ULEZ Facts

Every London borough exceeds the pollution guideline limits recommended by the World Health Organization

Imperial College London, globally renowned experts in air quality research, have looked at the health burden of air pollution in London.  Their research found that in 2019, toxic air contributed to the premature deaths of around 4,000 Londoners. This includes deaths from all causes, including respiratory, lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases.   

Expanding the ULEZ is expected to have important health benefits 

Air pollution is a public health crisis – our children are growing up with stunted lungs and it is linked to a host of serious conditions, from heart disease to cancer and dementia. In 2019, toxic air contributed to around 4,000 premature deaths in London.  

Air pollution hits the poorest communities and Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities the hardest.  

More than 500,000 Londoners live with asthma and are more vulnerable to the health impacts of air pollution, with more than half of these people living in outer London boroughs.   

If no additional action is taken to reduce air pollution, the cumulative cost to the NHS and social care system attributable to air pollution is estimated to be £10.4bn by 2050.

Nineteen in 20 vehicles seen driving in London already meet the ULEZ standards 

The ULEZ is a very targeted scheme, and only affects a small minority of drivers. Only 93,000 out of the 1.97 million vehicles seen driving in London on an average day do not meet the ULEZ emission standards.  

Nearly half of London households do not own a car but are disproportionately feeling the damaging consequences that polluting vehicles cause.

Any net revenue raised by the ULEZ is reinvested in running and improving the transport network in London 

This includes planned transport enhancements in outer London, for example the brand new Superloop bus network. 

Within just a few years, there will be no net revenue from the ULEZ expansion. Net revenue is projected to stop by 2027 as more people switch to cleaner, greener modes of transport.

The central and inner ULEZ already improved air quality for four million Londoners and the London-wide ULEZ is bringing cleaner air to five million more 

The ULEZ cut roadside pollution by nearly half in central London and a fifth in inner London. London is now on track to reach legal air pollution levels within the next two years, 184 years earlier than previously projected. 

The London-wide ULEZ has reduced the number of non-compliant vehicles seen driving in London by nearly half. Nearly 80,000 fewer non-compliant vehicles are driving in London since June 2023, a reduction of 45 per cent.  

Across London, 95 per cent of vehicles seen driving on an average day now meet the ULEZ standards, up from 37 per cent in 2017 when changes associated with the ULEZ began. 

Londoners, small businesses, sole traders and charities with non-compliant vehicles can apply for support 

The Mayor of London has funded a £160m scrappage scheme to help Londoners, small businesses, sole traders and charities switch to cleaner, greener modes of transport.  

Any Londoner with an eligible non-compliant car or motorcycle can apply for a £2,000 grant (or £1,000 for a motorcycle), or a higher value package of up to two bus and tram passes plus a lower grant. Small businesses (with fewer than 50 employees), sole traders and charities registered in London are also eligible for support to scrap up to three vehicles.   

For wheelchair accessible vehicles payments of £10,000 to scrap or £6,000 to retrofit to the ULEZ standards are available.  

Read more about your eligibility for the ULEZ scrappage scheme.

There are a number of temporary exemptions for anyone driving in London 

Some drivers and vehicles qualify for a temporary 100 per cent discount from the ULEZ.  

Vehicles with a ‘disabled’ or ‘disabled passenger’ vehicle tax class are automatically exempt from paying the ULEZ charge until 24 October 2027. Check the TfL website for more details.   

People in receipt of certain disability benefits and those who use Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles are also eligible for a temporary exemption. You need to register with TfL for these temporary exemptions.  

Read for a full list of discounts and exemptions, and whether you or your vehicle are eligible.