ULEZ expansion 2023 – latest news and map
Last updated 27th February, 2024
Latest news:
On February 23rd 2024, Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan announced that legible 4×4 cars scrapped under the ULEZ scheme will be able to be sent to Ukraine for humanitarian and medical needs. This means applicants will be able to donate vehicles that are not ULEZ-compliant in return for the same grant payment available to drivers who scrap or retrofit their vehicles. This new scheme could go live in a matter of weeks.
The London Ambulance Service will also be donating 50 decommissioned ambulances to Ukraine by the end of summer. Although ambulances are not charged to drive in ULEZ, the London Ambulance Service is planning to slowly decommission their non-compliant vehicles over time.
This announcement fell in line with the two-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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ULEZ expansion in 2023: everything you need to know
The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) has been in effect in London since April 2019. At first, it followed the same map as the Congestion Charge, but in October 2021 it expanded to a larger portion of central London. Its borders shifted to include the North Circular (A406) and the South Circular (A205), so the zone could protect 4 million Londoners from the health risks associated with high emissions.
On August 29th 2023, ULEZ expanded to cover Greater London and reduce emissions for a further 5 million people. While the geographical area has changed, the charge and conditions of compliance did not.
For more information about the expansion of the ULEZ, read on.
ULEZ charges 2024
The daily charge to drive a non-compliant car or van inside the zone is £12.50. This is in addition to the congestion charge – £15.
You will not have to pay the ULEZ charge if your car is compliant. You can check its compliance for free with our ULEZ checker or, you can sell your car if it’s non-compliant or you want to take advantage of increased prices for ULEZ-compliant vehicles. Fully-electric vehicles are exempt from the daily charge, as long as the car can drive on pure electric power for at least 20 miles. Find out more about ULEZ regulations in our ultimate guide to ULEZ.
In 2023, the Mayor of London funded a £160m scrappage scheme to help Londoners, small businesses, sole traders, and charities switch to cleaner, greener modes of transport. Any Londoner with an eligible non-compliant car or motorcycle can still apply for funding. Small businesses (fewer than 50 employees), sole traders and charities registered in London are also eligible for support.
What is the ULEZ for?
ULEZ was created to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and particle pollution in London. These pollutants are strongly associated with health risks, climate change, air pollution, and congestion and regularly exceed safe levels. It’s been recorded that 40,000 people die in the UK every year due to poor air quality.
ULEZ expansion in 2023
The Mayor of London and TfL expanded London’s ULEZ on the 29th August 2023 in order to cut pollution around the capital. The expansion covers all 33 boroughs of Greater London – almost all of the area inside of the M25.
Recent reports indicate that the ULEZ expansion is already demonstrating effectiveness, with significant improvements noted in areas such as overall vehicle compliance, compliance in outer London, and the impact of the scrappage scheme.
- An October 2023 report showed that 95% of vehicles across inner and outer London now meet clean air standards, up from just 39% in 2017 before the introduction of clean air measures.
- Compliance rates in outer London have increased by 10% since the ULEZ expansion consultation, almost catching up with inner London.
- Over 37,200 Londoners and businesses have benefited from a £160 million scrappage scheme, with grants of up to £2,000 available for replacing non-compliant vehicles.
- Mayor Sadiq Khan welcomed the report, highlighting the positive impact on air quality and urging Londoners to take advantage of the support available.
- Future plans: The ULEZ expansion is expected to continue reducing emissions, benefiting public health and combating climate change. Further analysis of its impact will be published in the coming months.
The ULEZ penalty charge continues to be £180, with a reduction to £90 if you pay within 14 days. Learn more about penalties in our guide to paying ULEZ fines and cutting them in half.
Where is the new ULEZ zone?
TfL has published a map of the ULEZ expansion area. They have also shared a map of the new Superloop bus route connecting outer boroughs to existing bus and rail routes that direct into the centre.
What are the new ULEZ rules?
The European Emission Standards set regulations for vehicle engines every few years and give them specific emissions labels. They take into account pollutants such as CO2, NOx, and the tiny particles newly built petrol and diesel cars emit, and make sure the levels are safe yet accessible for consumers. For more information on Euro 6, read our guide.
The Mayor of London and TfL use the European Emission Standards as a base for the compliance levels of ULEZ. Currently, if your car doesn’t meet Euro 4 for petrol cars and Euro 6 for diesel cars, it is classed as a non-compliant vehicle and you will have to pay to enter the zone. You can use our ULEZ checker to see if your vehicle is compliant.
It costs £12.50 to drive a non-ULEZ-compliant vehicle in the 33 boroughs of Greater London, within the M25. You will be issued with a Penalty Charge Notice, worth £180 if you fail to pay the ULEZ charge on time after driving a non-compliant vehicle within the zone, but if you pay within two weeks it’s reduced to £90. Check our guide to learn more about avoiding these fines.
What are the details of the ULEZ scrappage scheme in 2024?
In August 2023, Transport for London (TfL) launched the ULEZ scrappage scheme worth £160 million. This scheme allows any London resident with a car that doesn’t meet the emission standards to receive a £2,000 grant to scrap their vehicle.
London’s non-compliant car owners have been encouraged to apply for grants as early as possible to avoid ULEZ charges. People with disabilities and those facing delays in obtaining a new, compliant vehicle have been given an extended grace period to update their vehicle.
There is a grace period and/or exemptions for:
- Owners of registered ‘disabled’ or ‘disabled passenger’ vehicles are exempt from the ULEZ charge until October 26th 2027. The same goes for Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicles (WAVs), blue badge holders, and drivers with disabled benefits.
- Minibuses for community transport also have a grace period until October 2025.
- London-licensed taxis are exempt from ULEZ charges.
- All vehicles registered before January 1st 1973 (historical vehicle tax class) are exempt, including commercial use. And the rolling 40-year period for vehicles to stop paying tax will also apply to the ULEZ charge.
Additionally, Londoners who have disabilities or who receive means-tested benefits can scrap their non-compliant vehicle to receive a full grant, or a partial grant plus one or two annual TfL Bus and Tram Passes (which, in total, is worth more than the full scrap grant). Two bus passes at £932 each, with a partial grant of £1,200, total over £3,000.
| Vehicle | Full scrap grant |
| Motorbike below Euro 5 standard | £1,000 |
| Petrol car below Euro 4 standard | £2,000 |
| Diesel car below Euro 6 standard | £2,000 |
| Non-compliant wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV) | £5,000 to scrap or retrofit |
ULEZ scrappage grant amounts by vehicle type
The scrappage scheme for charities, sole traders and businesses of fifty employees or fewer is as follows:
| Vehicle | Scrap grant | Retrofit grant | Replace with EV grant |
| Non-compliant van | £5,000 | £5,000 | £7,500 |
| Non-compliant minibus | £7,000 to scrap | £5,000 | £9,500 |
ULEZ scrappage grant amounts for charities, sole traders and businesses of up to fifty employees.
For full terms and conditions of the flagship TfL ULEZ scrappage scheme, consult the TfL website.
ULEZ map London – the Superloop bus route
The new Superloop bus route was initiated in 2023, adding one million extra kilometres to Greater London’s bus network. The new Superloop bus routes are listed below and promise to get passengers from West Croydon or Heathrow Airport to White City for as little as £1.75.
- Route SL1-North Finchley to Walthamstow
- Route SL2-Walthamstow Central to North Woolwich
- Route SL3-Thamesmead to Bromley
- Route SL4-Canary Wharf to Grove Park
- Route SL5-Bromley to Croydon
- Route SL6-Russell Square to West Croydon (peak services only)
- Route SL7-Croydon to Heathrow Airport
- Route SL8-Uxbridge to White City
- Route SL9-Heathrow Airport to Harrow
- Route SL10-Harrow to North Finchley
New USB charging ports are expected to be fitted on Superloop routes by Spring 2024.
Is the Congestion Zone expanding?
The Congestion Charge is set at £15 per day for residents within the zone, and drivers who enter the zone during the following hours: 07:00-18:00 Mon-Fri, 12:00-18:00 Sat-Sun and bank holidays. There is no charge between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day bank holiday (inclusive). At the time of writing, there is no further proposed change to the Congestion Zone, which is still a small area in Central London.
Was the ULEZ expansion delayed?
No. On 28 July 2023, the High Court ruled against challenges to ULEZ that were made by five Greater London area councils and the expansion of ULEZ went ahead as planned on 29 August 2023.
Was there any action against the ULEZ expansion?
After the announcement in March 2022 of the second expansion, TfL opened a survey for five months so the public could give feedback on the ULEZ expansion and share any concerns they may have had. This survey closed in August 2022, and TfL and the Mayor of London confirmed that the plans were going ahead. The Mayor explained the importance of this policy: “The latest evidence shows that air pollution is making us sick from cradle to grave. Londoners are developing life-changing illnesses such as cancer, lung disease, dementia and asthma. And it’s especially dangerous for children.”
Selling your car?
Read about everything you need to know about how to sell your car with more guides here. There’s a lot to learn as Clean Air Zones and emissions standards in the UK change in the run-up to 2035.
- ULEZ Charge: How to pay a ULEZ fine and cut it in half
- The van driver’s guide to ULEZ
- ULEZ – the ultimate guide
- The ultimate guide to the LEZ
- Birmingham clean air zone (CAZ)
- Birmingham congestion charge zone
- Euro 6 compliance & emission standards
- Car CO2 emissions guide
- London congestion charge zone
- Oxford zero emission zone
- Bristol clean air zone
- ULEZ-compliant cars – the ultimate guide
- ULEZ FAQs