The charge runs from midnight to midnight, so if you enter the ULEZ at 8pm on a Monday and drive out again at 1am on a Tuesday, you’ll need to pay twice.
Failure to pay the ULEZ charge will result in a penalty of £180. This is reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days.
How do I pay the ULEZ charge?
You can pay any one-off ULEZ charges that you incur on TfL’s website. Regular users can set up an Auto Pay account for automatic payments, and there are no registration or renewal fees for using this service.
You can also download the TfL Pay app for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Alternatively, you can pay by phone.
Which vans have the lowest emissions?
In order to protect themselves against future emissions restrictions, many businesses are upgrading their fleets with electric and plug-in hybrid vans. Electric vans produce zero tailpipe emissions, while plug-in hybrid vans have a limited all-electric range and lower CO2 emissions figures than normal petrols and diesels.
Citroen, Peugeot, Ford, Vauxhall, Mercedes, Nissan, Renault, Volkswagen and several other manufacturers currently offer electric vans, with more set to join that list soon. The best of these will offer over 200 miles of range on a single charge, while maximum payload volume is usually very similar (if not exactly the same) as equivalent petrol and diesel models: this is because the battery cells for electric vans are often fitted underneath the floor.
You won’t need an electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicle to avoid ULEZ charges, but they are the only way to get around the Congestion Charge at present. Electric vans will be exempt until 25 December 2025, when the cleaner vehicle discount is due to end altogether.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Ultra Low Emissions Zone was established in London in 2019 to improve air quality. Since its introduction, 96% of vehicles in the zone now meet its minimum emissions standards. It has been expanded twice – in 2021 to cover the area inside the North and South Circulars, and in 2023 to include all London boroughs.
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