Nearly 700,000 London Drivers Face New £12.50 ULEZ Charge This August
Nearly 700,000 car drivers in Greater London could soon be hit with the £12.50 Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charge when the scheme expands in August 2023, a revealing freedom of information request by the RAC shows.
DVLA data from 22 February 2023 shows 691,559 licensed cars in Greater London fail to meet ULEZ emissions standards. These are mostly petrol cars registered before January 2006 and diesel cars registered prior to September 2015. When including all non-compliant vehicles—not just cars—the total rises to 851,065.
ULEZ Expansion to Hit Even More Drivers From Outside London
The real number of drivers affected will be higher once the expanded zone is enforced, as many vehicles enter London daily from neighbouring counties like Kent, Hertfordshire, and Essex. Transport for London (TfL) estimates around 160,000 non-compliant cars enter the expanded zone each day. Those caught driving without paying the £12.50 daily charge could face fines up to £160.
To soften the blow, the Mayor of London has launched a £110 million scrappage scheme, offering up to £2,000 towards the purchase of compliant vehicles for eligible drivers and businesses.
Compliance Rates Slowly Climb But Outer London Lags Behind
As of November 2022, TfL estimated that 90.5% of vehicles in Greater London are ULEZ-compliant, up from 88.5% in May 2022. However, compliance in Outer London lags, with only 85% meeting standards as of January 2023.
RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said:
“Cleaning up London’s air is crucial, but the huge number of non-compliant vehicles means many motorists and businesses face a hefty extra cost of £12.50 every day they drive in the zone.”
“We need urgent coordination between the Mayor and the Government to support small firms, tradespeople, NHS staff and carers who have no choice but to drive into the expanded ULEZ for work.”
“Night workers in outer boroughs are also hard hit due to limited public transport.”
“At short notice, switching to compliant vehicles is unaffordable for many, especially amid soaring second-hand car prices and the cost-of-living crisis.”
“The Mayor’s scrappage scheme is far too small for the scale of this challenge — it’s like trying to empty an Olympic pool with a teacup.”
“We suggest a one-year extension for key workers and discounted ULEZ-compliant vehicle leases for small businesses to reduce charges and emissions simultaneously.”
Check If Your Vehicle Will Face the ULEZ Charge
Petrol cars registered before 2006 mainly fail to meet Euro 4 emissions standards. Diesel cars registered before September 2015 typically miss the Euro 6 standard. These vehicles will have to pay the ULEZ fee when driving in the expanded zone.
Drivers can check compliance using TfL’s official vehicle checker. If the checker seems wrong, drivers should contact their vehicle manufacturer for proof of its Euro emissions standard to challenge TfL.
Euro emissions standards, introduced in the 1990s, have gradually tightened pollution limits for petrol and diesel vehicles.
The original ULEZ started in April 2019 in central London, expanding to the North and South Circular roads in October 2021. The August 2023 extension will cover a much larger area, affecting hundreds of thousands more motorists.
