Do I need to pay the ULEZ?
Only if your vehicle doesn’t meet the ULEZ emissions standards. As a rule of thumb:
- Petrol cars and vans: Euro 4 or newer are compliant — most petrol cars first registered from 2006 onwards.
- Diesel cars and vans: Euro 6 or newer are compliant — most diesels registered from September 2015 onwards.
- Motorcycles: Euro 3 or newer — most registered from July 2007.
- Fully electric vehicles are always compliant.
Registration dates are only a guide. Use the ULEZ checker with your registration to see how your vehicle is recorded.
How much is the ULEZ charge?
£12.50 per vehicle per day. The charging day runs from midnight to midnight, so driving in at 11pm and out at 1am is two charging days. The ULEZ is separate from the Congestion Charge: in central London during Congestion Charge hours, a non-compliant car can owe both.
When do I have to pay by?
You can pay up to 90 days in advance, on the day, or by midnight on the third day after you drove in. After that, TfL issues a penalty charge notice (PCN) to the registered keeper.
What happens if I don’t pay?
A ULEZ penalty charge notice is currently £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days. If you think a PCN is wrong, see our guide to what to do if you forgot to pay the ULEZ.
Want a reminder next time? EveryDrive alerts you when you enter the London Ultra Low Emission Zone and reminds you before the deadline. Join the free beta →
How do I pay the ULEZ?
- Pay online at TfL’s pay to drive in London page, or through the TfL Pay to Drive in London app.
- Or set up TfL Auto Pay (free to register), which bills you monthly for every day your vehicle is detected in the zone.
- Avoid unofficial payment websites — some charge an extra fee for the same payment.
Never miss a ULEZ payment
The hard part is rarely paying — it’s remembering, especially after a one-off trip to London. EveryDrive detects the moment your phone crosses into the zone and reminds you before the payment window closes, so a forgotten charge doesn’t become a penalty.
