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The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is a charging zone in London designed to reduce air pollution by discouraging the most polluting vehicles from driving in the area. Since 29 August 2023, ULEZ covers all London boroughs — meaning every road within the Greater London boundary is included.
Vehicles that do not meet the required emission standards are charged a daily fee to drive within the zone. The scheme is enforced 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, using automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras throughout London.
London is not the only city with emission-based charging. Other UK cities have introduced Clean Air Zones (CAZs) with similar rules. Birmingham, Bath, Bradford, Bristol, and Sheffield all operate or have planned Clean Air Zones, each with their own boundaries and vehicle requirements. Our free check helps you understand whether your vehicle meets the emission standards used across these schemes.
The London ULEZ daily charge is £12.50 for cars, motorcycles, and vans that do not meet the emission standards. This applies every day the vehicle is driven within the zone. Failure to pay results in a penalty charge notice of £180 (reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days).
Other UK Clean Air Zones have their own charging structures. Birmingham charges up to £8 per day for non-compliant cars, while Bath and Bristol have similar schemes targeting older, more polluting vehicles.
To be ULEZ compliant, your vehicle generally needs to meet these standards:
Some vehicles also qualify for discounts, exemptions, or grace periods — for example, disabled tax class vehicles and certain military vehicles. Our check shows you the Euro emission standard recorded against your vehicle so you can quickly determine compliance.
Checking your vehicle's ULEZ compliance with Free Plate Check takes seconds. Simply enter your registration number on our homepage and we will show you the vehicle's recorded Euro emission standard alongside its tax, MOT, and specification data.
If your vehicle is listed as Euro 4 or later (petrol) or Euro 6 or later (diesel), it meets the ULEZ standard. Electric and hydrogen vehicles are automatically compliant. No signup or payment is required — our check is completely free. You can also see the full vehicle specification including Euro emission standard on our free car check page.
Yes, completely free. No signup, no payment, no hidden charges. Enter any UK registration number and we will show you the vehicle's Euro emission standard and ULEZ compliance status instantly.
Petrol vehicles need to meet Euro 4 or later (generally from 2006 onwards). Diesel vehicles need to meet Euro 6 or later (generally from September 2015 onwards). Electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are exempt from ULEZ charges.
London has the ULEZ, but other UK cities operate their own Clean Air Zones (CAZs) with similar emission-based charging. Cities including Birmingham, Bath, Bradford, Bristol, and Sheffield have active or planned Clean Air Zones with varying requirements.
The ULEZ daily charge is £12.50 for non-compliant cars, motorcycles, and vans. Failure to pay results in a penalty charge notice of £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days. The charge applies every day the vehicle is driven within the zone.
Hybrid cars are not automatically exempt. They must still meet the relevant Euro emission standard — Euro 4 for petrol hybrids or Euro 6 for diesel hybrids. Most modern hybrids meet these standards, but older models may not. Check by entering your registration number.
Yes. Birmingham, Bath, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth, and Sheffield have implemented or planned Clean Air Zones with similar emission-based charging. The specific standards and charges vary by city, but the Euro emission standards used are generally the same as ULEZ.
For a comprehensive guide to ULEZ compliance, read our complete ULEZ guide.
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