The ULEZ charge
If your vehicle is not ULEZ-compliant, and you aren’t eligible for an exemption or discount, you’ll be required to pay the ULEZ charge each day you drive within the zone.
How much is the ULEZ charge?
The ULEZ daily charge is £12.50.
This must be paid by the drivers of cars, motorbikes, vans, specialist vehicles (up to and including 3.5 tonnes), and minibuses (up to and including 5 tonnes) that do not meet the minimum emissions standards.
How to pay the ULEZ charge
There are a variety of ways in which you can pay the ULEZ charge:
Auto Pay
You can register to automatically pay any of the charges you owe by setting up Auto Pay.
Online
You can pay the ULEZ charge online through Transport for London’s official payment portal.
TfL ‘Pay to Drive in London’ app
The ‘Pay to Drive in London’ app is free to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. It provides you with an official way to pay the ULEZ and LEZ charges as well as the Congestion Charge.
With this app, you can also do the following:
- Set up Auto Pay;
- Pay a penalty charge notice; and
- Check what postcodes are included in the various charging zones.
London Road User Charging account
By setting up a London Road User Charging account you can set up Auto Pay for up to five vehicles to pay the charges automatically, make faster payments, and grant up to five people access to your account.
Fines for ULEZ
TfL has introduced Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras throughout the ULEZ. These cameras detect when vehicles enter and exit the zone and can identify which vehicles are required to pay the charge.
Within three days of driving with the zone, you will be required to pay the charge if you are not exempt, your vehicle doesn’t meet the emissions standards, or if you haven’t registered for a 100% discount.
Failure to make this payment may result in a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) of £180. There are 28 days to make this payment, however, if it is paid within 14 days then it will be lowered to £90. Alternatively, if you fail to make the payment within the timeframe it will increase to £270 and follow the stages of the enforcement process.
Please note that you may also receive a PCN if:
- You paid the ULEZ charge for an incorrect number plate; or
- You paid the ULEZ charge for an incorrect day of travel; or
- You paid by post less than 10 days before your date of travel.
ULEZ charge discounts and exemptions
In addition to vehicles which meet the emissions standards, the following drivers and vehicles qualify for at least a temporary 100% discount from the ULEZ charge:
- Lorries, vans and specialist heavy vehicles (all over 3.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)).
- Buses, minibuses and coaches (all over 5 tonnes GVW).
- Disabled individuals whose vehicles have been registered with the DVLA as having either ‘disabled’ or ‘disabled passenger vehicle tax class. This exemption period will last until 24 October 2027 (providing that their vehicle doesn’t change tax class).
- Wheelchair-accessible vehicles that don’t meet ULEZ emissions standards and that have been converted by mobility experts to allow a disabled person to access the vehicle as a driver or passenger. Successful applicants will not need to pay the ULEZ charge for their vehicle until 25 October 2027.
- Individuals receiving certain disability benefits may be able to apply for a grace period. Successful applicants will not need to pay the ULEZ charge for their vehicle until 25 October 2027.
- NHS patients who have been clinically assessed as too ill to travel to an appointment on public transport may be able to claim back any ULZ charge.
- London-licensed taxis.
- Certain not-for-profit organisations that operate minibuses used for community transport can register for a temporary 100% discount of the ULEZ charge until 26 October 2025.
- Historic cars that were either built before 1 January 1973, or over 40 years old and registered with the DVLA as a historic vehicle tax class. If your class car is registered outside the UK and it is exempt, you will need to register it.
- Showman’s vehicles.
- Specialist agricultural vehicles.
- Military vehicles.
- Non-road going vehicles.
- Certain types of mobile cranes
Please note that you may have to register or apply to receive the grace period or exemption. Check Transport for London’s discount and exempt guidance for further information.
The ULEZ charge and the Congestion Charge
The ULEZ charge and the Congestion Charge are two different payments:
- The ULEZ charge is a £12.50 daily fee that must be paid by those driving in any of the London boroughs who aren’t exempt or whose vehicles do not meet the emissions standards.
- The Congestion Charge is a £15 daily charge that must be paid if you drive within the Congestion Charge zone. This charge applies between 07:00 – 18:00 Monday to Friday and 12:00 – 18:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.
As they are two separate payments, if your vehicle is not ULEZ compliant you will also need to pay the Congestion Charge if you drive within that zone. Whereas, if your vehicle is ULEZ compliant or you are exempt, you will only need to pay the Congestion Charge if you drive in that zone.
