London driving charge

ULEZ checker

Enter a UK registration number to check whether a car is likely to meet London's ULEZ emissions rules before you drive.

We check your registration against DVLA vehicle records. For a small number of vehicles the emissions data is incomplete — where that happens we'll tell you, and you can confirm with TfL.

Exemptions and discounts

There is no residents' discount for ULEZ. This is the most common misunderstanding: the Congestion Charge has one, ULEZ does not. Living inside the zone makes no difference. If your vehicle fails the emissions standard, you pay £12.50 a day.

Discounts and exemptions do exist, but for other reasons, principally disability and vehicle age:

  • Disabled and disabled passenger vehicle tax class: exempt under a grace period running to 24 October 2027
  • Wheelchair-accessible vehicles: grace period to 24 October 2027
  • Historic vehicles: built more than 40 years ago and registered in the historic tax class
  • Showman's, certain agricultural and military vehicles: exempt

Exemptions are not automatic. Most must be applied for through TfL.

How to pay

The charge runs 24 hours a day, every day except Christmas Day. If you drive a non-compliant vehicle anywhere inside the zone, that day's charge applies, however short the trip.

Pay from the day of travel until midnight on the third day after, or up to 90 days in advance:

  • TfL website: card payment
  • Pay to Drive in London app: TfL's official app
  • Auto Pay: charges automatically when cameras detect your vehicle. Best for regular drivers

One daily charge covers the whole day, no matter how many trips you make.

If you don't pay

Miss the deadline and TfL issues a Penalty Charge Notice of £180, reduced to £90 if you pay within 14 days. Leave it unpaid and it escalates further.

A forgotten £12.50 becomes a £180 penalty, which is why Auto Pay is worth setting up even if you drive into London only occasionally.

If your vehicle isn't compliant

Pay per day. Fine if you drive into London rarely. Set up Auto Pay so you never miss the deadline.

Check whether you are exempt. Historic vehicles and disabled tax class vehicles do not pay. Worth checking before you assume.

Change vehicle. A petrol car meeting Euro 4 (broadly 2006 onwards) or a diesel meeting Euro 6 (broadly September 2015 onwards) is compliant. Support schemes for scrapping non-compliant vehicles have opened and closed over time, so check TfL for what is currently available.

Charges and rules current as of 9 July 2026. Always confirm with TfL before travelling.

ULEZ checker FAQ

Is my car ULEZ compliant?

Most petrol cars registered from 2006 (Euro 4) and most diesel cars registered from September 2015 (Euro 6) are compliant. Motorcycles need Euro 3 or better. Electric vehicles are always compliant. Enter your registration above for an estimate, then confirm with TfL.

How much is the ULEZ charge?

The ULEZ daily charge is currently £12.50 for cars, motorcycles, vans and other light vehicles that do not meet the required emissions standards.

When does ULEZ operate?

ULEZ operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year except Christmas Day.

What emissions standard does my car need for ULEZ?

Petrol cars and light vehicles generally need Euro 4 or better. Diesel cars and light vehicles generally need Euro 6 or better. Motorcycles and mopeds generally need Euro 3 or better.

Which cars are exempt from ULEZ?

Vehicles in the disabled or disabled passenger vehicle tax class are exempt under a grace period running to 24 October 2027, as are wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Historic vehicles built more than 40 years ago and registered in the historic tax class are also exempt. Most exemptions must be applied for through TfL.

Is there a residents' discount for ULEZ?

No. Unlike the Congestion Charge, which offers a 90% residents' discount, ULEZ has no discount for people living inside the zone. If your vehicle does not meet the emissions standard you pay the full £12.50 a day, wherever you live. Discounts and exemptions apply for other reasons, such as disability or a vehicle being over 40 years old.

How do I pay the ULEZ charge?

Pay through the TfL website, the TfL Pay to Drive in London app, or set up Auto Pay to be charged automatically. You can pay up to 90 days in advance or by midnight on the third day after travel.

What is the ULEZ fine?

Failing to pay the £12.50 daily charge by midnight on the third day after travel results in a Penalty Charge Notice of £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days.

Do I pay ULEZ and the Congestion Charge?

Possibly both. They are separate charges with separate zones. If you drive a non-compliant vehicle into central London during Congestion Charge hours, you pay £12.50 for ULEZ and £18 for the Congestion Charge.

Is this an official TfL ULEZ checker?

No. This checker estimates ULEZ compliance from vehicle registration data and TfL's published emissions rules. For final payment decisions, confirm with Transport for London.