Low Emission Zones & Ultra Low Emission Zones Explained
Ellie Dyer-Brown, 8 days ago
5 min read
- Car ownership
WhoCanFixMyCar discusses LEZs, explaining how they work and how they might affect you as a driver.
Pollution and global warming are high on the political agenda at the moment, so you’ve probably heard terms like 'Low Emission Zone' and 'Ultra Low Emission Zone' at least a few times. However, many drivers still don’t quite know how - or if - these zones affect them. This guide covers everything you need to know about LEZs.
Contents:
What is meant by low emission?
What area is the Low Emission Zone?
Can I drive in a Low Emission Zone?
What is meant by low emission?
Emissions are the gases and by-products emitted from your car’s exhaust, most of which are harmful because they contribute to pollution. A low-emission vehicle doesn't produce much pollution, making it better for the environment.
What is a low emission zone?
Low Emission Zones, also known as Clean Air Zones, usually exist in big cities with high pollution levels. They work by restricting access for high-emissions vehicles, which are charged for travelling through the zone.
What area is the low emission zone?
There are several LEZs throughout the UK, but London’s Low Emission Zone affects the largest number of vehicles.
Areas containing LEZs are:
London
Norwich
Oxford
Brighton
Nottingham
Glasgow
Leeds
Birmingham
Bath
London Low Emission Zone
London’s LEZ was implemented in late 2008 and includes most of Greater London, as well as parts of the M1 and M4. The M25 is unaffected. Whereas the city’s congestion charge only applies at certain times during the day, the Low Emission Zone operates 24 hours a day.
The zone is enforced through number plate recognition cameras, and signposts inform drivers of the zone's boundary, so it’s unlikely you’d ever enter it without knowing. Some signs offer alternative routes if you’d like to avoid the zone.
To find out if your vehicle is affected by London’s LEZ charges, you can visit the Transport for London website and enter your registration number.
How much does it cost to enter the London Low Emission Zone?
This varies depending on the type of vehicle you’re driving and how much it weighs.
| Vehicle | Weight | Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Buses/coaches | Over 5 tonnes | £200 |
| Mini buses | 5 tonnes or less | £100 |
| Lorries, goods vehicles, horse boxes, caravans | More than 3.5 tonnes | £200 |
| Larger vans, horse boxes, pick ups, 4x4s | 1.205 tonnes or more | £100 |
Can I drive in a low emission zone?
There are different classes of Low Emission Zones throughout the UK. The class of an LEZ determines which vehicles are affected by it.
Bath, for example, has a Class C LEZ, while Birmingham’s zone is Class D.
Class A
Buses, coaches, taxis and private hire vehicles are affected.
Class B
Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles and heavy goods vehicles are affected.
Class C
The affected vehicles are buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, vans and minibuses.
Class D
Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, vans, minibuses and cars are impacted in class D. The local authority can decide whether to include motorcycles.
Do you have to pay in a Low Emission Zone?
Low Emission Zones operate by discouraging vehicles with high emissions from entering them by imposing a daily charge. Whether you need to pay will depend on the class of LEZ you’re driving through and what type of vehicle you’re in. The rules and charges will vary from one LEZ to the next, so always check before you set off.
What is the Ultra Low Emission Zone?
The Low Emission Zone and Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) are separate schemes the government operates to combat rising emissions within the city.
Unlike the LEZ, which primarily affects larger vehicles, the Ultra Low Emission Zone affects all vehicles that fail to meet Euro 4 and Euro 6 standards for petrol and diesel-fuelled cars.
Vehicles within the ULEZ that fail to meet these standards must pay a daily fee of £12.50.
What happens if you live in the ULEZ?
From the 8th of April 2019 to the 24th of October 2021, residents who lived within the Ultra Low Emission Zone could claim a 100% discount on the charge. However, residents must now pay the full charge or switch to a compliant car.
How do I know if I need to pay ULEZ?
If you enter the ULEZ and your car doesn’t comply with the following standards, you need to pay the charge.
Motorbikes, mopeds, motorised tricycles and quadricycles - Standard 3
Petrol cars, minibuses, specialist vehicles - Standard 4 (NOx)
Diesel cars, vans/mini buses, specialist vehicles - Standard 6 (NOx & PM)
Lorries, coaches, buses and other heavy vehicles - Standard VI (NOx & PM)
ULEZ compliant cars
Petrol cars must meet Euro 4 emissions standards to avoid paying the ULEZ charge, while diesel cars must adhere to Euro 6 standards. The majority of petrol cars registered since January 2006 and most diesels registered since September 2015 meet these standards.
Likewise, petrol or diesel hybrids must meet the same standards as their traditional counterparts.
All electric cars are ULEZ compliant, so if you’re looking for a new vehicle and regularly enter London’s Ultra Low Emissions Zone, the best thing you can do is go all-electric.
Don't forget, if you're looking for reliable car repairs that won't break the bank, WhoCanFixMyCar is here to help you find the best garages in your area.
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Written by Ellie
Ellie is WhoCanFixMyCar’s Content Writer. She has a BA in English literature from Durham University, a master’s degree in creative writing, and three years of experience writing in the automotive industry. She currently drives a Suzuki Swift.