YOUR GUIDE TO ULEZ

(Posted on 22/04/24)

Your Guide to ULEZ

ULEZ stands for Ultra Low Emissions Zones which operates in the Greater London area 24/7 and 364 days a year. The ULEZ has been introduced in order to reduce the level of emissions in the air in London by discouraging drivers from using older vehicles or more polluting vehicles when travelling in the city.

With ULEZ being introduced in 2019 to reduce air pollution in central London by Boris Johnson during his position as Mayor of London and covered the same area as the Congestion Zone. In October 2021 the ULEZ was expanded 18 times the size of the Congestion Zone to include everything within the North Circular Road (A406) and South Circular Road (A205).

Research has shown in 2020 that the daily charge ULEZ incurs has helped rescue roadside nitrogen dioxide levels by 44%. Six months after the expansion it was shown that 94% of vehicles driving in the zone met the emission standard on an average day.

ULEZ Stranded

• Euro 3 for motorcycles, mopeds, motorised tricycles and quadricycles (L category)
• Euro 4 (NOx) for petrol cars, vans, minibuses and other specialist vehicles
• Euro 6 (NOx and PM) for diesel cars, vans and minibuses and other specialist vehicles

Lorries, vans and specialist heavy vehicles (all over 3.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) and buses, minibuses and coaches (all over 5 tonnes GVW) do not need to pay the ULEZ charge. They will need to pay the LEZ charge if they do not meet the LEZ emissions standards.

Cost

For cars, motorcycles and vans (up to 3.5 tonnes) that do not meet the ULEZ emissions strand will have to pay a daily charge of £12.50.

You can pay by midnight on the third day following the journey or up to 90 days in advance.