ULEZ check: is this car likely to be ULEZ compliant?
Enter a registration and the ULEZ check reads the car's Euro emissions standard and fuel type from the DVLA record and tells you whether it is likely to meet the London Ultra Low Emission Zone standards. It is free and takes a few seconds, and because the DVLA record is not always complete, we say "likely" and link straight to Transport for London's own checker so you can confirm before you drive in or before you buy.
What the ULEZ check shows
Transport for London enforces the ULEZ on a car's declared emissions, not its age, and the figure that matters is the Euro standard the car was built to. The DVLA holds that standard against most registrations, along with the fuel type, so a ULEZ check by registration can usually give a clear answer: a petrol car built to Euro 4 or later, or a diesel built to Euro 6, meets the standard. Where the DVLA record has no Euro status, which is common on older cars and imports, we say so rather than guess, and the TfL checker is the place to settle it.
The same result shows the tax status, the MOT history and the mileage, so if you are looking at a car to buy you can see in one place whether it will cost you a daily charge to drive in London as well as whether it has been looked after.
The ULEZ standards for cars
For cars, TfL sets Euro 4 for petrol and Euro 6 for diesel. In TfL's words, petrol cars that meet the standards are generally those first registered as new after 2005, although compliant cars have been available since 2001, and diesel cars that meet the standards are generally those first registered as new after September 2015. That is why the registration date is a useful first guess and the Euro status is the real answer: a 2003 petrol car may well be compliant, and a 2015 diesel may not be.
Fully electric cars produce no exhaust emissions and are not charged.
The ULEZ charge and where it applies
The ULEZ covers every London borough but does not include the M25 itself. It operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year except Christmas Day, and the charge runs from midnight to midnight, so a car driven in the zone either side of midnight pays twice. For a car that does not meet the standards the daily charge is £12.50. If it is not paid, TfL issues a penalty charge of £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days.
Other UK cities run their own clean air zones and low emission zones, with different rules about which vehicles pay or are banned. If you are buying a car for use outside London, check the scheme for the city you will drive in.
ULEZ check questions
Is my car ULEZ compliant?
Enter the registration above. If the DVLA record shows a petrol car at Euro 4 or later, or a diesel at Euro 6, the car is likely to be compliant. Because the record can be incomplete or wrong, confirm with TfL's vehicle checker before you rely on it.
Why does the check say "likely" rather than yes or no?
We read the Euro status and fuel type from the DVLA, but TfL makes the final decision using its own records, which sometimes include manufacturer data the DVLA does not hold. A result marked likely is a strong guide, and TfL's checker is the final word.
What if the result says not known?
The DVLA record has no Euro status for that car, which is common on older cars and imports. TfL's checker may still have the answer, and a manufacturer's certificate of conformity can prove the standard if TfL does not.
Do I pay the ULEZ charge on the M25?
No. The zone covers every London borough but does not include the M25, so driving round the orbital without leaving it does not trigger the charge.
Are older classic cars exempt from the ULEZ?
Yes, in two cases. TfL exempts all vehicles built before 1 January 1973, and vehicles over 40 years old that are registered with the DVLA in the historic vehicle tax class.
Does a Blue Badge exempt me from the ULEZ?
Not on its own. Blue Badge holders pay unless the car meets the standards or is registered for one of TfL's disability grace periods, which currently run until October 2027. Cars in the disabled tax class are covered by a grace period until 24 October 2027.
Last updated 11 November 2026. ULEZ standards, charges and exemptions: Transport for London. Euro status and fuel type: DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service. A likely result is not a guarantee; confirm with TfL. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.