A ULEZ-compliant car is a vehicle that meets specific European emissions standards set to reduce pollution in London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). Compliance depends on the fuel type and the Euro emissions standard the vehicle meets:
- Petrol cars must meet at least Euro 4 emissions standards, which generally applies to vehicles registered from January 2006 onwards. Cars meeting Euro 5 or Euro 6 standards are also compliant and exempt from charges
- Diesel cars must meet the stricter Euro 6 emissions standards, typically applying to vehicles registered from September 2015 onwards. Some earlier diesel models may also be compliant, but most non-compliant diesels are older than this date
- Hybrid vehicles must meet the same standards as their fuel type: petrol hybrids must meet Euro 4, diesel hybrids Euro 6
- Electric vehicles are automatically ULEZ compliant because they produce zero tailpipe emissions
The Euro standards regulate harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). For example, Euro 6 diesel cars emit no more than 80 mg/km of NOx, while petrol cars have a limit of 60 mg/km NOx
. In summary, a ULEZ-compliant car is one that meets these emissions criteria and thus can enter the ULEZ without paying the daily charge aimed at reducing air pollution in London
