ULEZ & Clean Air Zones
Compliance Check
Is my car ULEZ compliant?
CheckFuelPrices Editorial
Expert Written • 5 industry sources
Whether your car is ULEZ compliant depends on its Euro emission standard — most petrol cars first registered after January 2006 and most diesel cars first registered after September 2015 meet the requirement. The fastest way to check is to enter your number plate into TfL's official vehicle checker tool.
The ULEZ Emission Standards Explained
Petrol threshold: Euro 4:
Petrol cars must meet the Euro 4 standard, which generally applies to vehicles first registered from January 2006 onwards.
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Diesel threshold: Euro 6:
Diesel cars must meet the stricter Euro 6 standard, typically covering vehicles registered from September 2015 onwards.
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Registration year is a guide, not a guarantee:
A car's registration year is only a rough indicator — the actual Euro standard depends on the specific model and engine. Older cars can sometimes meet the standard and newer ones occasionally do not.
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How to Check Your Vehicle
Use TfL's official number plate checker:
TfL provides a free vehicle checker where you enter your registration number and it instantly tells you whether your car is ULEZ compliant.
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Check your V5C logbook:
Your V5C logbook lists the Euro emission category under section D.2. Look for Euro 4 (petrol) or Euro 6 (diesel) to confirm compliance without going online.
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Daily charge if non-compliant:
If your vehicle does not meet the standard and you drive within the ULEZ boundary, you face a £12.50 daily charge for cars and motorcycles.
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ULEZ vs Other Clean Air Zones
ULEZ is London-specific:
The Ultra Low Emission Zone covers most of Greater London and is operated by Transport for London. It is not the same as the Clean Air Zones operating in cities like Birmingham, Bath, and Bristol.
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Other UK cities have their own rules:
Birmingham, Bath, Bristol, and other cities run Class C or Class D Clean Air Zones with different daily charges and vehicle thresholds — check the relevant council website if you drive outside London.
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Compliance in one zone does not guarantee another:
A vehicle that is ULEZ compliant may still be charged in a regional CAZ, or vice versa, so always check the specific zone you plan to drive through.
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What to Do Next
Check before you drive:
Use TfL's vehicle checker with your number plate — it takes under 30 seconds and gives a definitive yes or no answer.
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Factor in fuel costs if you're considering upgrading:
If your car is non-compliant and you're weighing up whether to upgrade, running cost comparisons matter. CheckFuelPrices shows live petrol and diesel prices at 4,000+ stations so you can estimate ongoing fuel spend on a newer vehicle.
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Sources
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