Heading

Close X
Menu

Contact

Close
Contact

New London ULEZ: will you have to pay more to drive in the capital this year?

From 8 April this year, drivers in central London’s Congestion Charge Zone may have to pay an additional £12.50 per day if they fail to meet tougher new exhaust emission standards for petrol and diesel vehicles.

That’s because 8 April is the launch date for the new Ultra-Low Emission Zone, when vehicles that fail to meet the new standards will be required to pay – on top of the £11.50 Congestion Charge for entering the zone on weekdays between 7.00am and 6.00pm.

Unlike the Congestion Charge, however, the ULEZ charge (which replaces the existing £10 T-charge) is applicable at all times, and the charging period runs from 00.01am to 12.00pm.So if you enter the zone at, say, 8.00pm and are still driving after midnight, you will have to pay twice!

Fail to pay and you will be hit with an £80 penalty ticket (rising to £160 if you fail to pay within a fortnight).

Drivers of newer, cleaner cars will escape the charge.Generally speaking, petrol cars more than 14 years old and diesel cars over four years old are exempt.

To find out if you will be liable for the ULEZ charge, simply visit the TfL website and enter your car’s registration number at https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/check-your-vehicle

In October 2021, the ULEZ will also be extended to the North and South Circular roads – a substantially larger area.