What Is a ULEZ Check?
A ULEZ check is a registration-based vehicle lookup that shows whether a car meets the emissions standards required by London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).
Transport for London (TfL) operates ULEZ to reduce harmful exhaust emissions.
Vehicles that do not meet the required standards normally incur a daily charge when driven within the zone, unless an exemption or qualifying discount applies.
How Does CarVeto's Free ULEZ Checker Work?
CarVeto's free ULEZ checker identifies a vehicle by its UK registration number and retrieves available emissions compliance information.
To check a vehicle, follow these three steps:
- Enter Your Registration Number
Enter the car's UK number plate into the CarVeto checker. - Confirm Your Vehicle Details
Check that the returned make, model and registration information match the vehicle. - Review Your Free ULEZ Report
View the available ULEZ compliance result and associated vehicle information.
What Does CarVeto's Free ULEZ Check Show?
CarVeto's free ULEZ check provides vehicle compliance information alongside the registered details used to identify the car.
The report includes the following information, where available:
- ULEZ compliance: Whether the vehicle meets London's ULEZ emissions requirements.
- Vehicle identity: Registered make, model, fuel type and identification details.
- Emissions information: Recorded Euro emissions classification and CO₂ output.
- MOT and mileage: Available MOT history, test status and recorded odometer readings.
- Vehicle tax: Recorded road tax and registration status.
A compliant result means the vehicle meets the ULEZ emissions requirement. A non-compliant result indicates that the daily charge would normally apply when the vehicle is driven within the zone, subject to any qualifying exemption or discount.
If compliance information is missing or uncertain, check the vehicle's record through TfL's official vehicle checker before travelling.
Which Vehicles Meet the ULEZ Emissions Standards?
Petrol cars generally need to meet Euro 4 emissions standards, while diesel cars generally need Euro 6 to drive within London's ULEZ without paying the daily emissions charge.
The minimum requirement depends on the vehicle's fuel type and category, explained below.
Vehicle Type | Minimum ULEZ Emissions Requirement |
|---|---|
Petrol cars | Euro 4 |
Diesel cars | Euro 6 |
Petrol vans and applicable minibuses | Euro 4 |
Diesel vans and applicable minibuses | Euro 6 |
Motorcycles and mopeds | Euro 3 |
Fully electric vehicles | No tailpipe exhaust emissions |
ULEZ covers cars, motorcycles, vans and applicable specialist vehicles up to and including 3.5 tonnes, plus minibuses up to and including 5 tonnes.
Heavier vehicles are subject to London's separate Low Emission Zone (LEZ) requirements.
Is a Euro 5 Car ULEZ Compliant?
A Euro 5 petrol car generally meets ULEZ standards, but a Euro 5 diesel car generally does not.
Euro 5 exceeds the minimum Euro 4 requirement for petrol cars. Diesel cars normally need Euro 6 to satisfy the relevant nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) limits.
The vehicle's recorded emissions determine its assessment. Check the individual registration rather than
Are Electric and Hybrid Cars ULEZ Compliant?
Fully electric cars meet the ULEZ exhaust-emissions requirement because they produce no tailpipe emissions.
Hybrid vehicles are assessed according to their combustion engine and relevant emissions standard:
- Petrol hybrids: Generally require Euro 4.
- Diesel hybrids: Generally require Euro 6.
A plug-in hybrid is not automatically compliant simply because it can drive using electric power.
Does a Car's Registration Year Determine ULEZ Compliance?
No. Registration year can indicate whether a vehicle is likely to meet ULEZ standards, but the assessment is based on its recorded emissions.
Petrol cars first registered as new from January 2006 generally meet Euro 4. Diesel cars first registered as new from September 2015 generally meet Euro 6.
Some older vehicles also satisfy the relevant requirements, so Vehicle Age should not replace a registration-based compliance check.
Where and When Does London's ULEZ Apply?
London's ULEZ covers all London boroughs and the City of London, excluding the M25 motorway.
The zone operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends and bank holidays. It does not operate on Christmas Day (25 December).
A non-compliant vehicle can incur the daily charge even when driven only a short distance inside the zone.
Use TfL's official ULEZ boundary map to check whether a particular road or destination falls within the charging area.
How Much Is the ULEZ Charge and When Must You Pay?
The ULEZ charge is £12.50 per day for a non-compliant car, motorcycle, van or other applicable light vehicle driven within the zone without a qualifying exemption or discount.
Each charging day runs from midnight to midnight. Payment must be made by midnight on the third day after travel.
If the correct charge is not paid, TfL may issue a £180 Penalty Charge Notice (PCN), reduced to £90 when paid within 14 days.
CarVeto does not collect ULEZ payments. Motorists can pay through TfL's official Pay to Drive service.
Which Vehicles Are Exempt from ULEZ Charges?
Some vehicles qualify for ULEZ exemptions or temporary 100% discounts even when they do not meet the normal emissions requirements.
Qualifying vehicle categories are explained below:
- Historic vehicles: Vehicles built before 1 January 1973 and qualifying vehicles over 40 years old registered in the DVLA historic tax class.
- Eligible disabled motorists and vehicles: Certain disabled vehicle tax classes, wheelchair-accessible vehicles and approved disability-related grace periods.
- London-licensed taxis: Taxis licensed by TfL are exempt under the scheme's rules.
- Other qualifying vehicles: Certain community-transport minibuses and specified specialist vehicles.
A Blue Badge alone does not automatically exempt a non-compliant car from ULEZ charges.
Some disability-related and community-transport grace periods expire in October 2027. Eligibility, registration requirements and expiry dates must be checked separately from emissions compliance.
See TfL's current ULEZ discounts and exemptions for the conditions that apply to an individual vehicle or motorist.
Why Check ULEZ Compliance Before Buying a Used Car?
Checking ULEZ compliance before buying a used car helps you verify the seller's emissions claims and assess whether the vehicle is suitable for journeys in London.
A non-compliant car can create additional ownership costs. At £12.50 per charging day, driving a non-exempt car within ULEZ on 20 separate days would cost £250 in ULEZ charges.
CarVeto's Vehicle Registration Check also provides available MOT history, recorded mileage, road tax status and registration details, helping you assess the vehicle beyond its emissions compliance.
Does a ULEZ Check Cover Other Road Charging Schemes?
No. A London ULEZ check does not automatically establish compliance with other emissions zones or road charging schemes.
London's Congestion Charge has separate boundaries, operating hours and payment rules.
The Low Emission Zone (LEZ) applies different emissions requirements to heavier vehicles.
Clean Air Zones in other English cities operate under their own rules.
A vehicle's CO₂ emissions rating is also different from the NOx and particulate emissions information used to assess ULEZ compliance.
A car that meets ULEZ standards may therefore still incur another road-user charge, depending on its journey.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
No. If a non-compliant car remains parked and is not driven within ULEZ on a particular day, no ULEZ daily charge is due for that day.
Yes, if you drive a non-compliant, non-exempt vehicle inside ULEZ both before and after midnight, you enter two separate charging days.
The daily charge applies to each day on which the vehicle is driven within the zone.
CarVeto's ULEZ checker starts with a UK vehicle registration number.
Non-UK-registered vehicles must also meet ULEZ emissions requirements or pay the applicable charge when driven inside the zone.
TfL requires vehicles registered outside the UK to be registered with its service, even if they meet the emissions standards.
Check the vehicle's details using TfL's official vehicle checker.
If the official record appears incorrect, follow TfL's process for providing supporting evidence, such as manufacturer documentation confirming the vehicle's emissions.
Do not assume the record has been corrected until TfL confirms the outcome.