You must pay a £12.50 daily ULEZ charge if your vehicle does not meet emissions standards and you drive within the expanded London-wide zone, which operates 24/7 (except Christmas Day). Generally, this applies to pre-2005 petrol cars/vans and pre-2015 diesel vehicles. Check your vehicle's compliance using the TfL online checker.
Yes, you do need to pay the £12.50 ULEZ charge for Heathrow Airport if your vehicle isn't compliant with the emissions standards, as the airport is within the expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) for Greater London, effective from August 2023, and the charge applies for driving in the zone 24/7 (except Christmas Day). You'll pay this fee in addition to any other airport drop-off/pick-up charges if your vehicle doesn't meet the ULEZ criteria.
A car is exempt from the ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) if it's registered in the Historic tax class, meaning it's over 40 years old on a rolling basis (e.g., in 2026, vehicles built before 1986 qualify), or if it was built before 1 January 1973, with both exemptions generally applying if the vehicle isn't used commercially. For vehicles older than 40 years, you must apply to the DVLA to change their tax class to "Historic" to receive the exemption.
What happens if you forget to pay ULEZ within 3 days?
If you forgot to pay the ULEZ charge within 3 days, you likely missed the deadline and will receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) for £180 (reduced to £90 if paid quickly), but you can still pay the original charge or try to negotiate the PCN by contacting TfL immediately, especially if you can prove you tried to pay or didn't know, as they sometimes reduce it back to the original daily fee if you pay promptly.
How to Pay London ULEZ & Congestion Charge Online 2026 - EASY! | How to Set Up ULEZ Auto Pay
Do you have to pay ULEZ twice if you stay overnight?
The Low Emission Zone (LEZ) operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including weekends and all public and bank holidays. Charging days run from midnight to midnight. If you drive within the ULEZ area across two days, for example before midnight and after midnight, you need to pay two daily charges.
Successful applicants will not need to pay the ULEZ charge for their vehicle until 25 October 2027. To apply for this grace period, you will need to provide: Images of the vehicle's V5C (log book) An image of your photo ID.
Like petrol vehicles, most newer diesel vehicles are ULEZ-compliant. The majority of diesel cars registered after September 2015 meet Euro 6 standards – and therefore, also meet the current ULEZ emissions standards, though some earlier models do too.
How do I check if I entered the London congestion zone?
To know if you entered the London Congestion Zone, check the official Transport for London (TfL) website using their postcode/location checker or map, look for physical "C" signs on roads, or use the TfL Pay to Drive in London app; if you suspect you did, check the TfL website within three days to pay the charge and avoid a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) fine.
To qualify for historic vehicle tax exemption in the UK, cars must be at least 40 years old. If your car or van was built before 1 January 1984 or registered before 8 January 1984, you do not need to pay road tax as of this past April (1 April 2024).
No, you do not have to pay the ULEZ charge for driving on the M25 itself, as the zone covers all London boroughs but explicitly excludes the M25 motorway, even where it runs through Greater London. However, if you take diversion routes during M25 closures that lead you into the ULEZ (which is most of London), you will be charged £12.50 daily for a non-compliant vehicle, so always check signs or use a ULEZ checker before deviating, as sat-navs can direct you into the zone.
If you're parking on-site, you'll pay the charge both when you drive to the car park and again when you return to pick up your vehicle. Is London Gatwick (LGW) within London's ULEZ? No, Gatwick is outside the ULEZ zone, so you won't have to pay the charge unless you're driving through the zone to get there.
Yes, you do need to pay the £12.50 ULEZ charge for Heathrow Airport if your vehicle isn't compliant with the emissions standards, as the airport is within the expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) for Greater London, effective from August 2023, and the charge applies for driving in the zone 24/7 (except Christmas Day). You'll pay this fee in addition to any other airport drop-off/pick-up charges if your vehicle doesn't meet the ULEZ criteria.
By using our ULEZ checker! Just enter your reg to see if your vehicle is ULEZ compliant. Using DVLA and emissions standards information published by TfL, we will show you if your car is exempt from charges in London, or whether you need to pay a daily charge to drive in the zone.
Will I get notified if I need to pay a Congestion Charge?
No, you generally won't get a notification to pay the standard London Congestion Charge; it's your responsibility to pay by midnight the next day (or by midnight on the third charging day for a higher fee) to avoid a £180 Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) sent to the registered keeper. You must proactively pay online, via app, or set up Auto Pay to get reminders and automatic payments, otherwise, you'll receive a PCN if you're caught entering the zone without paying.
A car is exempt from the ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) if it's registered in the Historic tax class, meaning it's over 40 years old on a rolling basis (e.g., in 2026, vehicles built before 1986 qualify), or if it was built before 1 January 1973, with both exemptions generally applying if the vehicle isn't used commercially. For vehicles older than 40 years, you must apply to the DVLA to change their tax class to "Historic" to receive the exemption.
All electric cars are ULEZ exempt, along with all petrol cars which meet Euro 4 emissions standards and Euro 6 diesel models. All petrol models built after 2005 will be Euro 4 compliant, whereas diesel models built from 2015 onwards will be Euro 6 compliant.
You can pay by midnight on the third day following the journey or up to 90 days in advance. The daily charge is: £12.50 for cars, motorcycles, vans and specialist vehicles (up to and including 3.5 tonnes) and minibuses (up to and including 5 tonnes)
If we seize a vehicle which has been driven whilst untaxed, we will take it to a police pound. To reclaim your vehicle you must go to the pound with the following: the V5C Registration Document for the vehicle. evidence that you have re-taxed the vehicle – Post Office receipt or DVLA website receipt.
Eligible applicants for these grace periods will not need to pay the ULEZ charge until 25 October 2027. Blue badge holders will need to pay the ULEZ charge unless their non-compliant vehicle qualifies for one of the following 3 grace periods.
