What is a ULEZ?

ULEZ stands for Utra Low Emissions Zone. An ULEZ is put in place where there is heavy congestion and increased pollution. To drive through a ULEZ, your vehicle must adhere to certain emissions standards. If it does not, you are charged a daily fee for entering the zone.

Why do we need ULEZ?

In places where ULEZ are necessary, there is a lot of air pollution which leads to asthma and other health issues. One of the main causes of pollution is the exhaust gases of traffic. Measures were therefore taken to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution by creating Ultra Low Emissions Zones.

ULEZ Locations

London currently has the only ULEZ in the UK, which came into effect on 8 April 2019. It replaced the London T-Charge and operates 24 hours per day, every day except Christmas Day. At the end of August 2023, the London ULEZ will expand to cover the whole of London, not just the central areas.

There are some Low Emissions Zones (LEZ) in major UK cities, including a larger part of London, which carry out a similar purpose but are slightly less strict in their emissions rules.

• Bath
• Birmingham
• Bradford
• Bristol
• Greater Manchester (under review)
• Portsmouth
• Sheffield (charging starts in early 2023)
• Tyneside – Newcastle and Gateshead (charging starts on 30 January 2023)

ULEZ Charges

Driving a van in the ULEZ that does not meet the emissions rules will result in a fine. Cameras at the entrance of the ULEZ will record your registration plate and check it against the DVLA records for your engine type and emissions, and then issue the charge if appropriate.

The charge varies depending on the size of the vehicle. For vans up to 3.5 ton, the daily ULEZ charge is £12.50. The charge runs midnight to midnight, so if your vehicle is in the ULEZ zone before and after midnight, you may be liable for two daily charges.

ULEZ Standards for Vans

The minimum emissions standards to become exempt from the ULEZ charges apply to all vehicles. Petrol and diesel engines should meet Euro 4 and Euro 6 standards, respectively. Age is not a factor, instead the standards are based on the declared emissions of the van.

Any diesel van sold after September 2016 should meet the Euro 6 standard.

Electric Vans

Electric vans will of course meet the ULEZ emissions standards, so they are a good choice for inner city driving. They are also exempt from the London Congestion Charge, which would cost another £15 per day. Because of this, an electric van becomes very viable when compared to diesel van costs when driving in London city centre.

ULEZ in the future

With the current direction of anti-pollution initiatives, low emissions zones are only going to get more common.

In October 2021, the ULEZ is expanding to include a large area of London, and the London LEZ is getting stricter and may soon match ULEZ standards.

Van Ninja

All van leases from Van Ninja meet the Euro 6 emissions compliance. We supply brand-new lease vans with the most modern engines on the market, from all the top manufacturers.

• Citroen
• Ford
• Mercedes
• Peugeot
• Vauxhall
• Volkswagen

Lease a van from Van Ninja, and you won’t have to worry about additional ULEZ charges.

Find out more about ULEZ.