How will the ULEZ ultra-low emission zone affect car owners?

The ULEZ (ultra-low emission zone) comes into force in London as of 8 April, and will operate 24 hours a day, every day of the year. New rules also mean many hybrid drivers will no longer be exempt from paying the congestion charge.

• ULEZ starts on 8 April
• Drivers of older cars will need to pay up to £24 to drive in central London
• Many hybrid car owners will lose their congestion charge exemption from 8 April
• All remaining hybrid owners have to pay the congestion charge from 2021
• The ULEZ expands to the North and South circular from 25 October 2021
• Electric car owners will have to pay the congestion charge from the end of 2025

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ULEZ: what you need to know

Below we explain everything you need to know about the new rules for driving in London. Either keep reading or use the links to jump to:

ULEZ standards: what cars are affected?

You need to know about Euro emission standards, as both the outgoing T-Charge and new ULEZ penalise certain cars based on what emission criteria they meet.

ULEZ map

The ULEZ will initially cover the same area as the congestion zone - see the ULEZ map below.

It will be expanded to the North and South circular from 25 October 2021 - the congestion charge zone will remain unaffected. See the expanded ULEZ map, below.

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What is the ULEZ charge?

The ULEZ replaces the current T-charge (toxicity charge), and will operate 24 hours a day, all year round, including bank holidays and weekends.

• Affected owners will pay £12.50 a day.

The £11.50 congestion charge will also continue to operate, between Monday to Friday, 07:00 to 18:00 as before.

This means some drivers will have to pay a total of £24 per day to drive into London.

Who doesn't need to pay the ULEZ charge and what is the sunset period?

You don't need to pay the ULEZ charge if you own either a petrol car that meets Euro 4 or a diesel car that meets Euro 6. The 'sunset period' refers to the grace period that certain people will get, which willgrant them a full or part discount on a temporary basis.

You will get a full discount from the ULEZ until 24 October 2021 if:

• You live in the congestion zone andhave registered for the congestion charge zone discount...
• ... and have a car that meets the previous T Charge rules but not ULEZ rules (essentially a diesel car that meets Euro 4 or Euro 5).

You will, confusingly, continue to pay the T-Charge rate, instead of the ULEZ charge, and get a 90% discount until 24 October 2021 if:

• You live in the congestion zone andhave registered for the congestion charge zone discount...
• .... but your car doesn'tmeet previous T-Charge rules (so if your car meets Euro 3 or before).

You will get a full discount from the ULEZ until 26 October 2025 if your vehicle has a 'disabled' or 'disabled passenger vehicles' tax class. But:

• If the vehicle's tax class changes from 'disabled' or 'disabled passenger vehicles', you'll have to pay the ULEZ.

You can find out more about the eligibility criteria for the disabled exemption on the government's website.

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Is my car congestion charge exempt?

After the 8 April 2019, the only cars that will be exempt from paying the congestion charge will be modern plug-in hybrids and zero emissions cars.

This is because only cars that meet Euro 6, emit 75g/km or less of CO2 and have a minimum zero emission capable range of 20 miles will now be exempt from the congestion charge.

This is called the Cleaner Vehicle Discount, or CVD. It replaces the previous discount, the ULED.

Some older plug-in models may not qualify for the discount as they are not capable of driving 20 miles of electric-only range.

For instance, the previous generationToyota Prius plug-in hybrid, pictured below, manages 14 miles on battery power alone and therefore does not qualify.

But the latest version of the Toyota Prius Plug-inhas an official electric-only capability of 30 miles, and does qualify for the CVD.

All existing ULED customers should be contacted about these changes and told if their registered vehicle is eligible for the CVD.

ULEZ to be extended in 2021, hybrids no longer exempt

Two big changes occur on 25October 2021:

1. The ULEZ is going to expand all the way to the North and South Circular. The congestion charge zone will remain unaffected
2. Only zero emission car owners will now remain exempt from paying the congestion charge; all hybrid owners will have to pay. Perhaps it's time to consider an electric car?

We reveal the best electric cars.

Electric car owners will have to pay the congestion charge in 2025

As of Christmas 2025, drivers of zero emission vehicles lose their congestion charge exemption.

There are currently no more plans to expand the ULEZ.