THE Ultra Low Emission Zone expansion is coming at the end of August, meaning even more people will be at risk of paying a daily charge to drive their normal routes.
The environmental policy originally started in the very centre of London but will soon cover all Greater London boroughs, leaving many to question whether they could be facing hefty charges.
What is ULEZ?
The ULEZ policy was introduced in 2019 in a bid to cut pollution in the city of London.
ULEZ encourages drivers to use vehicles that meet emissions standards by fining drivers of motors that do not meet the requirements.
Only modern, environmentally-efficient cars are allowed to enter the Ultra Low Emission Zones for free.
The policy also urges members of the public to think twice about how they travel, asking them to consider using public transport, walking or cycling.
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Plans to expand the ULEZ were ruled lawful by the High Court at the end of July 2023.
It was reported in 2022 that almost £100 million in ULEZ charges had been collected in less than 12 months.
The money made from the ULEZ charge is being reinvested into making London's air cleaner and improving transport networks across the city.
What cars are allowed in ULEZ?
All cars are allowed in ULEZ but vehicles that don't meet certain standards will need to pay a daily £12.50 charge to enter the zones.
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Petrol cars, as well as vans, minibuses and some other specialist vehicles that run on petrol, must meet Euro 4 emission standards.
These standards were introduced in 2006, meaning most petrol cars first registered in 2006 or later will be able to enter the ULEZ zone for free.
Diesel cars, however, have to meet the more rigid Euro 6 standards.
These were introduced later than the Euro 4 standards, in 2015, meaning only diesel cars first registered in 2015 and onwards will be exempt from the ULEZ charge.
The rules are slightly different for motorcycles as they must meet Euro 3 emissions standards, which were introduced in 2007.
All vehicles constructed before January 1, 1973, are exempt from the ULEZ charge.
All fully electric cars are also exempt from the charge but hybrid cars must follow the same guidance set for standard petrol or diesel cars.
If your vehicle is not compliant and you forget – or fail – to pay the ULEZ charge you could face a £160 fine.
How do I check if my vehicle is ULEZ compliant?
You can use the ULEZ compliance check on the TfL website to verify whether or not you need to pay the charge when driving in your vehicle.
There is also a website, in partnership with the DVLA, dedicated to the checking if your vehicle is ULEZ compliant.
This site can be found at ulez.co.uk.
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To check, just enter your vehicle's registration number and the website will tell you whether or not you need to pay the charge.
According to TfL, nine out of ten cars driving in outer London already meet the ULEZ emissions standards.
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