The Ultra Low Emission Zone is here and will improve London’s air quality

The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) started in central London on 8 April 2019. Vehicles must meet stricter emission standards to drive in this zone or pay a charge of £12.50 for cars, vans and motorcycles and £100 for heavier vehicles. The ULEZ will operate within the current Congestion Charge zone, 24/7, every day of the year.

Back in 2016, over 15,000 of you took part in our Clean Air consultation, where most of you told us that you wanted to see the ULEZ introduced as part of City Hall’s plans to help clean up London’s toxic air. It was the largest single consultation we’ve ever undertaken at City Hall.

Here’s what City Hall has been doing to prepare for the ULEZ:

  • Cleaning up the buses so that only clean Euro VI, electric, hydrogen and hybrid buses drive in the Central London ULEZ.
  • From January 2018, Transport for London (TfL) have only been licensing zero emission capable black cabs. There are now over 1,400 of these on the street.
  • Installing over 175 rapid charge points to charge taxis and other vehicles (on top of the existing standard charge network).
  • Launching an online vehicle checker, where over 3 million people have already checked if their vehicle meets the ULEZ standards.
  • Opening a new £23 million scrappage scheme for vans and mini-buses and announcing a £25 million scheme for low income Londoners who want to switch to cleaner transport options.
  • Through Breathe London, the Mayor has launched the world’s most advanced and comprehensive network of air quality monitors to help investigate and improve London’s toxic air.

Thanks again to everyone who took part in our consultation in July 2016. TfL then consulted further on the details of the ULEZ, which resulted in bringing forward the start date by 17 months in central London. From 25 October 2021, the ULEZ will expand up to the North and South Circular roads.

Read more about the ULEZ