To avoid the London ULEZ charge, ensure your vehicle is compliant (generally Euro 4 petrol or Euro 6 diesel), use navigation apps like Waze set to avoid toll zones, or park outside the zone and use public transport. Older, historic vehicles (pre-1973 or over 40 years old) are also exempt.
How to avoid ULEZ zones. WAZE is an app available on both Android and iPhone devices that maps routes, in a similar way to Google Maps does. The benefit of WAZE is that it utilises user-submitted data to monitor where traffic, roadworks, speed cameras and ULEZ cameras are situated.
Cars that are free to drive in the ULEZ must be Euro 6 (diesel) or Euro 4 (petrol) compliant. That means low emission and zero-emission vehicles such as electric cars will not be charged. Hybrid cars aren't automatically exempt, as some models made before 2015 may not be ULEZ compliant.
A car is exempt from ULEZ if it's a historic vehicle, meaning it's either built before 1 January 1973, or it's over 40 years old and registered with the DVLA in the 'Historic' tax class, which is a rolling system that qualifies newer vehicles annually (e.g., cars built before 1986 were eligible in 2026). This historic tax class exemption applies to both private and some commercial vehicles but requires applying to the DVLA, and vehicles must not be used commercially.
Petrol cars that meet the ULEZ standards are generally those first registered as new with the DVLA after 2005, although cars that meet the standards have been available since 2001. Diesel cars that meet the standards are generally those first registered with the DVLA as new after September 2015.
When driving in the outer suburbs of Greater London, Apple Maps constantly issues warnings about the Greater London ULEZ and highlights its boundaries on the map itself.
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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.
As long as you have taken out the correct level of insurance, you will likely get a courtesy car whether the accident was your fault or the fault of another driver. Most insurance companies believe that, regardless of blame, you should still have access to a vehicle to get you around while yours is being repaired.
Blue badge holders will need to pay the ULEZ charge unless their non-compliant vehicle qualifies for one of the following 3 grace periods. We've provided a brief summary of these grace periods here, but you should visit our discounts and exemptions page for full details, eligibility criteria and the online application.
The real cause of concern regarding ULEZ for many communities and for human rights activists is its use of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) and the free access to this data given to the Metropolitan Police Service (the Met).
For many people, the answer is simple: use both. Google Maps for planning and exploring, Waze for the daily commute. Both apps integrate well with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so whichever you choose, you'll get a safe, hands-free experience.
As of 21 March 2023, there had been 31 instances of vandalism or theft to ULEZ cameras within the expansion zone. Within the existing zone, there had been 12 instances of vandalism or theft. Due to commercial and confidentiality reasons, TfL cannot share the unit cost of cameras, or for repair of cameras.
The London Congestion Charge zone covers eight square miles in the centre of the city, bounded by Euston Road and Marylebone Road in the north, Tower Bridge Road and Commercial Street in the east, Elephant and Castle and New Kent Road in the south, and Park Lane and Edgware Road in the west.
It's tough to avoid cameras once you're in the zone, but knowing where they are can help you. You can also use camera locations to avoid entering ULEZ if you don't want to. Several mobile apps — including Waze and Google Maps — will notify you when you're approaching the ULEZ boundary or a camera.
Houses are blurred on Google Maps primarily for privacy and security, either because the homeowner requested it to hide personal details like faces, license plates, or entry points, or due to an automated system error, but once blurred by request, the blur is permanent and irreversible. It helps protect residents from potential misuse by strangers, deterring criminals by obscuring sensitive property information.
How do you know if you have been caught by an ULEZ camera?
Drivers can check fines online with a TfL tool. They enter their license plate number on the TfL website. The tool shows if their vehicle meets ULEZ rules and if they owe money.
Can I set Google Maps to avoid low emission zones?
Use your sat nav. Google Maps can alert you about any upcoming Low Emission or Clean Air Zones. Simply enter your destination and a warning below the map will appear if it is within an LEZ. It can also recommend routes to help you avoid driving through them.
To be ULEZ compliant, petrol cars must meet Euro 4 emissions standards. Most petrol cars registered after January 2006 meet these standards. Petrol cars that meet Euro 5 and Euro 6 standards are exempt from paying charges.
