What is the Ulez? Which vehicles will be subject to fines from August and map of affected London areas
Sadiq Khan’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) expansion will go ahead.
The move will seen many more Londoners being charged for using older cars than before.
Now, the High Court has rejected a bid to stop London’s mayor Sadiq Khan from expanding a Ulez to the capital’s outer boroughs.
The judge has ruled against five Conservative-run councils who launched legal action against the extension.
Mr Khan has said the aim is to curb air pollution which can exacerbate and contribute to asthma and lung conditions.
Hillingdon, Bexley, Bromley and Harrow in London, plus Surrey County Council, had claimed Mr Khan had exceeded his legal powers with such a large expansion of the scheme, but the court disagreed.
What is Ulez?
Ulez is a zone in which cars of a certain age and energy standard are not able to be driven without the owner getting a charge.
The Ulez is in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year – except Christmas Day.
The zone currently covers all areas within the North and South Circular Roads.
If your vehicle doesn’t meet the Ulez emissions standards and isn’t exempt, you need to pay a daily £12.50 charge to drive within the zone. This includes people who live within the Ulez. However, you don’t need to pay the charge if you are parked inside the zone and don’t drive.
Vehicles that must comply with Ulez standards include cars, motorcycles, vans and specialist vehicles (up to and including 3.5 tonnes) and minibuses (up to and including five tonnes). Lorries, vans or specialist heavy vehicles (all over 3.5 tonnes) and buses, minibuses and coaches (all over five tonnes) do not need to pay the Ulez charge.
Those who do not pay the charge face a fine of up to £180.
When will Ulez expand?
Mr Khan plans to expand the clean air zone from 29 August, almost tripling the size of the area. This will mean millions more Londoners with older, more polluting vehicles, will be required to pay the charge if they drive into the centre.
The expansion will encompass London’s borders with Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey.
It was introduced in 2019 and imposes a £12.50 daily charge on drivers using a diesel vehicle which is over seven years old or a petrol vehicle over 17 years old. Those who do not pay the charge could be landed with a fine of up to £180.
The Ulez zone was last expanded in 2021, to the North and South Circular roads in London.
Transport for London (TFL) said: “Londoners are developing life-changing illnesses such as cancer, asthma and lung disease, and there is a higher risk of dementia in older people. Air pollution even contributes to the premature death of thousands of Londoners every year.
“It’s not just a central London problem. In fact, the greatest number of deaths related to air pollution occur in outer London areas. That’s why the Ulez is expanding across all London boroughs.”
Is my vehicle Ulez compliant?
Four out of five vehicles seen in outer London already meet the Ulez standards. Only drivers of the highest-polluting vehicles will be affected.
Generally, people who use a diesel vehicle over seven years old or a petrol vehicle over 17 years old will be charged.
To check if your vehicle is compliant, you can enter your number plate on the TfL website here.
For people with older, non-compliant vehicles there is a scrappage scheme by which applicants could receive a payment to scrap their vehicle. Find out more about this here.
