London's Ultra Low Emission Zone: what you need to know

The London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) means some older cars need to pay a fee to enter the capital. Here are all the details.

The London ULEZ was introduced in 2019, affecting hundreds of thousands of vehicles driving on the streets of the capital. Other cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, Oxford and Edinburgh are set to follow suit.

The ULEZ - which was brought in by London mayor Sadiq Khan - is designed to improve air quality in London, with older, more polluting vehicles charged to enter the city. It replaced a previous measure called the T-Charge, which started in 2017.

If you frequently drive in London or are just planning a single visit, this ULEZ guide will tell you everything you need to know and whether or not your car incurs the charge.

How does the ULEZ work?

Initially, the ULEZ covered the same area as the familiar Congestion Charge Zone. But as of 25 October 2021, the boundary has been expanded to include the whole area inside the North Circular and South Circular roads.

Road signs at every entry point along the boundary will tell you that you’re crossing into the ULEZ, sitting alongside or below existing Congestion Charge signs. You can see a map of the zone below or use the

This charge is in addition to the Congestion Charge, which costs £15 per day and is in operation every day between the hours of 7am and 10pm, with Christmas Day being the only exception. That means a London commuter with an affected car could be facing an average annual bill of around £5760 for weekday driving just in congestion and ULEZ fees.

If you fail to pay the ULEZ charge by the following evening, a penalty notice will be sent to the owner of the vehicle.

The cars set to vanish from London's roads

The arrival of the ULEZ looks set to effectively banish many iconic models from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s from London's roads, unless their owners are prepared to pay for the privilege of driving them. For a lot of people, the costs will likely prove too prohibitive, which could force them to sell their cars. These are some of the ones we'll miss the most:

Land Rover Defender

Every Defender, up to and including the heritage editions that came at the end of the off-road icon's 67-year production run, is subject to the ULEZ charge. Unbeaten off road, available in a multitude of different configurations and a poster child of the British automotive industry, the Defender will be truly missed from London’s roads.