ULEZ expansion - what you need to know as thousands more drivers risk £180 fine
The Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is expanding from today - meaning thousands more drivers face paying a daily £12.50 charge to drive in all London boroughs.
ULEZ will cover all London boroughs from Tuesday, August 29 - previously, it only covered all areas within the North and South Circular Roads. ULEZ is aimed at lowering pollution and emissions levels in London.
It targets the most polluting vehicles - typically older cars - and if your car isn't ULEZ-compliant, you'll need to pay each day you drive into the zone. London mayor Sadiq Khan first confirmed ULEZ will be expanding last November.
Nearly 700,000 drivers in Greater London could be liable to pay the ULEZ charge when the scheme expands, according to the RAC. ULEZ was first introduced by Mr Khan in 2019 based on plans laid out by Boris Johnson. Initially, the zone only covered the area of Central London, covering the same area as the congestion charge. Here is everything you need to know.
Where is ULEZ expanding to?
ULEZ is expanding to include all London boroughs. You can see which areas will be affected in this map below.
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Map shows the size of the latest ULEZ expansion (TfL)How much is ULEZ?
ULEZ is charged at £12.50 a day and operates seven days a week, except for Christmas Day. ULEZ applies against cars, motorcycles, vans and specialist vehicles (up to and including 3.5 tonnes) and minibuses (up to and including 5 tonnes) who do not comply with the current European emission standards.
Lorries, vans or specialist heavy vehicles (over 3.5 tonnes) and buses, minibuses and coaches (over 5 tonnes) do not need to pay the ULEZ charge. They will need to pay the LEZ charge if they do not meet the LEZ emissions standard.
How do I know if I need to pay ULEZ?
You can check if your car is liable for the ULEZ charge here. Enter your number plate to find your vehicle. If you drive within the zone, you'll have to pay by midnight on the third day following the journey.
You don’t need to pay ULEZ if you are parked within the zone and don’t drive on that day. You can pay the ULEZ fee through the TFL website.
What happens if I don’t pay?
If you don't pay the ULEZ charge, you could be issued a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) of £180. This is reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days.
Do you agree with ULEZ? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.
What is happening outside of London?
Other areas of the UK have introduced their own version of the ULEZ zone - these are often referred to as Clean Air Zones (CAZ). Here is how much each city charges for non-compliant vehicles - the bigger daily charges are typically for HGVs and larger vehicles.
Class D is the only CAZ to include private cars. Check each relevant council website before you set out on your journey so you’re not hit with an unexpected fine.
- Bath (Class C CAZ) - £9 to £100
- Birmingham (Class D CAZ) - £8 to £50
- Bradford (Class C CAZ) - £7 to £50
- Bristol (Class D CAZ) - £9 to £100
- Portsmouth (Class B CAZ) - £10 to £50
- Sheffield (Class C CAZ) - £10 to £50
- Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside (Class C CAZ) - £12.50 to £50
Glasgow drivers entering the city centre zone face a penalty charge under Low Emission Zone (LEZ) rules if they do not comply with emission standards. This fine is £60, reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days.
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Penalty rates double for repeated entries up to a maximum of £480 for cars and £960 for buses and HGVs. Oxford has introduced a Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) where the daily charge is between £2 and £20.
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