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ULEZ, LEZ & Clean Air Zone Guide (2026)

Is your car compliant? Check the emissions rules for London ULEZ and every UK clean air zone. Petrol cars need Euro 4+ (roughly 2006 onwards). Diesel cars need Euro 6+ (roughly 2015 onwards).

Updated March 2026. Based on DVSA MOT data for 6,059 popular models.

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57%

Models compliant

1,828

Models non-compliant

£12.50

London ULEZ daily charge

ULEZ Compliance Rules at a Glance

Petrol Cars

Must meet Euro 4 or later. In practice, most petrol cars registered from January 2006 onwards are compliant. Some models from 2004-2005 also qualify.

Diesel Cars

Must meet Euro 6 or later. In practice, most diesel cars registered from September 2015 onwards are compliant. Older diesels are almost certainly non-compliant.

Electric Vehicles

Fully electric vehicles are exempt from all ULEZ and clean air zone charges. No registration year requirement.

Hybrids

Follow the same rules as petrol cars (Euro 4+). Most hybrids registered from 2006 onwards are compliant. Plug-in hybrids from 2015+ are almost always fine.

How to Check Your Car's Euro Emissions Standard

  1. Check your V5C (logbook). The Euro emissions standard is listed in section D.2. It will say "Euro 4", "Euro 5", "Euro 6", etc.
  2. Use the TfL online checker. Enter your registration at tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle for an instant result.
  3. Use the year as a rough guide. Petrol 2006+ or diesel September 2015+ is compliant in most cases, but always confirm with the official checker for certainty.

All UK Clean Air Zones (2026)

Every active and proposed clean air zone in the UK. Daily charges apply to non-compliant vehicles only.

London ULEZ

£12.50/day

Area: All London boroughs (within M25 boundary)

Hours: 24 hours, every day

Rules: Petrol Euro 4+, Diesel Euro 6+, or pay the daily charge

Launched: April 2019 (expanded August 2023)

London LEZ

£100-£300/day for non-compliant heavy vehicles

Area: Greater London

Hours: 24 hours, every day

Rules: Applies to lorries, buses, coaches, and heavier vans. Euro VI required.

Launched: February 2008

London Congestion Charge

£15/day

Area: Central London (Zone 1)

Hours: 7am-6pm, Mon-Fri and 12pm-6pm Sat-Sun

Rules: Separate from ULEZ. All vehicles must pay unless exempt.

Launched: February 2003

Birmingham Clean Air Zone

£8/day for cars, £50/day for HGVs

Area: Birmingham city centre (within A4540 ring road)

Hours: 24 hours, every day

Rules: Petrol Euro 4+, Diesel Euro 6+

Launched: June 2021

Bristol Clean Air Zone

£9/day for cars, £100/day for HGVs

Area: Bristol city centre

Hours: 24 hours, every day

Rules: Petrol Euro 4+, Diesel Euro 6+

Launched: November 2022

Bath Clean Air Zone

£9/day for cars, £100/day for HGVs

Area: Bath city centre

Hours: 24 hours, every day

Rules: Petrol Euro 4+, Diesel Euro 6+

Launched: March 2021

Bradford Clean Air Zone

£9/day for cars, £50/day for HGVs

Area: Bradford city centre

Hours: 24 hours, every day

Rules: Petrol Euro 4+, Diesel Euro 6+

Launched: September 2022

Portsmouth Clean Air Zone

£10/day for cars, £50/day for HGVs

Area: Parts of Portsmouth city centre

Hours: 24 hours, every day

Rules: Petrol Euro 4+, Diesel Euro 6+

Launched: November 2021

Sheffield Clean Air Zone

£10/day for cars, £50/day for HGVs

Area: Sheffield city centre (inner ring road)

Hours: 24 hours, every day

Rules: Petrol Euro 4+, Diesel Euro 6+

Launched: February 2023

Newcastle/Gateshead Clean Air Zone

£12.50/day for cars, £50/day for HGVs

Area: Newcastle and Gateshead city centres

Hours: 24 hours, every day

Rules: Petrol Euro 4+, Diesel Euro 6+

Launched: January 2023

Manchester (Proposed)

TBC

Area: Greater Manchester area

Hours: TBC

Rules: Plans paused and under review. Originally due 2022.

Launched: Not yet launched

The True Cost of Driving a Non-Compliant Car

If you regularly drive into a clean air zone with a non-compliant vehicle, the costs add up quickly. A daily commute into London ULEZ at £12.50/day costs approximately £3,250 per year (assuming 5 days a week, 52 weeks). That is more than most cars cost in total annual running expenses.

For comparison, upgrading from a pre-2006 petrol car to a compliant model could save you thousands. Even a modest 2006-2010 petrol car with a high MOT pass rate will cost far less to run than paying the daily charge.

£3,250/yr

Daily London commute (ULEZ charge only)

£2,080/yr

Birmingham CAZ (£8/day, 5 days/week)

£0/yr

Compliant vehicle (no charges)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is my car ULEZ compliant?

Petrol cars registered from 2006 onwards (Euro 4+) are generally compliant. Diesel cars need to be registered from September 2015 onwards (Euro 6+). Electric vehicles are always exempt. Check your V5C logbook for the exact Euro standard, or use the TfL online checker for a definitive answer.

What is the ULEZ charge?

The London ULEZ charge is £12.50 per day for non-compliant cars, motorcycles, and vans. It applies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you do not pay by midnight on the third day after driving in the zone, you will receive a penalty charge of £180 (reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days).

Which clean air zones exist in the UK?

As of 2026, active clean air zones operate in London (ULEZ and LEZ), Birmingham, Bristol, Bath, Bradford, Portsmouth, Sheffield, and Newcastle/Gateshead. Manchester has proposed a zone that remains under review. Each zone sets its own daily charge for non-compliant vehicles.

Do I need to pay ULEZ if I drive through London?

Yes. The ULEZ covers all London boroughs within the M25 boundary. If your vehicle does not meet the emissions standards, you must pay £12.50 for each day you drive within the zone, even if you are just passing through.

Are electric cars exempt from ULEZ?

Yes. Fully electric vehicles are exempt from ULEZ and all clean air zone charges. Most plug-in hybrids also meet the required emissions standards, but check your specific model to be certain.

What happens if I do not pay the ULEZ charge?

You will receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) of £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days. ANPR cameras enforce the zone automatically, so there is no barrier or checkpoint to pass through. The system reads your number plate and checks it against the database.

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Methodology

ULEZ compliance estimates are based on fuel type and first registration year from DVSA MOT data. Petrol cars from 2006+ are assumed to meet Euro 4; diesel cars from September 2015+ are assumed to meet Euro 6. These are general guidelines. Some vehicles may have been registered with a different Euro standard than typical for their year. Always confirm using the official TfL vehicle checker or your V5C logbook. Clean air zone information is current as of March 2026 but zone rules and charges can change. Data sourced from the DVSA under the Open Government Licence v3.0.