ULEZ & Clean Air Zones Euro Standards

Is Euro 5 ULEZ compliant?

Q: Is Euro 5 ULEZ compliant?

Euro 5 petrol cars are ULEZ compliant and can drive in London's Ultra Low Emission Zone without charge. However, Euro 5 diesel cars are not compliant — diesel vehicles must meet Euro 6 to avoid the £12.50 daily ULEZ charge. Use the TfL vehicle checker at tfl.gov.uk to confirm your specific car's status.

CheckFuelPrices Editorial Expert Written • 5 industry sources

Reviewed by Jonathan Mathews VERIFIED

LinkedIn Articles 5+ Yrs Peer Reviewed

It depends on your fuel type: Euro 5 petrol cars are ULEZ compliant and drive in London's Ultra Low Emission Zone for free, but Euro 5 diesel cars are not — you need Euro 6 diesel to avoid the £12.50 daily charge.

The ULEZ Compliance Rule by Fuel Type

Euro 5 petrol: compliant: Petrol cars meeting Euro 5 or higher are exempt from the ULEZ daily charge. Most petrol cars registered from January 2011 onwards meet this standard. 2

Euro 5 diesel: not compliant: Diesel cars must meet Euro 6 to be ULEZ exempt. Euro 5 diesel vehicles are subject to the £12.50 daily charge if driven within the zone. 2

Why the difference?: Euro 5 diesel engines produce significantly higher levels of nitrogen dioxide (NOₓ) than Euro 6, which is the primary pollutant ULEZ targets in urban air quality. 4

When Were Euro 5 and Euro 6 Vehicles Registered?

Euro 5 petrol: Petrol cars registered from approximately January 2011 typically meet Euro 5, though the exact date depends on the manufacturer and model. 4

Euro 6 diesel: Diesel cars registered from approximately September 2015 typically meet Euro 6. Earlier diesels — including Euro 5 — are likely to fail the ULEZ standard. 4

Registration date is not definitive: Euro standard is determined by the vehicle's type approval, not its registration date alone. A car registered in 2015 could still be Euro 5 diesel. 3

Clean Air Zones Outside London

Similar rules apply nationally: UK Clean Air Zones in cities such as Birmingham, Bath, and Bristol follow the same Euro 5 petrol / Euro 6 diesel threshold for private cars. 5

Not all CAZs charge private cars: Several CAZs only charge HGVs, buses, and taxis — private cars may be exempt from charges even if non-compliant. Check each city's specific rules. 5

Check Your Specific Vehicle

Use the official TfL vehicle checker: TfL's free online vehicle checker confirms instantly whether your car is ULEZ compliant based on its registration plate. 3

Fuel costs matter too: If you're considering switching to a compliant vehicle to avoid ULEZ charges, CheckFuelPrices can help you track running costs by finding the cheapest fuel near you. 1