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If you're a regular commuter to London by car or are driving to the city as a one-off, then you'll need to be aware of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).
ULEZ is a scheme that was implemented by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, in April 2019. The initiative was created to introduce financial charges for vehicles entering central London that are not emissions compliant. Read on to find out more ...
With a focus on improving air quality in the capital city, ULEZ is designed to reduce the number of high-emission vehicles operating in London, in order to reduce toxic air pollution.
When the scheme began, ULEZ operated just five-days during the typical working week (excluding weekends) and was restricted to certain times during the day. However, the scheme now operates 24-hours a day, seven days a week, 364 days a year - the only exception being Christmas Day.
The special zones can be easily identified by motorists via a series of signs warning drivers when they are about to enter a dedicated ULEZ area, shown below :
ULEZ charges are based on Euro 4 emissions standards for petrol vehicles and Euro 6 emissions standards for diesel vehicles. These are established limits for air-polluting emissions such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) from engines. All new vehicles must meet these limits to be approved for sale.
Any older vehicles which do not meet the required standards must pay a daily charge to drive within ULEZ. The fees are fairly straightforward; they are set at £12.50 per day for most vehicle types, including cars, motorcycles and vans (up to and including 3.5 tonnes).
Heavier vehicles such as lorries (over 3.5 tonnes) and buses/coaches (over 5 tonnes) will be charged at £100 per day. Unfortunately there is no way of escaping the charges as they are enforced by Transport for London’s vast ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) camera network.
As of 25th October 2021, London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expanded to 18 times the size of its original area within the city. It now stretches the same eight square mile area that the congestion charge currently operates.
ULEZ covers all areas within Greater London’s North and South Circular roads, but does not include the North Circular (A406) and South Circular (A205) roads itself - take a look at the map below to see the area ULEZ now covers. Whether you travel through the entire zone or partially enter the area’s boundary, you will be charged if your vehicle isn’t compliant with ULEZ standards.
Some of the key areas within ULEZ - which are now considered ‘Controlled Zones’ - include; Brixton, Fulham, Greenwich, Lewisham, Peckham, Stratford and Tottenham, amongst others. Our map below shows how the zone has dramatically expanded since October 2021.
You can check to see if the area you’re planning to visit is affected, thanks to the postcode and map search function on the official Transport for London (TfL) website.
Inspired by London’s own ULEZ scheme, major cities across the country have introduced similar initiatives called Clean Air Zones.
So the question is, will London’s ULEZ be expanded again? Well, the answer is… very probably! In March 2022, London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced plans to further expand ULEZ beyond the 140 square mile area introduced in October 2021.
Should these plans go ahead, ULEZ will cover the entire city of London within the next two years, so it is expected this change could happen in 2024 - watch this space!
| Fuel Type : | Year of Registration : | Euro Standard : | ULEZ Compliant : |
| Petrol | After 2005 | Euro 4 | Yes |
| Diesel | After September 2015 | Euro 6 | Yes |
| Hybrid Petrol | After 2005 | Euro 4 | Yes |
| Hybrid Diesel | After September 2015 | Euro 6 | Yes |
| Electric | Any Age | N / A. | Yes |
Are you planning a trip to London? Check if your car meets ULEZ requirements by visiting the official Transport for London (TfL) website and enter your registration plate details into the designated box on the Check Your Vehicle page.
Is it time for you to upgrade to a ULEZ-compliant car? Here at Wilsons Epsom we have some superb models available for you to consider across all our 11 new car brands.
Discover models from a range of manufacturers, including; Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Dacia, Fiat, Hyundai, Jeep, Nissan, Nismo, Peugeot, Renault, and MG. Why not explore the road to a greener future of driving with our electrifying range of EV models.
As the largest family-run new car and used car supermarket in the South of England, we offer our customers an extensive choice of vehicles at unbeatable value-for-money and a service they can trust.
We are proud to be electric car experts, so why not accelerate your journey into EV ownership by exploring our fantastic selection of electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars currently in stock. Look out for the green ULEZ logo pictured on all compliant cars, as highlighted below.
For further details about the ULEZ compliant cars available here at Wilsons Epsom, take a look at our Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) Cars blog and accelerate your journey to a hybrid or electric vehicle.