Check if your vehicle is ULEZ compliant and calculate the annual charge
ULEZ compliance is determined by TfL based on vehicle emissions data. This calculator provides an estimate based on Euro standard. Always check your vehicle on the TfL ULEZ vehicle checker at tfl.gov.uk for definitive compliance status.
The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is a London-wide environmental charge designed to improve air quality by discouraging the use of older, more polluting vehicles. Since August 2023, the ULEZ covers the entirety of Greater London, bounded by the M25 motorway. Vehicles that do not meet minimum emission standards are charged GBP 12.50 per day, every day of the year (except Christmas Day), 24 hours a day. Whether your vehicle is compliant depends on its fuel type and Euro emission standard. Petrol vehicles must meet at least Euro 4, which generally applies to cars registered after January 2006. Diesel vehicles face a stricter requirement: they must meet Euro 6, which generally applies to cars registered after September 2015. This means a significant number of diesel vehicles registered between 2006 and 2015 are non-compliant, even though they met the emission standards required at the time of purchase. The financial impact of driving a non-compliant vehicle in the ULEZ is substantial. At GBP 12.50 per day, a driver entering the zone five days a week faces an annual charge of GBP 3,250. Over two years, that exceeds the cost of many replacement vehicles, which is why TfL has periodically offered scrappage schemes to help affected drivers transition to compliant vehicles. Compliance checking is enforced automatically using number plate recognition cameras throughout Greater London. TfL cross-references your registration with DVLA data to determine your vehicle emission standard. If you drive a non-compliant vehicle without paying, you receive a Penalty Charge Notice of GBP 180, reduced to GBP 90 if paid within 14 days. This calculator helps you determine whether your vehicle meets ULEZ requirements based on fuel type and Euro standard, and calculates the potential annual cost if your vehicle is non-compliant. For a definitive check on your specific vehicle, we recommend also using the TfL online vehicle checker at tfl.gov.uk, which uses your registration number to provide an exact compliance status.
To check your ULEZ compliance: 1. Select your fuel type. The ULEZ has different minimum standards for petrol and diesel vehicles. Petrol vehicles need Euro 4, while diesel vehicles need Euro 6. If you drive a hybrid, select the fuel type of your combustion engine (petrol or diesel). 2. Select your Euro emission standard. You can find this on your V5C registration document (logbook), or check it online using the DVLA vehicle enquiry service at gov.uk. If you are unsure, the registration year provides a general guide: most petrol cars from 2006 onwards are Euro 4, and most diesel cars from September 2015 onwards are Euro 6. 3. Enter your vehicle registration year. While the Euro standard is the primary compliance factor, the registration year provides additional context and helps confirm your Euro standard selection. 4. Enter the number of days per week you drive within the ULEZ zone. Remember that the ULEZ covers all of Greater London, not just central London. If you live within the M25 boundary, your daily driving likely falls within the zone. 5. Review your compliance status and potential charges. If your vehicle is compliant, the daily and annual charges will be zero. If non-compliant, the calculator shows the GBP 12.50 daily charge and your projected annual cost based on your driving frequency. The compliance note explains why your vehicle passed or failed the ULEZ requirements.
ULEZ compliance is determined by a simple set of rules established by TfL: Petrol vehicles: minimum Euro 4 required. Euro standards 4, 5, and 6 are compliant. Euro standards 1, 2, and 3 are non-compliant. Diesel vehicles: minimum Euro 6 required. Only Euro 6 is compliant. Euro standards 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are all non-compliant. Daily charge: compliant vehicles = GBP 0, non-compliant vehicles = GBP 12.50. Annual charge = daily charge x days per week x 52 weeks. The minimum Euro standard required varies by fuel type because diesel engines produce higher levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter. Euro 6 diesel standards, introduced in September 2015, brought diesel NOx limits closer to those of petrol vehicles, which is why the stricter requirement applies. For example, a petrol Euro 3 vehicle driven 5 days per week: non-compliant (Euro 3 is below the Euro 4 minimum), daily charge = GBP 12.50, annual charge = GBP 12.50 x 5 x 52 = GBP 3,250. A diesel Euro 6 vehicle: compliant, daily charge = GBP 0, annual charge = GBP 0. A diesel Euro 5 vehicle driven 3 days per week: non-compliant, annual charge = GBP 12.50 x 3 x 52 = GBP 1,950. Note: some vehicles may be exempt from ULEZ even if they do not meet the Euro standard requirements, including certain military vehicles, historic vehicles, and agricultural machinery. Check the TfL website for a full list of exemptions.