As a van driver, it’s important to know what rules to follow when driving in London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). Beyond the duty of care we all have to keep our environment safe, there are also financial concerns which drivers need to consider if they breach the rules of the ULEZ.
But what are those rules? And how do you know if your van adheres to them? In this guide, we’ll discuss exactly that. From understanding where and when it operates, to learning what kinds of fines you can expect for owning or operating a vehicle that isn’t compliant, this is your go-to guide when driving a van in the ULEZ.
What is the ULEZ?
The ULEZ is an area of London where certain vehicles will be charged for entering during specific hours. The zone was introduced as a way of deterring the number of vehicles in the busiest parts of London that weren’t meeting the required emission standards. The main aim of the zone is to improve air quality.
The ULEZ was first tabled in some form in 2015, but wasn’t introduced until 2019. Since then, this innovative scheme has helped to reshape London’s emission rates, with the latest ULEZ biannual report highlighting:
Roadside nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels are 21% lower in outer London than they would have been without the ULEZ
Roadside NO2 levels are 24% lower in inner London than they would have been without the ULEZ
Roadside NO2 levels are 53% lower in outer London than they would have been without the ULEZ
These figures demonstrate just how impactful the ULEZ scheme has already been – with an increasing number of drivers adhering to the required standards. Six months after the zone opened, 88.9% of cars and vans driving in the zone were compliant with emission standards. As of the July 2024 report, that number has risen to 97.1%.
Where is the ULEZ?
Since August 2023, the ULEZ has been expanded to be spread across all the boroughs of London. That means anyone who enters the city will be subject to the rules ULEZ compliance. Even if your end destination is not somewhere in London, your van will need to comply in order to avoid a charge if you’re passing through.
The ULEZ is not the same as the low-emission zone (LEZ), which operates across most of Greater London. It’s also different to the Congestion Charge (CC), which is applied to drivers in Central London. Even though all of these schemes are similar, they operate independently – which means you can be charged separately for each.
For more info on where each of these schemes runs, you can enter a postcode on the Transport for London website to see which zone, or zones, an area falls under.
How do you know if your van is ULEZ compliant?
For your van to avoid being charged in the ULEZ, it needs to meet the required Euro standards for your vehicle type. If you drive a newer van, this will probably be listed in section D.2 of your vehicle log book (V5C).
That means if you drive a petrol or diesel van, it will need to reach the standard of:
Euro 4 (NOx) – if it’s petrol
Euro 6 (NOx and PM) – if it’s diesel
If you drive a van or specialist heavy vehicle which weighs over 3.5 tonnes, you won’t need to pay the ULEZ at all. Instead, you’ll be assessed by the LEZ standards.
Most vans on the road will comply with Euro standards 4 and 6. Euro 4 was introduced as mandatory for light vans in 2006, while Euro 6 was a requirement for:
That means any van you drive which was built after September of 2016 should be compliant. If your vehicle was made before this, you may have to make changes to it in order to meet the necessary standards (or accept the charges).
But what might those changes look like? Here are some of the ways you can make a van compliant:
Retrofitting the van. The Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS) was created to allow van drivers to retrofit their vans. This helps them to avoid having to pay the ULEZ charge. While prices will vary, the average cost of the process is around £6,000-£7,000. That means you should only have it done if you think you’ll be driving the van in the ULEZ regularly across a few years. It’s also important to make sure the technician retrofitting the vehicle is on the CVRAS register.
Upgrade your van or go electric. If you don’t want to invest the money in a retrofit, you can get a new van altogether. Weigh-up the long and short term costs of this compared to retrofitting to see if it’s worthwhile. Remember that an electric vehicle (EV) will never become outdated when it comes to emission requirements, no matter how old it is.
A certificate of conformity. If you think your van is compliant, but you’re getting charged by TFL anyway, you can apply for a certificate of conformity from your van manufacturer. This will outline why you shouldn’t have to pay the ULEZ charge.
What is the charge in the ULEZ?
Van drivers whose vehicles do not meet the standards needed to be ULEZ compliant will be charged £12.50 for every day they drive in the zone. This runs from midnight-to-midnight. That means if you enter the zone at 11:59pm on a Monday, and leave it at 12:01am on a Tuesday, you’ll have to pay twice.
You’ll get three days to pay your charge. If you don’t, you’ll be given a large penalty fee. The fixed amount for this fee is £180, but it will change depending on how quickly this penalty is paid:
£90 – (a £90 discount) if you pay within 14 days
£180 – (the flat fee) if you pay within 15-28 days
£270 – (a £90 additional charge) if you take more than 28 days to pay
You can pay your fees on the TFL website, which also allows you to set up an auto-pay option if you know you’re going to regularly drive in London with a non-compliant van. Your licence plate will be scanned every time you enter the zone, making it easy for the autopay system to bill you every time you do. This helps you avoid penalty fees altogether.
What hours does the ULEZ operate in?
The ULEZ is active on an almost 24-7 basis. It operates every hour of every day, seven days a week, every month of every year. There is one exception – Christmas Day. During this 24-hour festive period, no vehicles will be charged for entering the ULEZ.
These hours mean any non-compliant van driving in the zone on a daily basis could expect to pay as much as £4,550 a year, or £4,562.50 on a leap year. Even if they only drove a work van Monday-to-Friday, this would still add up to £3,250 across a regular year.
Discounts for the ULEZ
Some drivers will be able to get discounts for vans they drive through the zone. This applies to travelling showmen, who can apply for a 100% discount for any vehicles which have been specially altered or modified to accommodate their profession. This discount also applies for the LEZ.
What was the ULEZ scrappage scheme?
If you drove or owned a van which was not compliant with the rules of the ULEZ, it was possible for a time to retrofit or scrap your vehicle altogether in exchange for financial assistance. For a time, it was also possible to donate your van to Ukraine for a similar payment system.
After receiving more than 54,000 applicants, the scheme was discontinued on September 8 of 2024. If you applied for the scrappage scheme prior to that date, your application will still be followed through to completion. The discontinuation only applies to anyone wanting to apply for the scheme after that date.
Do you feel better prepared for driving your van in London’s ULEZ? Make sure to fully understand the rules and regulations in order to avoid being slapped with a hefty fine.
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