Where is the ULEZ boundary?
Since August 2023 the ULEZ has covered all London boroughs. In practice that means almost everywhere inside the M25, with a few gaps where the London boundary sits inside the motorway. Places close to the edge — parts of Surrey, Hertfordshire, Essex and Kent — are outside the zone, even if they have a London postcode.
Postcodes don’t line up exactly with the zone, which is why checking the precise address is more reliable than checking the postcode area.
Is Heathrow, the M25 or central London in the ULEZ?
- Heathrow Airport — inside the ULEZ.
- The M25 — not in the ULEZ itself, but the roads you exit onto towards London usually are.
- Central London — inside the ULEZ and also the Congestion Charge zone during its hours.
- Dartford Crossing — outside the ULEZ. It has its own separate Dart Charge.
How does ULEZ know I drove in?
TfL uses automatic number plate recognition cameras across the zone. Your plate is matched against the vehicle’s emissions record, and if it’s non-compliant and no payment is found, a penalty charge notice goes to the registered keeper.
