What cars are ULEZ compliant?

The Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) has expanded. Is your car ULEZ complaint?

ULEZ compliant cars are petrol vehicles that meet at least Euro 4 emissions standards (generally registered after January 2006) and diesel vehicles that meet Euro 6 standards (generally registered after September 2015). Electric cars are always compliant.

Key Takeaways

  • Petrol Cars: Must meet Euro 4 standards (generally registered after January 2006).
  • Diesel Cars: Must meet Euro 6 standards (generally registered after September 2015).
  • Electric Vehicles: All battery-electric cars are 100% ULEZ compliant.
  • Daily Charge: Non-compliant vehicles must pay £12.50 per day to drive within Greater London.
  • Compliance Check: Use a registration-based ULEZ checker to confirm your vehicle’s status instantly.

If your car doesn’t meet these standards, you’ll need to pay £12.50 per day to drive within London’s Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ), which now covers the whole of Greater London up to the M25. The zone operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 364 days a year (excluding Christmas Day). Fail to pay and you could face a Penalty Charge Notice of £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days.

You can check your car’s ULEZ compliance now with our ULEZ checker, and read on to find out which petrol and diesel cars are compliant and how to avoid the charges.

Is my car ULEZ compliant?

The aim of the ULEZ is to reduce pollution and improve air quality in London by introducing a charge for vehicles that don’t meet new exhaust emission standards.

For petrol cars, the standard is Euro 4. Most petrol cars registered after 2005 meet this, though some compliant models have been available since 2001. For diesel cars, the standard is Euro 6, which has been the common engine standard since around September 2015. Because diesel engines produce higher levels of harmful pollutants like nitrogen oxide, they’re held to a stricter standard than petrol.

Here are the ULEZ standards at a glance:

ULEZ compliant petrol cars

  • Must meet at least Euro 4 emissions standards
  • Were generally registered after January 2006, though some compliant models date back to 2001.

ULEZ compliant diesel cars

  • Must be Euro 6 compliant
  • Were generally registered after September 2015

ULEZ compliant hybrid and electric cars

  • With hybrid diesel engines: Must meet Euro 6 standards
  • With hybrid petrol engines: Must meet Euro 4 standards
  • Battery-electric EVs: Electric cars are always compliant

ULEZ compliant vans and motorbikes

  • Diesel vans must be Euro 6 compliant
  • Petrol vans must be Euro 4 compliant
  • Motorcycles must be Euro 3 compliant

If you’re concerned that your car might not be ULEZ compliant, there is an easy way to check – using Motorway’s free

ULEZ checker tool .

Simply enter your vehicle’s reg and it will instantly pull data from the DVLA to see if your car meets the current emissions standards that qualify it as low polluting. (Only high-polluting vehicles are targeted by the ULEZ.)

Are petrol cars ULEZ compliant?

Yes, most petrol cars are ULEZ compliant, provided they meet Euro 4 emissions standards or above. Most petrol cars registered since January 2006 meet these standards, and some compliant models were available as early as 2001.

Petrol cars that meet the newer Euro 5 or Euro 6 standards can also drive into and around the ULEZ without paying charges.

All petrol vehicles that have a historic vehicle tax class (non-commercial) are ULEZ exempt, along with some disabled tax class vehicles. Read our guide for more on exemptions from ULEZ charges and fines.

Are petrol or diesel cars ULEZ compliant?
Are petrol or diesel cars ULEZ compliant?

Are diesel cars ULEZ compliant?

Yes, most newer diesel cars are ULEZ compliant, provided they meet Euro 6 standards.

Most diesel cars registered since September 2015 meet these standards. However, some earlier models are also compliant, and some later models were slower to adopt Euro 6, so it’s worth checking yours specifically.

As with petrol models, diesel cars that have a historic vehicle tax class or a disabled tax class are exempt from the ULEZ.

How can I make my car ULEZ compliant?

If your car is not ULEZ compliant, and you don’t want to pay the daily charges, you might consider retrofitting a non-compliant van or car to meet the requirements of the zone.

This can be achieved by either upgrading the vehicle’s exhaust system or changing its engine.

However, retrofitting is extremely pricey. And the cost doesn’t end with the work itself. After the upgrade, you’ll also need to:

  • Have the vehicle re-certified by the DVSA at your own cost, so it’s officially recognised as compliant
  • Notify the DVLA and the local authorities that manage Clean Air Zones (CAZs) of your upgraded status, to avoid unexpected Penalty Charge Notices

Sell and upgrade: In most cases, selling your car and buying a compliant one works out cheaper than retrofitting. You can sell your car on Motorway for free, whether it’s ULEZ compliant or not, and use the money toward a compliant replacement.

ulez compliant vehicles
It’s normally cheaper to trade or sell your vehicle and purchase a ULEZ compliant one rather than upgrading it.

How old does a car have to be to be ULEZ compliant?

Strictly speaking, a car’s registration year alone doesn’t determine whether it’s ULEZ compliant. What matters is its Euro emissions rating. However, registration dates are a useful rough guide:

  • Petrol cars registered after January 2006 generally meet Euro 4 (or higher) and are compliant
  • Diesel cars registered after September 2015 generally meet Euro 6 and are compliant

The Euro standards are European emissions rules designed to reduce pollution from vehicles. They target nitrogen oxide (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (THC and NMHC) and particulate matter (PM).

If your car doesn’t meet these standards, the daily ULEZ charge runs from midnight to midnight. That means if you drive within the zone across two days (for example, before midnight and after midnight), you’ll need to pay for both days.

How old does a car have to be to avoid ULEZ?

You don’t need to pay the ULEZ charge if your vehicle has a historic tax class. This applies to any vehicle built more than 40 years ago, based on a rolling system set by the DVLA.

In 2026, that means vehicles built before 1986 are eligible for historic tax class and are exempt from the ULEZ, regardless of their emissions standard.

Note that the 40-year rule applies to when the vehicle was built, not when it was first registered. To confirm whether your vehicle qualifies, check its tax class through the DVLA or use our free ULEZ checker tool.

If your car doesn’t qualify for a historic exemption and isn’t ULEZ compliant, you can sell it on Motorway and put the money toward a compliant replacement.

How do I prove my car is ULEZ compliant?

The quickest way to check is to use Motorway’s free ULEZ checker tool. Enter your reg and it will use DVLA data to confirm whether your car meets the current emissions standards.

If you need formal proof (for example, to challenge a charge you believe was issued in error), you have two options:

  • Apply for a letter from your vehicle manufacturer’s Homologation Department, which states the vehicle’s Euro standard
  • Apply for a Certificate of Conformity (CoC), a document issued by the manufacturer that certifies your vehicle was built to the required standards

The ULEZ is enforced based on the declared emissions of the vehicle rather than its age, so having the right documentation matters if there’s ever a dispute.

If you have received a ULEZ charge – and you think it has been sent to you in error – you can find out for sure if your vehicle is compliant by using Motorway’s ULEZ checker tool .

Simply enter your vehicle’s reg into the checker and it will use data from the DVLA, to see if your car meets the current emissions standards.

What is the ULEZ penalty charge for not paying?

If you drive a non-compliant vehicle in the ULEZ and don’t pay the £12.50 daily charge, you’ll receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).

  • The standard penalty is £180
  • This is reduced to £90 if you pay within 14 days

The ULEZ operates 24 hours a day, 364 days a year (excluding Christmas Day). The charge period runs from midnight to midnight, so if you drive in the zone across two calendar days, two separate daily charges apply.

If you’ve received a penalty and believe it was issued in error, you can check your car’s compliance status using our free ULEZ checker tool. Simply enter your reg and we’ll use DVLA data to confirm whether your vehicle meets the current emissions standards.

Will ULEZ standards change for diesel cars?

The current ULEZ standard for diesel cars is Euro 6. Most diesel cars registered after September 2015 meet this standard, though some earlier models do too.

There are no confirmed plans to raise the ULEZ emissions threshold beyond Euro 6 for diesel cars at this time. However, as the UK moves toward its 2035 target to phase out new petrol and diesel car sales, Clean Air Zone rules across UK cities may tighten over time.

If you’re unsure whether your diesel car will remain compliant, use our free ULEZ checker tool to confirm its current status. And if you’re thinking about switching to a compliant car, you can sell your current car on Motorway quickly and for free.

Sell your car with Motorway

Whether your car is ULEZ compliant or not, selling your car on Motorway is quick, easy and free. As low emission zones expand to other cities around the UK, replacing a non-compliant car with a compliant one is a smart move. Get a free, instant valuation and let 8,000+ verified dealers compete to offer you their best price, with free collection and no