Understand ULEZ without the jargon
Check if your car is likely ULEZ-compliant, estimate daily costs, explore the London boundary and read short, clear guides on how the Ultra Low Emission Zone works.
Start with a quick check
Not sure if your car will be charged in the London ULEZ, or how much it might cost you each week? Use these tools to get an instant estimate:
Tools on ulez.live
- ULEZ car check – uses DVLA data to estimate your Euro standard and likely ULEZ status.
- ULEZ cost calculator – work out how much you might spend over a week, month or year.
- Fuel & MPG calculators – estimate fuel costs, real-world MPG and convert MPG ↔ L/100km.
- ULEZ & CAZ map – interactive map of the London boundary and other UK clean air zones.
All figures here are estimates only. For legal decisions about charges or fines, always use the official TfL vehicle checker and information on their website.
Short guides to ULEZ
Prefer a quick read first? These guides explain the basics in a few minutes, with simple language and diagrams.
What is ULEZ?
A plain-English overview of what the Ultra Low Emission Zone is, why it was introduced and who has to pay.
Euro standards explained
Understand Euro 3, 4, 5 and 6, why diesel is treated differently and how this links to ULEZ rules.
ULEZ fines & penalties
What happens if you don't pay the ULEZ charge in time, how much the fine is and how to deal with a PCN.
Why ULEZ exists
ULEZ is mainly aimed at cutting pollution from road traffic – especially nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and fine particles from older petrol and diesel vehicles. These pollutants are linked to breathing problems, heart disease and thousands of premature deaths each year in London.
Research from outer London boroughs shows traffic is often the dominant source of local air pollution, with weekday levels much higher than weekends. Policies like ULEZ are designed to push the vehicle fleet towards cleaner engines more quickly than would happen on its own.