Is it possible to avoid ULEZ cameras?

Avoiding ULEZ cameras in London is effectively impossible due to widespread, high-density Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras covering the entire zone, with penalties for tampering, such as using illegal plates, resulting in severe fines or prosecution. The only legal ways to avoid the £12.50 daily charge are to drive a compliant vehicle, use non-driving alternatives, or avoid the zone entirely.

Is there an app to avoid ULEZ cameras?

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.

Are people still damaging ULEZ cameras?

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.

Why are people against ULEZ cameras?

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).

Can Waze avoid ULEZ?

Waze is great at giving you routes that avoid toll roads, which is amazing for avoiding the ULEZ, but it also avoids the suspension bridge. This will sometimes give you weird and super long routes (depending on where you live) because it's trying to avoid both.

BATS THE WAY: Anti-Ulez activists cover cameras with bat boxes

Do 4D number plates avoid ULEZ cameras?

No, legally produced 4D number plates do not avoid ULEZ cameras because they are designed to be road legal and fully readable by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems, which use infrared and character recognition to read compliant plates regardless of raised letters; attempting to evade charges with non-compliant plates (e.g., tinted, unreadable) can lead to fines and MOT failure.
 

Can I get away with not paying ULEZ?

London road user charging

We may issue a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) if you drive within the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in a vehicle that does not meet the emissions standards and you do not pay the correct daily charge.

Do I have to pay ULEZ to go to Heathrow?

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. 

Does Waze avoid Congestion Charge London?

If you have it set to Taxi then Waze will also route through the zone as they are exempt. And also remember the zone only applied from Mon- Fri 7:00 - 18:00 and Sat-Sun 12:00 - 18:00, so, outside those times, Waze will route through the zone.

Who is the most surveilled country in the world?

In 2022, China topped the list of surveilled countries worldwide.

How many ULEZ cameras have been cut down in London?

The data suggest that there are currently 636 cameras which have been vandalised to the point at which they are not currently functioning. This represents 18% of the 3455 cameras that Julie's map show across Greater London.

Has ULEZ been a success?

The latest ULEZ expansion has reduced harmful nitrogen oxides (NOX) emissions in outer London, which are estimated to be 14 per cent lower in 2024 than they would have been without the ULEZ expansion. concentrations means the amount of pollution found in the air. London Road Network compared to a scenario without ULEZ.

How to avoid ULEZ camera?

The only way to avoid the charges is to drive a compliant vehicle. You can use our free ULEZ checker to find out instantly if your car or van is ULEZ compliant. Just enter your vehicle's reg and tap the 'Check Compliance' button. Non-compliant vehicle drivers face a £12.50 fee each time they drive on London's streets.

How to be ULEZ free?

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.

Are ULEZ cameras black?

TFL ULEZ cameras and poles are painted black, making them as unobtrusive as possible.

Do I pay ULEZ on M25?

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. 

Is Gatwick Airport in the ULEZ zone?

Gatwick Airport is outside of the newly expanded ULEZ zone and therefore you are not subject to a congestion charge.

Is the Heathrow T5 inside ULEZ?

Yes, Heathrow Terminal 5 is inside the London ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone), meaning any non-compliant vehicle (cars, motorbikes, vans, etc.) will incur a £12.50 daily charge when driving in the drop-off/pick-up areas, parking, or using the facilities, as the zone expanded to cover the entire airport from August 2023. You can avoid the charge by using compliant vehicles, public transport, or parking at facilities located outside the ULEZ boundary, like some Park & Ride options. 

How do I get out of paying ULEZ fine?

To get out of a ULEZ fine, you must formally appeal to Transport for London (TfL) within 28 days, providing strong evidence for valid reasons like paying the charge but with the wrong plate/date, driving a compliant vehicle wrongly flagged, or a medical emergency; if rejected, you can escalate to the London Tribunals (RUCA). Key successful grounds include proving you paid correctly for the right vehicle/date, the vehicle is compliant (get a Certificate of Conformity), or technical/signage issues. 

How many unpaid ULEZ fines?

Last month it was reported that out of the 1,348,938 ULEZ fines TfL has issued since the ULEZ expansion, 974,590 have still not been paid.

What if I pay ULEZ by mistake?

We cannot refund single day charges for Congestion Charge or ULEZ, or individual crossing charges for Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels. You can only amend one Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels charge at a time. To amend another crossing charge, you'll need to finish one change and start again.

How to trick an ANPR camera?

Ghost plates exploit the vulnerabilities of ANPR cameras using simple but effective modifications, such as:

1. Reflective Sprays – These bounce light back at the camera, causing overexposure and rendering the plate unreadable.
2. Stealth Covers – Transparent films that distort the plate under infrared or flash photography.

Does ghost plate spray work?

Yet, the technology isn't foolproof: Reflection and glare: Reflective sprays or coatings can bounce infrared light back to the camera, making plates unreadable. Obstruction and tampering: Altering fonts, misaligning characters, or using non-standard designs confuses the OCR software.