VehicleFile

ULEZ check

Enter a registration for an estimate of whether the car meets the London ULEZ standard, based on its fuel type and age, alongside its full MOT history.

Free, no sign-up. Results come straight from DVSA's MOT records. See an example report

The standard a car has to meet

London's Ultra Low Emission Zone covers every London borough. A car meets the standard if its engine is at least:

  • Euro 4 for petrol, including petrol hybrids. Most petrol cars registered from 2006 meet it, and many from 2001.
  • Euro 6 for diesel, including diesel hybrids. Most diesel cars registered from September 2015 meet it.
  • Fully electric cars always meet it.

A car that does not meet the standard costs £12.50 a day to drive in the zone. The zone runs every day of the year except Christmas Day, and the penalty for not paying is far higher than the charge.

How our estimate works, and its limit

The Euro standard is not part of the MOT record. VehicleFile estimates compliance from the two facts that are: fuel type and first registration date. The dates above are when the Euro 4 and Euro 6 standards became mandatory for new cars, so they are right for the large majority of vehicles.

They are wrong for some. Plenty of petrol cars from 2001 to 2005 were built to Euro 4 early, and a few diesels from late 2014 and early 2015 were built to Euro 6. Where a car falls in one of those windows, the result says "ULEZ unclear" rather than guessing. Before you pay a charge or buy a car for London driving, confirm with Transport for London's vehicle checker, which is the official answer.

Clean air zones outside London

The same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards are used by the clean air zones in other cities, so the estimate is a useful guide there too:

  • Birmingham and Bristol charge private cars that do not meet the standard.
  • Bath, Bradford, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Tyneside run clean air zones that charge some commercial vehicles, taxis or buses, but not private cars.
  • Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee run low emission zones where a non-compliant car is not charged but fined for entering.

Each city sets its own boundary, hours and exemptions, so check the council's own page before you travel.

If the car is not compliant

Some cars can be upgraded with an approved retrofit, and some drivers qualify for exemptions or discounts, such as for disabled tax class vehicles. For most people the practical choice is between paying the daily charge on the days they drive in the zone, or choosing a compliant car next time. The MOT history on the same page helps with the second option.

Last reviewed 15 October 2026.

Questions

How do I check if my car is ULEZ compliant?

Enter the registration above for an estimate from the fuel type and registration date. For the official answer, confirm with Transport for London's vehicle checker.

Is my 2005 petrol car ULEZ compliant?

Possibly. Euro 4 became compulsory for new petrol cars in 2006, but many cars from 2001 to 2005 were built to it early. Our check shows "unclear" for those years so you know to confirm with TfL.

Are hybrid cars ULEZ compliant?

A petrol hybrid is judged on the petrol standard, Euro 4, and a diesel hybrid on the diesel standard, Euro 6. Most petrol hybrids pass.

How much is the ULEZ charge?

£12.50 for each day a non-compliant car is driven in the zone. The day runs from midnight to midnight.

Other free checks

Check a car for ULEZ