vehicle meets the ULEZ standards.
- If your vehicle doesn't meet the standards, pay through TfL's 'Pay to drive in London' service for each day you drive in the zone.
- If you'll be driving in regularly, set up Auto Pay so your ULEZ charges are paid automatically.
- If you paid for the wrong day or vehicle, use TfL's amend or refund a charge option rather than paying again.
Foreign-registered cars must be registered, even if they're clean
This rule is easy to miss if you're visiting. Transport for London says owners of non-UK registered vehicles also need to meet the ULEZ emissions standards or pay the daily charge, and that vehicles need to be registered with TfL even if they meet the emissions standards. So a newer car from abroad that would sail through the standards can still get into trouble if nobody has registered it.
If you're driving over from Europe or further afield, register the vehicle with TfL before the trip rather than after you've already driven through London. The same 'Register your vehicle' page handles both UK and non-UK vehicles.
Lorries, coaches and the Low Emission Zone
Heavier vehicles sit under a different scheme. TfL says lorries, vans or specialist heavy vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, and buses, minibuses and coaches over 5 tonnes, don't need to pay the ULEZ charge. Instead, they'll need to pay the LEZ charge if they don't meet the Low Emission Zone emissions standard.
TfL's 'where and when' page adds that ULEZ, LEZ and the Direct Vision Standard (DVS) operate in the same area, which covers all London boroughs and the City of London, but that they're different schemes. The LEZ runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and the DVS and HGV Safety Permit apply at all times to lorries over 12 tonnes gross vehicle weight.
ULEZ and the Congestion Charge on the same trip
ULEZ and the Congestion Charge are separate. TfL's Congestion Charge page says that if your vehicle doesn't meet the ULEZ standards, you must also pay the ULEZ charge. The hours differ too: the ULEZ runs around the clock, every day except Christmas Day, while the Congestion Charge has set daytime charging hours. A trip into central London in an older vehicle can mean paying both.
Discounts, exemptions, penalties and fraud
TfL says some groups and vehicles qualify for temporary discounts or exemptions from the ULEZ, and its Discounts and exemptions page sets out who. Its ULEZ section also has pages on support for disabled people, the scrappage scheme, an NHS patient reimbursement scheme, car clubs and the emissions standards for taxis and private hire vehicles. Each one has its own rules, so read the relevant page before you rely on it.
If you receive a penalty charge notice (PCN), TfL says you can either pay it or challenge it. And TfL has a page called 'Avoid payment fraud', which is a good reason to pay only through TfL's own service or Auto Pay.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
If you drive a lot for work, the best apps for drivers are a handy starting point, these apps that pay you to drive are worth a look, and this guide to the average cost of car insurance helps with the other big running bill.
My advice on the ULEZ charge
Run your registration through Transport for London's vehicle checker before you drive anywhere in London, not just the centre, because the zone covers every borough. If the checker says you pay, either pay each day you drive in or set up Auto Pay so you never miss one. If you're bringing a car from abroad, register it with TfL first, even if you're sure it meets the standards.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the ULEZ charge?
Transport for London lists it at 12.50 pounds a day, as of Nov 2026, for a vehicle that doesn't meet the ULEZ emissions standards and isn't exempt.
When does the ULEZ operate?
TfL says it operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year except Christmas Day (25 December).
Does the ULEZ cover the M25?
No. TfL says the zone operates across all London boroughs and doesn't include the M25.
How do I know if my car is ULEZ compliant?
Use TfL's vehicle checker, which tells you whether you need to pay. TfL's ULEZ standards page explains the emissions standard your vehicle must reach.
Do foreign cars have to pay the ULEZ charge?
Owners of non-UK registered vehicles must meet the ULEZ standards or pay the daily charge, and TfL says the vehicle must be registered with it even if it meets the standards.
Do lorries and coaches pay ULEZ?
Lorries, vans or specialist heavy vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, and buses, minibuses and coaches over 5 tonnes, don't pay ULEZ. TfL says they pay the LEZ charge if they don't meet the LEZ standard.
