ULEZ Exemptions

Residents living in ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone)

• Residents who are registered for the residents’ Congestion Charge discount will be granted a time-limited ‘sunset period’ where a 100% discount from the ULEZ will apply to their vehicles. This will give them more time to change their vehicle to meet the ULEZ standards
• The discount will be available to those who live within the ULEZ and in designated areas next to the boundary where the Congestion Charge residents’ discount applies. The sunset period will apply from 8 April 2019 to 24 October 2021
• This discount will only apply while they live within the zone and are registered with us
• Residents using a vehicle that doesn’t meet the T-Charge emissions standards will continue to pay the T-Charge, at a discounted rate of 90%, during the ULEZ resident sunset period
• From 25 October 2021, residents must pay the full daily ULEZ charge to drive a vehicle in the zone if it does not meet the ULEZ standards

 

Vehicles for disabled people in ULEZ

• Keepers of vehicles registered with a ‘disabled’ or ‘disabled passenger vehicles’ tax class will benefit from a sunset period after the ULEZ starts. They’ll be exempt from the ULEZ charge until 26 October 2025 as long as their vehicle doesn’t change tax class. (Vehicles operated by or on behalf of TfL will not benefit from this sunset period.) Read the eligibility criteria for the disabled exemption on Gov.uk
• If your UK-registered vehicle is in this category, you don’t need to register with us to get the exemption. If your ‘disabled’ vehicle is registered outside the UK, you are also exempt from ULEZ during the sunset period, but will need to register with us. We’ll explain how to register your vehicle closer to the time
• Blue Badge holders will need to pay the charge from 8 April 2019 unless their vehicle meets the new ULEZ emission standards or is registered with the DVLA with a ‘disabled’ or ‘disabled passenger vehicle’ tax class
• From 27 October 2025 vehicles with ‘disabled’ or ‘disabled passenger vehicles’ tax class that do not meet the ULEZ emission standards will be liable for the daily ULEZ charge

 

Taxis in ULEZ

London-licensed taxis are exempt from ULEZ – they are subject to a 15-year age limit and new emissions standards have already been introduced for them. From 1 January 2018 all newly licensed taxis must be capable of producing zero emissions. Find out more about how we plan to have the cleanest taxi fleet in the world.

 

Private hire vehicles (PHVs) in ULEZ

Designated wheelchair-accessible PHVs will be granted a sunset period after the ULEZ is introduced. The sunset period will be in place until 26 October 2025 – during this period designated wheelchair-accessible PHVs used to carry out a private hire booking will be exempt from the ULEZ daily charge.

These vehicles will only be exempt when carrying out a private hire booking for a TfL-licensed PHV operator. At all other times PHV owners will have to pay the charge if their designated wheelchair-accessible PHV does not meet the emissions standards and is not in the disabled or disabled passenger vehicle tax class.

See a list of designated wheelchair-accessible PHVs licensed by TfL on the Passengers and accessibility page.

If you feel that your vehicle should be on the list please email tph.enquiries@tfl.gov.uk.

All other private hire vehicles will need to meet the emissions standards or pay the daily charge from 8 April 2019.

 

Historic vehicles in ULEZ

You can apply to stop paying vehicle tax if your vehicle was built more than 40 years ago. This date moves forward on a 40-year rolling system. Assuming the rules stay the same, when the ULEZ launches in April 2019, vehicles built before 1979 will be eligible to apply for historic vehicle tax class.

All vehicles that have a historic vehicle tax class will be exempt from the ULEZ. This tax class excludes any vehicle used commercially (for example, coffee vans or street food vans).

In line with the existing LEZ discount all vehicles registered before 1 January 1973 will be exempt from the ULEZ, regardless of commercial use or otherwise.

If your vehicle meets the above criteria and is registered in the UK, it is automatically exempt and you don’t need to register with us. If your vehicle meets the above criteria but is registered outside the UK, you are also exempt but will need to register with us. Details on how you can register will be available closer to the time.

Other exempt vehicles for ULEZ

A small number of vehicle types which are currently exempt from the LEZ would also be exempt from the ULEZ charge. These include:

• Agricultural vehicles
• Military vehicles
• Non-road going vehicles which are allowed to drive on the highway (for example, excavators)
• Certain types of mobile cranes

If your vehicle meets any of the above criteria and is registered in the UK, it is automatically exempt and you don’t need to register with us. If your vehicle meets any of the above criteria but is registered outside the UK, you are also exempt but will need to register with us. Details on how you can register will be available closer to the time.

Discount for showman’s vehicles in ULEZ

Some showman’s vehicles are eligible for a 100% discount from the ULEZ daily charge if they are registered to a person following the business of a travelling showman and have been modified or specially constructed. Trailers and semi-trailers which have been modified or specially constructed are not eligible for the 100% discount.

For a vehicle to be eligible for the discount, modifications or special constructions for the purpose of the show must be either:

• Used during the performance, or
• Used for the purpose of providing the performance, or
• Used for carrying performance equipment, or
• Used for displaying animals to the public, or
• Below the chassis level, such that it isn’t possible to fit emission abatement equipment

If your vehicle meets the above criteria, you’ll need to register with us to qualify for the discount (vehicles that have already registered with TfL for a LEZ showman’s discount do not need to register again for ULEZ). This applies to both UK and non-UK vehicles.

If you receive any other discounts or exemptions for the Congestion Charge you will still need to pay the ULEZ charge if you drive within the zone in a vehicle that does not meet the ULEZ standards.

Not-for-profit minibuses in ULEZ

From 25 October 2021 to 29 October 2023 minibuses operated under a section 19 or section 22 permit by not-for-profit organisations will be eligible for a sunset period exempting them from the ULEZ daily charge.

When driving within the ULEZ in central London BEFORE that – from April 2019 to October 2021 – these vehicles will need to meet emissions standards or pay the ULEZ daily charge.

For a vehicle to be eligible for the sunset period they must be:

• A minibus built or adapted to carry 8-16 passengers
• Owned or leased by a not-for-profit organisation and operated using a valid section 19 or section 22 permit issued by an approved licensing body
• Owned (or leased) before 8 June 2018

If your vehicle meets the above criteria, you’ll need to register with us to qualify for the sunset period. Check back here for details and links to the registration process.

The sunset period will expire from 30 October 2023 and all minibuses will need to meet emissions standards or pay the daily charge.

Find more information on the Department for Transport web page on eligibility for section 19 and section 22 permits.