Is your car ULEZ compliant?
Drive into London in a non-compliant car and it's £12.50 a day. Here's how the Ultra Low Emission Zone rules work, and how to check any UK reg before you buy or drive.
Quick answer: Enter the plate for a free preview, then unlock a full report from £7.99 that shows a clear ULEZ compliant / not compliant verdict — worked out from the vehicle's Euro emissions standard and fuel type.
What is the London ULEZ?
The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is an area covering all London boroughs where the most polluting vehicles must pay a daily charge to drive. For a car, van or motorcycle that does not meet the emissions standard, the charge is £12.50 per day. It applies 24 hours a day, every day of the year except Christmas Day, and is separate from the Congestion Charge — so on some journeys you could pay both.
Is my car ULEZ compliant? The rule
Whether you pay depends on your car's Euro emissions standard and its fuel type, not simply its age. The broad rule is:
- Petrol and petrol-hybrid cars must meet Euro 4 or newer — roughly cars registered from 2006 onwards.
- Diesel cars must meet Euro 6 or newer — roughly cars registered from September 2015 onwards.
- Motorcycles must meet Euro 3 or newer.
- Pure electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles produce no exhaust emissions and are exempt, so they never pay the charge.
The registration dates above are a guide, not a guarantee: emissions standards are tied to when a vehicle was type-approved and built, so a small number of cars registered just before these dates already meet the standard, and a few just after do not. That's why it always pays to check the specific vehicle by its registration rather than assuming from the year.
How to check by registration
Checking is simple: enter the number plate and we identify the vehicle, its fuel type and its Euro emissions standard. GuruCarCheck shows a clear "ULEZ compliant" or "not compliant" verdict on every full report, so you know before you buy a car — or before you drive an unfamiliar one into the zone — whether it will cost you £12.50 a day. It's an easy detail to overlook when a car looks perfect on paper but quietly fails the emissions rule.
Buying used? ULEZ status is one of several things worth confirming before you hand over money. Pair it with our write-off check and outstanding finance check so you know the car is compliant, unencumbered and genuinely as described.
Other UK Clean Air Zones
London is not the only city charging older vehicles. Cities including Birmingham, Bristol, Bradford and Sheffield operate Clean Air Zones (CAZ) with broadly similar Euro-standard rules, but the charges, boundaries and which vehicle types are affected all differ from place to place — some target only buses, taxis and vans rather than private cars. If you regularly drive into more than one city, it's worth confirming each scheme separately.
GuruCarCheck reports the vehicle's Euro emissions standard and fuel type, which is the information every zone is based on. For the definitive, live position on London specifically — including any temporary exemptions or scrappage arrangements — Transport for London's own ULEZ checker is the authoritative source.
ULEZ check FAQs
How do I know if my car is ULEZ compliant?
Compliance comes down to your car's Euro emissions standard and fuel type: petrol must meet Euro 4 (roughly from 2006) and diesel Euro 6 (roughly from September 2015). Enter your registration into GuruCarCheck and a full report gives a clear compliant or not-compliant verdict.
How much is the ULEZ charge?
It is £12.50 per day for a non-compliant car, van or motorcycle, applying 24 hours a day every day except Christmas Day. It is charged separately from the Congestion Charge.
Are older petrol cars ULEZ exempt?
Not automatically. A petrol car only avoids the charge if it meets Euro 4, which broadly means registered from 2006. Some earlier cars still qualify, so check by registration rather than assuming.
Do electric cars pay ULEZ?
No. Pure electric and hydrogen vehicles are ULEZ compliant and pay nothing. Plug-in hybrids are only exempt if their combustion engine meets the relevant Euro standard.