ULEZ Expansion Rakes in Over £100m from Dirty Vehicles
Since expanding London’s Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in November 2021, Transport for London (TfL) has seen a massive surge in revenue from non-compliant vehicles. Between November 2021 and June 2022, nearly 2 million journeys each month were made by cars failing to meet Euro 6 diesel or Euro 4 petrol standards, generating a staggering £112.5 million from daily charges alone.
Non-Compliant Vehicles and Eye-Watering Fines
For comparison, before the ULEZ expansion—from February to September 2021—just 330,000 such journeys happened monthly within central London, bringing in under £19 million. But the real money is piling up from penalty charge notices (PCNs). Since the zone grew, TfL issued around 1.6 million fines, compared to 253,000 in the original area, raking in between £130.9m and £261.9m in potential income.
- Penalty charge: £160 (£80 if paid early)
- Before expansion, 13.1% of vehicles were non-compliant
- After expansion, that dropped to 6.9%
Why Some Drivers Still Face Hefty Bills
The proportion of non-compliant drivers getting fined jumped initially to 14.2%, before settling back near old levels. Yet, nearly 3 in 10 non-compliant vehicles were exempt from paying the charge. This means a significant chunk of older cars still roam London’s streets unchecked.
RAC Sounds Warning on Cost of Living and ULEZ Growth
Nicholas Lyes, RAC head of roads policy, said: “The ULEZ expansion forced many Londoners to choose: upgrade their vehicle or pay the £12.50 daily fee. Non-payment isn’t an option, with harsh fines looming.
“TfL’s revenue has soared, but drivers outside the current zone now fear the next expansion, expected in August 2023.
“The cost-of-living crisis means many can’t afford newer cars, yet may be forced to pay charges they can’t afford. We urge the mayor to back a targeted scrappage scheme to help lower-income families and businesses before any further expansion.”
Want to know more? Discover the details of London’s Ultra-Low Emission Zone and how it affects you.
