ULEZ check
Enter a registration to see whether a car, van or motorcycle meets London's ULEZ emissions standard, and exactly what that answer is based on.
Free · No sign-up · Based on TfL's published standard
What the standard means by age
TfL's own rule of thumb, which is where most compliance guesses come from.
| Vehicle | Standard | Usually meets it if first registered |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol car or van, up to 3.5 tonnes | Euro 4 | New after 2005 |
| Diesel car or van, up to 3.5 tonnes | Euro 6 | New after September 2015 |
| Motorcycle | Euro 3 | New after July 2007 |
| Electric or hydrogen | Zero emission | Always |
A rule of thumb is not an answer. Vehicles registered near these dates fall either side, which is why the check looks for the recorded Euro standard first.
How we work it out
1
Zero-emission fuel
A fully electric or hydrogen vehicle meets the standard, so that is the answer.
2
The recorded Euro standard
We read the Euro standard on the DVLA record first. DVLA holds one for only a small share of vehicles, so if it is missing we use the manufacturer data for the model.
3
The registration date, only where it is safe
With no Euro standard recorded, we use TfL's rule of thumb, but only where it gives a clear answer, and we label it an estimate.
4
Otherwise, we say so
A vehicle in the grey zone, or one over 3.5 tonnes, is not guessed. You get the reason and a link to TfL's checker.
What your result means
Meets the ULEZ standard
A recorded Euro standard, or a zero-emission fuel, meets the standard for this type of vehicle.
Likely meets the ULEZ standard
No Euro standard is recorded, but the vehicle was first registered well inside the period when that standard was the norm. Confirm with TfL before relying on it.
Does not meet the ULEZ standard
The recorded Euro standard is below what the ULEZ requires. Driving in the zone would cost £12.50 for each day you use it.
Likely does not meet the ULEZ standard
No Euro standard is recorded, and the vehicle was first registered before the standard became common. Some older vehicles were built to a later standard than their age suggests, so check with TfL.
We cannot confirm this one
There is not enough on the record to give a safe answer either way. TfL's checker is the place to settle it.
Exemptions and the final word
Vehicles in the DVLA's historic vehicle tax class are exempt from the ULEZ charge, whatever their emissions. Being over 40 years old is not enough on its own: the vehicle has to be in that tax class. TfL also runs exemptions and time-limited grace periods for some drivers and vehicles, including some in the disabled tax classes.
TfL makes the final decision on every vehicle and has no public data feed. This check is our reading of TfL's published standard against the vehicle's records, not a TfL service, so confirm with TfL before you rely on it.
Buying a car to drive in London
Check before you buy, not after. At £12.50 a day, a non-compliant car driven into the zone five days a week costs £3,250 a year in charges, which can quickly outweigh any saving on the purchase price.
Other UK cities run their own clean air and low emission zones, and they use their own rules for which vehicles are charged. Many do not charge private cars at all. A ULEZ answer does not carry over, so check the local scheme. There is more on this in is my car ULEZ compliant.
The £15 Carpeep report shows the same ULEZ result alongside outstanding finance, write-off and theft markers, mileage checks and keeper history.
ULEZ check FAQs
How do I check if my car is ULEZ compliant?
Enter the registration above. The check reads the recorded Euro standard, or uses the first registration date where that is safe, and tells you which it used. TfL's vehicle checker gives the official answer.
Why does my result say likely?
Because no Euro standard is recorded for the vehicle, so the answer is based on when it was first registered. That is TfL's own rule of thumb and is right for most vehicles, but it is an estimate. Confirm with TfL.
Is a Euro 5 diesel ULEZ compliant?
No. Diesel cars and vans need to meet Euro 6. A Euro 5 diesel pays the £12.50 daily charge when driven in the zone. Petrol cars only need Euro 4.
Are electric and hybrid cars ULEZ compliant?
Fully electric and hydrogen vehicles always meet the standard. A hybrid is judged on its engine: a petrol hybrid needs Euro 4 and a diesel hybrid needs Euro 6.
Does the ULEZ check cover lorries, buses and coaches?
No. Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes are measured against different standards, so we do not estimate them. Use TfL's checker.
Is this an official TfL checker?
No. Carpeep is not TfL. The check applies TfL's published standard to the vehicle's records, and TfL makes the final decision.
More vehicle checks
Already found one?
Check its finance, write-off, theft, mileage and keeper history with a £15 vehicle history report. The report shows its ULEZ status too.
Emissions standards from Transport for London. Euro status from the DVLA record, or manufacturer data from UK Vehicle Data. This is not a TfL service; TfL's vehicle checker is the official answer.