ULEZ Expansion: Everything to know from charge and area

The expansion has been under great debate since it was first announced by London Mayor Sadiq Khan in November 2022. 

Now, following a High Court ruling and disapproval from boarding boroughs, the ULEZ will be expanding at the end of August. 

Ahead of the expansion, there are a number of aspects that drivers and London residents need to know about the ULEZ.

So you don't have to go searching for your answer, we've rounded up some of the most important things you need to be aware of. 

My decision to expand the ULEZ wasn’t easy, but it’s a decision I remain committed to. Cleaning up our toxic air cannot wait.

That’s why today I’m announcing that £2k will be available to all Londoners with non-compliant cars to switch to greener, less-polluting vehicles. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/40T2c2vSao

— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) August 4, 2023

Everything you need to know about the ULEZ expansion

Where is the ULEZ expanding to?

Currently, the ULEZ covers central London including the City of Westminster and Soho.

It was then later expanded to cover much more of the capital including, Greenwich, Hammersmith, Wood Green, Stratford, and more. 

But now the expansion will cover all of Greater London's 33 boroughs to reduce the region's pollution levels.

Areas including South East London like Bexley, Bromley, Sidcup, Croydon, Enfield, Harrow, Wembley, Romford and more will be affected. 

You can also check if you're postcode is being covered by the ULEZ via this website. 

How much is the ULEZ charge?

The ULEZ charge is £12.50 for cars, motorcycles, vans and specialist vehicles (up to and including 3.5 tonnes) and minibuses (up to and including 5 tonnes).

You should only pay for the charge via the official website, which is the TfL website you can access via this link.

You can also pay automatically every month for any congestion charges and ULEZ charges via Auto Pay.

TfL also has an app which is free and lets you pay the charges, as well as set up the auto-pay option. 

ℹ️ Not all Londoners will be affected by the ULEZ expansion

9 out of 10 cars seen driving in outer London on an average day already meet the emission standard

🚙 Check your vehicle to see if it meets the emissions standards
📍 View an interactive map to see where the expanded… pic.twitter.com/NyTRTp33BC

— TfL (@TfL) August 24, 2023

How to check if your vehicle is ULEZ compliant

You can look at the TfL website which lets you enter your number plate and can check for you. 

In order to avoid paying the charge, you need to meet the ULEZ emissions standards, meaning you must meet the required Euro emissions standards for your vehicle and emission type. 

Those standards are: 

• 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

It's also important to know that for newer vehicles, the Euro emission standard may be listed in section D.2 of your V5C.

What are the operating hours for the ULEZ?

The ULEZ operates for 24 hours every day of the year apart from Christmas Day (December 25). 

What happens if I do not pay the ULEZ charge?

If you do not pay the £12.50 daily fee, TfL will hand out a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).

The penalty charge is the same for all vehicle types, with a set rate of £180 or £90 if paid within 14 days. 

Both UK and non-UK-registered vehicles can get PCNs and you could get separate PCNs for each day driving with the ULEZ.