Is my car ULEZ compliant?
London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone is based on Euro emissions standards: petrol cars need to meet Euro 4 and diesel cars Euro 6. As a rough guide, that means most petrol cars registered from 2006 and most diesels registered from September 2015, but the registration date alone is not proof.
Updated 14 October 2026
The standards
Petrol: Euro 4 or later. Euro 4 became mandatory for new cars in 2006, and many petrol cars from as early as 2001 also meet it.
Diesel: Euro 6 or later. Euro 6 became mandatory for new cars from September 2015, though some earlier diesels met it.
Electric cars are compliant. Hybrids are judged on their petrol or diesel engine’s Euro standard.
The charge
A car that does not meet the standard is charged daily for driving within the zone, which covers all London boroughs. The charge runs midnight to midnight, every day except Christmas Day, and must be paid by midnight on the third day after travel to avoid a penalty.
How to check properly
Use the official vehicle checker with the registration, which looks up the car’s recorded emissions standard. If a compliant car is wrongly shown as non-compliant, the manufacturer can usually provide a certificate of conformity to correct it.
Odomint shows a ULEZ indication for every car in your garage based on its fuel type and Euro standard, so you know before you drive in.
Clean air zones outside London
Several other cities run clean air zones or low emission zones. Some charge private cars and others only buses, taxis, vans and lorries, and the Scottish zones work on penalties rather than a daily charge. Check the local scheme before driving a non-compliant car into a city centre.
Exemptions and grace periods
Some vehicles are exempt or have grace periods, including vehicles of historic interest over 40 years old and certain vehicles adapted for disabled people. Rules and deadlines change, so check the current list on the official scheme website before relying on an exemption.
If your car is not compliant and you drive in the zone often, compare the yearly cost of the daily charge with the cost of changing car. For regular drivers, a compliant used car can pay for itself quickly, and any car you are considering can be checked on the official vehicle checker before you buy.
Common questions
Which petrol cars are ULEZ compliant?
Petrol cars meeting Euro 4 or later, broadly most registered from 2006, and many from 2001 onwards.
Which diesel cars are ULEZ compliant?
Diesel cars meeting Euro 6 or later, broadly most registered from September 2015.
Are hybrid cars ULEZ compliant?
Hybrids are judged on the Euro standard of their petrol or diesel engine, so most modern petrol hybrids are compliant.
Check any car before you buy it
MOT history, every advisory and the full mileage record are free for any UK registration. An Odomint Check adds outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, stolen markers and salvage history, with a £10,000 data guarantee.