Seven ways you can avoid paying ULEZ charge - from cycling to driving a tractor
From Tuesday (August 29 2023) the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) will extend to all of London's boroughs.
The ULEZ was first launched by former London Mayor Boris Johnson but was officially introduced in April 2019 by current Mayor Sadiq Khan to help combat London’s poor air quality. It initially included parts of Central London, but from Tuesday, August 29, it now covers all 33 boroughs.
Vehicles found to exceed the minimum emission standards could expect to pay a daily charge of £12.50, but exemptions will apply to residents parked inside these zones that don’t drive.
According to the TFL website, more than four out of five vehicles currently meet the emission standards. If your vehicle does not meet the standard of the ULEZ, then you could face a fine of £180, however, this drops to £90 if paid within 14 days.
There are several ways you can avoid the daily charge - some are admittedly more practical than others - but we've listed a few of them below.
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Check if you’re already exempt
First, those impacted by the change should check whether they are already exempt from paying the ULEZ charge before making any decisions. This is because there are a number of measures in place to help vulnerable people, charities and small businesses.
Small businesses with less than 50 employees, micro-businesses with up to 10 employees, charities and not-for-profit organisations can apply to be temporarily exempt from the ULEZ charges. Applicants for this exemption will first need to prove they have ordered a ULEZ-compliant vehicle, or booked their current vehicle in to be retrofitted to meet the emission standards. The exemption then lasts until they receive their new or retrofitted vehicle, or 29 May 2024, whichever comes earlier.
People who claim certain disability benefits, such as the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), are terminally ill, or are the parent or guardian of a child under the age of three who suffers from health problems that prevent them from taking public transport, can apply to not pay the ULEZ charge until 25 October 2027. However, be aware that disabled applicants must also be blue badge holders.
Vehicles used for community transport by charities, schools and local authorities may also be eligible for a grace period until October 26, 2025. You can apply for your exemption on TfL's website.
Do you agree with ULEZ? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.
Cycle across the city
London's bike hire scheme and cycle superhighway network are helping make the capital an increasingly bike-friendly place. TFL has developed a fair amount of cycle routes through the city that are designed to be done in "short, easy stages".
TfL also has cycling pages on its website which hosts useful resources for cyclists. You can find maps covering the whole of London, learn about cycling training sessions and use a handy journey planner tool to choose the type of cycle route you want.
The city also has a cycle hire scheme with its Santander bikes as well as others such as Lime. These allow you to rent a bike for your journey and cycle docks are located all across London so you can simply drop your back off when you complete your journey.
Use public transport
Unless you need to bring equipment or tools into central London, it’s easy to avoid driving into ULEZ zone, thanks to plentiful transport options. Many people park up at a tube or train station just outside the ULEZ and commute in. However, the cost of taking a family on public transport might make the charge and London parking fees look cheap.
Buy a compliant car
If you are a driver and are based in London - or frequently drive in - you may simply want to get a ULEZ-compliant car. According to TfL, to be ULEZ compliant, petrol cars must meet Euro 4 emissions standards. If you have a newer car the ULEZ charge shouldn't be an issue as most petrol cars registered after January 2006 meet these standards. Petrol cars that meet Euro 5 and Euro 6 standards are also exempt from paying charges.
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To be ULEZ compliant, diesel cars must meet Euro 6 standards and most diesel cars registered since September 2015 meet these standards, though some earlier models will also be compliant. If your car is not ULEZ compliant, then you can apply for a £2000 grant from TfL to replace your car. You can apply for the grant by filling in a form on the TfL website, with the money being awarded on a first come, first served basis.
Electric cars are also exempt from the ULEZ by virtue of them producing zero exhaust emissions.
Invest in a classic car
Now, believe it or not, some older cars are actually exempt from the ULEZ charge. Cars that were built before 1982 with a historic tax class - this means there’s no annual car tax to pay - are automatically exempt from the ULEZ. The cut-off date rolls forward each year, so pre-1985 historic cars will be exempt in 2025, and so on.
This option may be counter-intuitive as the idea behind the ULEZ scheme is to prevent high polluting vehicles from driving on London's roads - however, it is an option if you really don't want to pay the charge.
Drive a tank or tractor
Now, this is a particularly silly option but again it is true military vehicles and tractors are exempt from the ULEZ charge - although there are restrictions when it comes to tanks.
For a military vehicle to be exempt, for both UK and foreign - they must not registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). So, you’ll probably need to be a serving soldier to take advantage of this hack.
With tractors, TfL says that “specialist agricultural vehicles” – as well as excavators and certain mobile cranes – are exempt from having to pay the daily charge. Although the saving you make must be weighed against the painfully slow trundle into town that you’ll have to endure, but then again given the glacial pace that London traffic moves, this might not be so bad after all.
Join a circus
The silliest option of the lot perhaps is to join the circus. London's Mayor Sadiq Khan has decided that clean air shouldn't come at the price of laughter, so circus staff are one of the few groups that gain an exemption from ULEZ.
Specifically, the exemption covers anyone driving a specially constructed or modified "showman's vehicle" that's used during a performance or to carry performance equipment. As we said, this can be considered an extreme move however, it may be appealing to those whose alternative is commuting on the tube every day.
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