Understanding London’s ULEZ: What it is and how it affects you
Introduced in 2019, ULEZ zones were implemented with the goal of improving London’s air quality, combating climate change and protecting the public’s safety.
With the expansion of ULEZ in August 2023, ULEZ zones can now be found in every major London Borough.
New data shows that the Mayor’s ULEZ expansion is working better than expected, bringing cleaner air to 5 million more Londoners.
According to the government website, over 96 percent of vehicles driving in London today meet the ULEZ standards— but what is ULEZ?
What is ULEZ?
ULEZ stands for Ultra Low Emission Zone: a designated London area where vehicles must meet strict emissions standards to drive without incurring a charge.
Introduced by Transport for London (TFL), ULEZ zones are designed to reduce air pollution and improve public health. Vehicles that do not meet the required standards must pay a daily fee to enter the zone.
The initiative was put in place to encourage people to use vehicles that meet the emission standards to help improve the quality of London’s air.
Where is the ULEZ?
On August 29, 2023, London’s ULEZ underwent a significant expansion, now encompassing every major London borough except the M25.
Using the map below, you can see a more in-depth look at the areas ULEZ covers:
Image Source: TFL
The expansion of London’s ULEZ zones now covers nearly the entire Greater London area, stretching from Enfield in the north to Croydon in the south.
To find out if a specific address is in the ULEZ, you can search on the TFL website.
Find out more about the London ULEZ expansion by reading our guide.
What is the ULEZ charge?
The ULEZ charge is a daily charge of £12.50, which is administered when you enter an ultra-low emission zone.
The deadline for the ULEZ charge payment must be paid by midnight on the third day following your journey.
You can pay this on the day, by the third day following your journey, or up to 90 days in advance.
How to pay ULEZ?
You can pay for the ULEZ charge online, with auto-pay, or with the ‘TFL Pay to Drive in London’ app.
What is Auto-Pay?
The Auto Pay option gives you peace of mind — after setting it up, it will bill you automatically every month for any Congestion Charges, ULEZ and LEZ charges you may owe.
Rapid PCO recommends setting up this account, as it will give you a much lower chance of receiving a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).
There are no registration or renewal fees to worry about with this option.
How to Pay Online?
This is TFL’s official payment portal.
Please be aware of any unofficial websites that might try to mislead you.
Your ULEZ payments should only be made with TFLs’ secure online system.
You can read more about how to avoid payment fraud with TFL.
TFL Pay to Drive in London app
TFL have a free official app with options to pay for your Congestion Charge, ULEZ and Low Emission Zone (LEZ) charges.
The app also lets you:
- Set up Auto Pay
- Pay a penalty
- Check if a postcode is in a charging zone
- Manage your account
- Save your vehicle details for future use
- See your payment history
Already have an Auto Pay account? You can also:
- Add and remove vehicles from your account
- View payment card details
- View your outstanding Auto Pay balance
The TfL Pay to drive in London app can be downloaded for free on Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Will I receive a penalty fine if I don’t pay the ULEZ charge?
If your car is not ULEZ compliant and you fail to pay the daily ULEZ charge by midnight on the third day after going through a zone, you will receive a penalty charge notice of £180.
This can be reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days.
Need to pay a ULEZ PCN?
You can pay an outstanding ULEZ PCN by following this link.
We want to reiterate that setting up an auto-pay account is your best chance of avoiding a penalty charge notice if your vehicle does meet London’s emission standards.
When does ULEZ operate?
ULEZ zones are active 24 hours a day, every day, throughout the year, except for Christmas Day (December 25).
Which cars are ULEZ compliant?
The ULEZ enforcement depends on the vehicle’s declared emissions and not the car’s age.
Petrol: Euro 4 (NOx) for cars, vans, minibuses and other specialist vehicles
Diesel: Euro 6 (NOx and PM) for cars, vans, minibuses and other specialist vehicles
Other passenger cars exempt from the ULEZ charge include:
- Hybrid cars that meet Euro 4 or Euro 6 standards (depending on the fuel type)
- Electric cars
- Vehicles for disabled people
- Classic cars
How to check if my car is ULEZ compliant?
TFL’s free checker allows you to find out if your vehicle meets the emissions and safety standards required to drive in London and whether you will need to pay a daily charge.
Check your vehicle using TFL’s free vehicle safety standards checker.
What do ULEZ cameras look like?
When entering an Ultra Low Emission Zone, there will be a sign that looks like this:
The cameras that are operating will look like the image below:
Where are the ULEZ cameras?
The ULEZ in London is monitored by a network of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras that are strategically placed throughout the city and the Greater London areas.
To find a detailed map of the exact ULEZ camera locations, you can visit the ULEZ camera locations site.
Why switch to an EV?
Switching to an electric vehicle (EV) as a PCO driver in London offers significant benefits, particularly in saving money in the long run and complying with the ULEZ and Congestion regulations.
Driving an electric vehicle removes the £15 a day congestion charge cost when in London.
If you were to enter a congestion charge zone every day across 5 days, you would save £75.
Driving an EV can reduce your emissions and allows you to avoid both the daily ULEZ and Congestion Charges.
Additional reasons to switch to an EV include:
- Lower Running Costs – compared to ICE/ Petrol/Diesel equivalent
- Smooth and quiet ride
- Access to low-emission zones
Have you thought about switching to an EV?
Rapid PCO makes this switch easier by offering electric vehicle rentals with included services like maintenance, insurance, and roadside assistance, helping drivers maximise their earnings.
By stepping into the world of EVs, you can take advantage of lower-emission driving and embrace efficiency.
From cutting edge technology, sleek designs and eco-friendly innovation you can redefine your driving experience whilst boosting your PCO earnings.
Read Rapid PCO’s 10 reasons to choose EV for PCO drivers in London.
Uber clean air plan
As part of the mission to make London a greener city, Uber is aiming to make sure that every car on their app in London is fully electric by 2025.
As part of the Uber Clean Air Plan, Uber has implemented an initiative called EV Assistance.
What is EV Assistance?
As the Uber Clean Air Plan is aimed at getting you to switch to an EV, Uber has introduced EV Assistance, which could help lower the cost of upgrading to an electric vehicle.
If you are eligible for EV Assistance, you can claim up to £5,000 to put towards funding your electric vehicle.
Find out more about EV Assistance and if you could be eligible.
Has ULEZ been successful?
Since the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was first introduced in central London in 2019, it has significantly improved air quality across the city.
By 2024, ULEZ has expanded city-wide and led to major reductions in harmful pollutants. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels are now estimated to be 53% lower in central London and 24% lower in inner London compared to a scenario without ULEZ.
The recent expansion to outer London in August 2023 has also shown early success, with NO2 levels dropping by up to 4.4% and compliance rates for cleaner vehicles reaching over 96%.
This progress demonstrates that the ULEZ is highly effective in removing the most polluting vehicles, contributing to healthier air for millions of Londoners.
About Rapid PCO
Rapid PCO is a trusted vehicle rental provider, specialising in PCO car hire for London’s private hire drivers.
With over a decade of experience and having provided over 11,000 thousand rentals, our vehicle options are suited to your PCO needs.
Whether you’re looking to upgrade your current PCO vehicle or save money on your journeys, Rapid PCO has you covered.
Ready to get started? Call us on 01732 747 190 or visit Rapid PCO to explore your options today!
